Inside China Today

Inside China Today – Thursday 1st October

- Special coverage on the preparations surrounding the National Day parade;
- The ‘village of death’, China’s Shangba village;
- Daughter fights for murdered fathers rights;
- Threat of civil war escalating in Burma.

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In this edition of Inside China Today we examine all the preparation and efforts surrounding the build-up to the National Day parade. The parade itself was well planned and executed. An estimated 80,000 students and 60,000 soldiers participating in the main parade. The current Chinese President Hu Jintao was in attendance, as well as Premier Wen Jiabao and former Chinese President Jiang Zemin. The China Daily newspaper, cited a spokesperson for the Defense Ministry, saying the parade would be held in an ‘economical manner’ as the authorities planned to spend only 300 million Yuan (US$44 million) on the event.

The event itself was meticulously organised with security personnel flooding Beijing, and some unique measures carried out to ensure the event was ‘perfect’. Businesses along the Chang’an Street (the main parade route) were closed; those living along the main street were forbidden from opening their windows; rockets were fired into the sky a few days prior to the event to disperse cloud and smog; and thousands of pigeons were rounded up and locked away.

Military personnel went through extensive training drills to prepare for the event. Some drills included standing completely still for an hour, not blinking for over 40 seconds, and the use of lasers beams to ensure no one was out of rank and file.

Further many petitioners and dissidents were kept away from the capital or under house arrest.

(To know more please listen to our podcast)

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The ‘Village of Death’, China’s Shangba village

In the Dabaoshan mining area of Guangdong Province in China’s south, run off from a mine has been poisoning surrounding villages for over 20 years.

Dabaoshan is located at the juncture of Wengyuan and Qujiang counties. The area is rich with mineral resources such as iron, copper, lead and zinc. The area also hosts four ore-dressing plants and 56 ore-washing stations.

Travel ten kilometres downstream Hengshi River and you’ll find the infamous Shangba Village, also known as the “Village of Death”. Of Shangba’s 3,000 residents, more than 250 have died of cancer since 1987.

[Mr. Liang, Shangba Village resident]
“It’s a cancer village. Once people older than 30 fall ill, it takes about three months for them to die. Last year, two people died who were no older than 40. One was 30, the other was 40. It is due to the contaminated water coming from the Dabaoshan mine. Dabaoshan is very famous… Regarding farm crops, we don’t accept local [produced] rice. The local people who were afraid [of the contamination] all moved out. If you were us, would you protest or not?”

According to a report on the Human Rights in China website, villagers could once see clear to the bottom of Hengshi River. To the villagers it was called “Mother River”. Today villagers call it “Red River” or “Black River”. The rocks along its shore are stained dark brown and encrusted with what looks like tea dregs. Villagers haven’t seen fish or shrimp in the river in twenty years. No living creature can be found near the river, there is not even the sound of insects.

Residents now mostly get their water from wells.

[Mr. He, Local Resident]
“When washing the ore with our water, residue has been left and contained in [the water]. Our major water source is the river from Dabaoshan. The tap water is very bad. One day there’s water, but on another day there isn’t. When it rains the water is yellow and cannot be drunk. My family now drinks well water. The Xinjiang Town government is totally tyrannical. The crops are also polluted. I have two relatives around 30 years of age who have died of liver cancer. It’s impossible for us to move away now. We hope our descendants may have a better environment.”

The Human Rights in China website report, states that Shangba village isn’t even the most seriously polluted in the area. Yanghe, Tangxin and Liangqiao villages are situated closer to Dabaoshan mine. The Liangqiao Party secretary said nothing will grow in the fields irrigated with water from Hengshi River.

Caden Pearson, SOH, Brisbane

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Daughter fights for murdered fathers rights

In Chongqing on September 27th, Jiang Li, the youngest daughter of deceased Falun Gong practitioner Jiang Xiqing, issued a statement through Sound of Hope Radio condemning the Chongqing police for cremating her father while he was still alive, and for threatening his sons and daughters that are appealing for justice.

Jiang Xiqing was detained at the Xishanping Forced Labour Camp for practicing the outlawed meditative practice Falun Gong. The circumstances surrounding his supposed death are mysterious. On January 28th 2009 his family received notification he had died from a heart attack while in the camp. When the family visited seven hours later, they found his body was covered in bruises and was still warm, despite being kept in a freezer. He was cremated soon after.

Jiang Li resides in Shanghai. She said the Chongqing police have tried to force Jiang Xiqing’s sons and daughters into signing a statement for reclaiming their father’s ashes, and to remain silent on the issue. They have refused. They’ve vowed to not give up their right of seeking justice for their father. Despite receiving help from four lawyers, the Jiang family still receives death threats. In light of possible future incidents, Jiang Li has issued a statement to let the public know the true wishes of Jiang’s sons and daughters.

She said: [Recording] “I hope the following statement is broadcast through various media. In future, any statements that I might make will be null and void, no matter what has changed, whether I am detained, persecuted or under any circumstance, only today’s statement is true and is true to my wishes”

Her statement features four main points:
1. My father was beaten unconscious by police in Chongqing and was cremated while still alive. Several family members saw evidence of this.

2. The Chongqing Public Security not only murdered my father, but continues to torture my mother. My mother’s life is now in danger, but they still won’t let her go. The Chongqing Public Security has also carried out violence, fraud, inducement and other means to persecute us sons, daughters and relatives. They won’t allow us a voice.

3. Chongqing authorities have arrested, tortured, hung, beaten up and persecuted Beijing lawyers Li Chunfu and Zhang Kai who demanded justice for our family. Their firm is now under great pressure, and Li Chunfu has subsequently failed to have his lawyer’s license renewed this year.

4. At present, assurances given by the authorities to our relatives in Chongqing, were given under duress and even contained death threats. The Chongqing authorities have extended their pressure into Shanghai. The Chongqing Public Security Bureau has ordered the Shanghai Ministry of Public Security to tell my employer, Shanghai Airlines Co Ltd, that I write a guarantee declaring I will not petition in Beijing. After I refused they immediately moved me to another position so I could be easily monitored. My family are also being monitored by the Shanghai Public Security ministry. Originally my family’s grievances had nothing to do with Shanghai authorities, I hope the Shanghai Public Security Bureau and Shanghai Airlines Co Ltd will not participate. If they still cooperate with the Chongqing authorities to persecute me, they will have to be held accountable in the end.

I solemnly make this statement and reserve the right to denounce this at any time.

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Threat of civil war escalating in Burma

Recent clashes between the Burmese Army and ethnic Kokang rebels in Burma have escalated into a state of civil war. In the north-eastern Kokang region, posters have been displayed warning the local ethnic Chinese to leave the area, which was taken over by the Burmese Junta in late August. At present, almost all ethnic Chinese have managed to escape to mainland China. According to the ‘Burma Rescue Team’, a group started by Chinese civilians reacting to pressure from the regime, the local Chinese population will continue to resist until the bitter end.

Ms Hou from this volunteer group says, Kokang’s new government has demanded Chinese people leave Burma by the 25th, as full scale war is soon expected. While many experts believe this to be unlikely before October 1st, the Burmese Junta has been known to launch surprise attacks in past conflicts.

Mr Hou said (recording) “In order to protect its new power, the Junta has adopted many tactics, such as inciting discord among civilians. I still believe, as long as the Burmese regime doesn’t provide fair treatment for Chinese people, and continue to implement highly discriminatory policies, the unrest will never end. If they were to announce that the soldiers who once rebelled could return home without consequence, and started a protection plan for the assets of Chinese business owners, stability and control in the region could be established quickly. If the ethnic Chinese business owners cannot continue to trade in the region, they would most likely choose to leave.”

A local government official told reporters, the Chinese Communist regime has maintained a friendly relationship with the Burmese regime. Officials from both parties meet frequently. In an apparent display of cooperation designed to appease the Chinese Communists, the Burmese Junta has attempted to maintain stability in the area before October 1st. However heavy military presence has been sustained on both sides of the border, and the situation in northern Burma remains intense.

According to news reports, Kokang’s new government has issued public statements, declaring all people identified as Chinese by their entry and exit documents have 15 days to leave Kokang. These people are requested to re-apply for entry after 15 days, and those who cannot provide substantial documents are forced to leave, and be responsible for the consequences if they refuse.

The above was brought to you by Lin Li, Yu Liang and Perry Luo for Inside China on the SOH Radio Network.

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