Flood waters several metres high swamped major cities in Sichuan, as the most powerful rainstorms in 50 years hit the region.

- Sichuan swamped by floods and rains

- Sichuan quake victims shocked by housing costs

- Land seizures spark Suzhou protests

- Calls of support during July 20th anniversary

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Sichuan swamped by floods and rains

The deadliest floods in a decade have inundated large swathes of Sichuan Province. Towns in Guangan, Tongjiang and Dazhou are on the verge of being swept away. The highest recorded water level was over 2.8 metres according to the Office of State Flood Control.

The Office stated this is the biggest flood in Guangan City in nearly 200 years. A staff member spoke to SOH (recording):
“59,600 people have been evacuated, and 3000 homes have toppled, not including the old city district, which includes 1,200 homes. 14 acres of farmland have been destroyed. They’ve been twenty-eight landslides and 5.9 billion Yuan worth of losses.”

That’s equivalent to 867 million US dollars.

Meanwhile, the biggest rainstorm in fifty years has been pounding Tongjiang County since July 16th. Average rainfall is 363mm, almost submerging Tongjiang. The rainstorm has cut off communications, and caused landslides along all highways and roads. Traffic in the county is at a standstill.

Power stations along rivers have also been damaged, cutting off electricity to most of the county. A power station near Jiuyu Creek in Tongjiang was shut down. Its four main generators failed, while four 35 thousand volt circuits and 11 smaller generators short-circuited. Power has been cut to the city district and to over 30 townships.

A staff member of Tongjiang’s Civil Affairs Bureau said the rain has paralysed the county (recording):
“Traffic is cut off, the township’s roads haven’t recovered, and after the 17th, everything has stopped. The roads have been cut off due to landslides. Houses have collapsed, but the most serious damage is to the crops, corn and paddy fields.”

A resident of Tongjiang said low-lying towns have been flooded with water levels one meter deep. Three people are missing. Shops are submerged and goods have been lost. The resident told SOH (recording):
“The properties of every family are flooded. The flood was more vicious in the east side of the county, where all the retailers couldn’t open their doors. The heavy rain went on for more than ten hours non-stop. Traffic to Bazhong has been cut off for two days. Communications and traffic have been on and off for the past two days.”

At 7:30pm on July 18th, flood levels reached a staggering 2.8 meters in Dazhou City. One third of Dazhou City’s surface area was covered in water. Large areas of the city don’t have access to drinking water, and over 5000 retail shops have been moving their goods. Dazhou City’s airport is also flooded.

The Bureau of Meteorology in Dazhou reported the following (recording):
“From 8pm yesterday to 8am today, the maximum rainfall in Wanyuan’s suburbs was 510 mm. 460 mm of rain fell on Wanyuan’s city district. The flood is in every district and county and will reach Guangan at 3pm today.”

According to the Office of State Flood Control the storms have already flooded seven counties and 263 townships. Over 3.7 million people have been affected. 700 people have been killed in floods in China this year. In Sichuan Province 350,000 people have already been evacuated.

46,000 properties have been damaged. 95,000 acres of crops are ruined, 328 km of road are damaged, and 804,000 cubic meters of earth have been shifted in landslides. 210 national highways have been cut off, and the roads around Wanyuan County have been damaged severely. The estimated damage cost in Sichuan is 40.3 billion Yuan (5.9 billion US Dollars).

Tian Xi of the SOH Radio Network.

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Homeless victims of the Sichuan Earthquake are furious at the high cost of relief accomodation.

Sichuan quake victims shocked by housing costs

Anger is brewing over a decision to charge victims of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake for housing. A “move-in fee” has been implemented by the local Party branch of Hanwang, Mianzhu in Sichuan Province.

The fee is much higher than most can afford, as those affected by the quake don’t have stable incomes. They believe the Communist Party has used the relief funds to endorse “image projects” while ignoring the real needs of the people.

One family continues to struggle with a debt after their newly purchased home was reduced to ruins in the quake. Mrs He said her family survived the quake but without employment they cannot afford the move-in fee.

Ms He told SOH (recording):
“Quake victims are financially strapped. We tried negotiating with local government, telling officials that many of us are unemployed. The move-in fee has been lowered to 1066 Yuan ($158 USD). Before the earthquake, my husband and I borrowed money from friends and relatives and bought an apartment. One year later, the quake reduced our home to ruins. We owe 25,000 Yuan ($3687 USD) to friends and family. Now I have no job. Though my husband is working for the Coal mining corporation we cannot afford another apartment. Housing units in the Hanwang area have construction quality problems. Even if we could afford to, we dare not live in unsafe housing. During the quake my daughter jumped from the second floor, leaving her afraid, now she only wants to live in a ground floor unit. Some apartment buildings built have even collapsed. Everyone is very worried.”

Another resident said (recording):
“The housing price is not that high, its people’s incomes that are low. The relief funds collected do not benefit the victims. So far, not one family has moved into the quake-relief housing. Before the quake, incomes ranged between 500 Yuan ($74 USD) and 1000 Yuan ($147 USD) per month. We know the houses have construction problems as do the local government.”

Local residents claim that Party officials are wealthy and have moved into larger houses, showing no concern for the livelihood of private citizens still living in destitution following the quake two years ago.

Another resident said (recording): “In terms of the infrastructure, the roads and stadium are relatively good. I think the government should place the quake-relief housing as the first priority. They should not continue to spend money on infrastructure.”

Yang Zheng and Wang Zhen of SOH Radio Network

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Riot police were called in to disperse a crowd of over 10,000 protestors in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.

Land seizure sparks Suzhou protests

Tensions in Suzhou City are still simmering following several days of large scale protests. From July 14th – 18th, tens of thousands of protestors took to the streets in Gaoxin District of Jiangsu Province. Local residents claim land seizures, the embezzlement of compensation funds, and demolitions are what sparked the riots. Attempts to silence public outcry has heightened tension between residents and the police.

Twenty to thirty thousand Gaoxin District residents have been victim to widespread government sponsored evictions and land seizures. The protest began when thousands of local villagers from Tongan Township in Gaoxin gathered at the township government building. The size of the gathering grew from there. On July 17th authorities dispatched thousands of armed police to quell the protests. Many participants were beaten and arrested.

Mr Yu a protestor said every time demolitions were carried out, clashes would follow (recording):
“It’s common to use force in demolitions. It’s safe to say no single demolition is without conflict, no area is demolished without a conflict. In June in Fengqiao one man was badly beaten.”

Protests over land rights have become more common and have escalated. Mr Chen a resident of Suzhou spoke of a previous incident (recording):
“The road was blocked last time, about five or six years ago. These kinds of things have happened before but gatherings of nearly ten thousand weren’t seen a few years back.”

Mr Chen believes embezzlement of land compensation and media censorship has added to the problem. He told SOH of the difficulties residents face trying to find relief (recording):
“Because land isn’t compensated, especially farms and leased land, the interests of villagers are affected. For each family a single farm costs tens of thousands. There is the murky issue of embezzlement. The problem is this hasn’t been resolved for many years. On the one hand, the courts block these cases on three counts: they refuse to accept, to investigate or to re-examine these cases. They refuse no matter what. Otherwise, we’ve tried appealing in Beijing ten or even twenty times, but to no avail. Some even tried self-immolation at Tiananmen Square or jumping off buildings. Nothing helped. They may even risk being sent to labour camps. No resolutions, only barriers. Therefore I feel with the deliberate blockades, the escalation of these protests is inevitable.”

Over the course of the protest, local media did not report the incident. Internet blog postings by eyewitnesses were quickly deleted. At present there’s no sign the protests are truly over. Its possible protests may be spreading to other areas.

Fu Ming and Li Ming of the SOH Radio Network.

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July 20th marks the anniversary of the beginning of the persecution of Falun Gong. Every year July 20th is commemorated all over the world. Pictured here is a major rally in Hong Kong featuring the Celestial Band.

Calls of support during July 20th anniversary

The spiritual practice Falun Gong has endured 11 years of brutal persecution by the Chinese Communist regime. The atrocities inflicted on practitioners of Falun Gong in China are reportedly some of the worst in human history. Though major media networks barely pay attention to their plight, the persecution of Falun Gong has increased not decreased over the last 11 years.

During this time the number of supporters of Falun Gong has steadily grown. Today, more and more people from all walks of life are speaking up for Falun Gong; condemning the illegal persecution, and the Communist regime that ordered it.

In Hong Kong’s Cheung Sha Wan, a rally took place marking the 11th year of Falun Gong’s activism. Many well-known Chinese human rights activists voiced their support through recorded messages played over speakers at the rally. Unable to be there in person, they wanted to convey their support of Falun Gong’s rational and peaceful efforts to end the persecution.

Bao Tong is a political secretary of former Communist Party leader Zhao Ziyang. He has this to say at the rally, (recording):
“It is outrageous that Falun Gong is being persecuted. I support Falun Gong, and the persecution of Falun Gong in China is against the Chinese Constitution.”

Zheng Enchong, a human rights attorney in Shanghai said (recording):
“I am a lawyer, and I will use my power to push and to have the truth of Falun Gong revealed. I believe history will tell a clean and clear answer to the issue of Falun Gong. The history is written by the people, not by the few in power.”

Attorneys and writers from mainland China had messages of praise for Falun Gong practitioners who steadfastly adhered to their belief despite the intense pressure to denounce it. They say Falun Gong brings welfare and hope for the people of China.

Wen Haibo, a human rights attorney in Beijing said (recording):
“Falun Gong as a group is not crushed; I think they are still in solidarity. They still maintain true to their belief, and this is very gratifying.”

Lu Xuesong, an author from Jilin Province, said (recording):
“If we can all have a heart of sincerity and support the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, and do something for China’s future and humanity, we will then definitely be blessed with happiness and the joys of compassion in the new world that is not too far from us.”

Following the rally Falun Gong practitioners held a grand parade, marching to Tsim Sha Tsui, an urbanised area in southern Hong Kong. The parade attracted and astounded many tourists from mainland China who would not be used to seeing Falun Gong being celebrated at all, least of all so openly and without fear of a brutal crackdown.

A tourist from Jiangsu Province in mainland China said (recording):
“[The Falun Gong] parade is great in scale and formality; it’s grandeur. It is not allowed in China, so we want to take a look.”

Many mainland Chinese tourists took the opportunity to visit the local service booth to withdraw their membership from the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations; believing that only the disintegration of the CCP will bring an end to the persecution.

Liang Zhen of the SOH Radio Network.

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Greenpeace is suing Wal-Mart for selling genetically modified rice.

- Spoiled rice: Greenpeace vs. Wal-Mart

- New law firm to fight injustice

- CCP Secretary selling off village properties

- ‘Global Quit the CCP’ day draws response from mainland Chinese

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Spoiled rice: Greenpeace vs. Wal-Mart

Greenpeace is suing global retail giant Wal-Mart for illegally selling transgenic rice in China. An attorney for the organization filed the complaint on the 28th of June, at the Luohu People’s Court in Shenzhen, home of China’s Wal-Mart headquarters. The claim was accepted, but additional materials need to be provided to support the case for trial.

Wang Weikang, the Director of Food and Agriculture Project for Greenpeace said, ‘We randomly surveyed several supermarket’s rice sales and found that a Wal-Mart store in Changsha, Hunan Province was selling transgenic rice.’ Greenpeace contacted Wal-Mart but received no reply.

Wang Weikang said (recording):
“No transgenic rice is permitted for legal production and sale inside China. Selling transgenic rice at Wal-Mart is illegal. We found that Wal-Mart in Great Britain and other countries promised consumers to stay away from transgenic products. So, this merchant is actually following a different standard than other countries. This is not respectful to the request of the Chinese consumer.”

Wang went on to say (recording):
“There is no conclusion of the long term effects of transgenic food. Many research reports have revealed transgenic foods might impact the immune system, including liver and kidney functions. People are genuinely worried about this. Until it is certain this food is safe, we should adopt preventive measures and stop its commercialization before it gets onto peoples dinner tables. Rice is the daily stable food of Chinese people. We need to be cautious.”

In April of this year Greenpeace published a thorough investigative report which found transgenic rice seeds were being sold and circulated in Hubei and Hunan provinces, with plantations in Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong, and Jiangxi provinces. Rice and rice flour are being sold before approval. Use of transgenic rice is only approved to Central China Agricultural University.

Wang also said that, (recording):
“As early as 2004 or 2005, a research team lead by Zhang Qifa of Central China Agricultural University found the transgenic rice seed in circulation, naming it BT63. The transgenic rice and rice products sold also have the transgenic gene of BT63. Zhang Qifa introduced this kind of seed illegally to a seed company for profit. When we reported on this, Zhang Qifa was not punished.”

At the end of last year,the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture issued certificates of bio safety to two transgenic rice types that are against rice insects: Huahui No 1 and Bt Shanyou 63. This is the first time China has issued certificates of safety to main stock transgenic foods. The policy on transgenic food on major stock food items stirred up major controversy in China. After Greenpeace revealed their findings, the Ministry repeatedly stated, “Issuing a certificate of safety does not stop the use of commercial production.”

Wang Qian and Xiao Tong of the SOH Radio Network

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Hu Zhigen a member of the newly formed Human Rights Legal Association.

New law firm to fight injustice

A group of kind-hearted Beijing lawyers have banded together to help China’s many appellants and disadvantaged groups who face unfair legal treatment in China’s current legal system. The group, called the Human Rights Legal Association was formed on July 1st and and will provide legal services and free consultations.

A member from the newly formed group, Yang Huiwen, said the issues appellants face is typically complicated. And finding legal help is often difficult.

He said (recording):
“I feel what I can do, with regards to the harm they suffered outside of the legal framework, is to hopefully help them to defend their lawful rights within the legal framework, so that they won’t give up hope on the legal system.”

Hu Zhigen, another member, said the association hoped to gain more upright and noble-minded lawyers looking to speak up for the disadvantaged. University law graduates are also welcome to join their ranks.

He said (recording):
“At present, there is a huge demand for legal professionals to do this work in all domains of society. But the current overall social environment is not suitable for honest, legal professionals to be engaged in normal professional work, which is a sad thing.”

The Association published an announcement on their website on the 30th of June. It read:
“In order to protect appellants’ rights and freedom, to pursue love and public interest in China, and to advance China’s legal system, we hereby form the Human Rights Lawyer Association. We look forward to support and active participation from colleagues and friends in the trade.”

Li Yifei and Yu Liang of the SOH Radio Network.

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CCP Secretary selling off village properties

The Chinese Communist Party Secretary for the village of Dragon Bay in China’s southern Guangdong Province has been embezzling funds and selling off properties and farmlands, a local resident tells SOH.

In an online appeal published on the internet, local man Xu Pou alleges CCP Secretary Lai Fongchuan sold the ‘Automatic Irrigation Facility’, annexed properties and farmland, and embezzled agricultural funds; he then used the money to purchase an expensive car and a luxury mansion.

Xu Pou told SOH reporters that out of the $27,500 funding granted by the Department of Treasury for agriculture in the region, $20,000 was allegedly embezzled. The CCP secretary then distributed the difference of $7,500 to village farmers at a rate of $136.20 per acre, with a total of 1,100 acres for the village of Xu Da Zai. A third of what the farmers should have received.

Xu Pou and a delegation of villagers discovered these figures through their local Department of Treasury.

Xu Pou said (recording):
“In order to embezzle more money, the Secretary of the CCP lied about the number of acres when asking for agricultural funding with local Department of Treasury. The actual area of farmland is much smaller. What we have received is only one third of what we deserve. There are about 1,400 people in the village of Xu Da Zai. There are also many more villages that didn’t get a dime.”

Xu Pou says the most horrible effect on the villagers is that 400 acres of farmland is drying out because of the illegal sale of the irrigation facility. The Automatic Irrigation Facility previously supplied water to 20,000 acres of farmland. The irrigation facility had the dual function of halting floods and storing water for irrigation.

Mr. Pou said (recording):
“We have no water for farming already, but what if there is a flood? Would the thousands of acres of farmland be safe? Would our lives be safe? Would our properties be safe? How could the thousands of villagers make a living? How can farmland produce crops without water? This is a devastating issue. Closed-door talks were attempted, but we were refused. [Secretary of the CCP] Mr. Lai said. ”You can sue me all you want. The deal is done. I can’t help it. You might get paid if you won the case. What are you going to do if you lost the case?””

The Automatic Irrigation Facility was built by a former secretary of the CCP in 1974. It has been in operation for more than 40 years.

The irrigation facility, property and farmland sales were made to the privately-owned company Machinery Equipment and Piping Company in 2009. Local residents say they are furious. Xu Pou said they will pursue the matter to court, and would not back off until the government showed support to change the situation.

Chen Yilian of the SOH Radio Network

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52,000 people joined Hong Kong's annual July 1st Parade, the 'Quit the CCP' movement maintains a strong showing every year.

‘Global Quit the CCP’ day draws response from mainland Chinese

The ‘Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party’ brings to light the history and rise of China’s Communist Party. It’s played a major role in the ‘Quit the CCP’ movement, as of today the Global Service Centre for Quitting the CCP has registered over 76 million resignations. July 1st marks the ‘Global Quit the CCP’ day. In this report we hear from many former Party members in China who resigned from the CCP in response to many social and environmental problems which have struck China today.

In China’s southern provinces severe rainstorms have battered the region. The Changkai Dike, a major dam on the Fu River, was breached on June 21st due to floods. Over ten thousand people were affected by the disaster. A resident of Fuzhou in Jiangxi Province, who resigned from the CCP as part of the ‘Quit CCP’ movement, said the situation is serious. Many homes have been swept away by the floods. The government has responded by covering up the injuries and death toll.

The resident told SOH reporters (recording):
“Some of the biggest breaches were five hundred metres wide. The government said not one person was injured, but dead bodies have been found in Nanchang. I use to teach history, I didn’t dare tell the truth in classrooms. Modern and contemporary historical studies can’t explain China. The things I have seen, the things I feel like saying, I want to share it, but sensitive information can’t be passed around domestically.”

Under the communist regime China’s social problems are becoming more prominent. Because of this, the ‘Quit the CCP’ movement continues to gain momentum. The Fuzhou resident continued (recording):
“There are many supporters of it, but not everyone dares express it publicly. Ten years ago when I studied, I began to realise: older people in lower class society; farmers who’ve lost their land; workers who’ve lost their jobs; mothers who’ve lost their children…if you have eyes you can see. I can see quite clearly…”

A resident in Henan resigned from the CCP in response to corruption amongst officials and illegal land seizures. The resident told reporters (recording):
“The CCP is corrupt and rotten, my family is a victim. My family had an 82 acre plot of land; the authorities demanded we restore agricultural land to forest. 220 Yuan for every 0.16 acre. We don’t income and, and we must find work elsewhere. This project to restore farmland back to forest…they are corrupt.

In Sichuan Province, over 30 people recently resigned from the CCP. Some of these included members in a government department and families. One public servant spoke to our SOH reporters (recording):
“My unit has quit, and my family has quit. We’re from the Sichuan Government, you can provide us the latest news daily, there are local Falun Gong organization urging us to quit as well.”

Tian Ling and Meng Mei of the SOH Radio Network.

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Environmentalist Li Li highlights the devastation wrought by unregulated manufacturing industries along China's major rivers.

- Villagers scramble for water as pollution worsens

- Nanping hit by torrential rain, authorities cover up

- Land rights protest leaves one villager crushed

- Teachers stage kneel-down protest

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Villagers scramble for water as pollution worsens

Pollution continues to plague China’s water sources. Waste from manufacturers is a major contributor to the problem. To avoid polluted water, villagers have funded drilling operations for cleaner underground sources. They’ve been seeking cost effective methods of locating water sources but have surprisingly met with resistance from authorities.

Polluted rivers are filled with manufactured waste, which contain heavy metals, blue algae, and lead. The problem is widespread covering several provinces, including Guangzhou, Jiangsu, and Hunan. The worst affected source is the Yellow River, which flows through the Gansu, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia provinces.

Environmentalist Li Li spoke extensively to SOH about China’s pollution problems. One of the major contributors was a lack of proper waste disposal mechanisms. Often manufacturers lack water purification systems, farmers overuse chemical fertilizers, and garbage disposal systems are ineffective.

On the overall state of pollution Mr Li had this to say (recording):
“The pollution is very bad. We’ve received many phone calls. One was made by a farmer, who lives near the Wei River, who saw many small manufacturers dumping waste into the river. Everyone knows global warming can be slowed if we care for our environment. We have performed tests from Beijing to Tianjin, and to the Grand Canal. It was an awful experience. The surface of the rivers was covered with filthy, stinking garbage. The floating trash is drifting down from upstream.”

Mr Li told SOH about a village in Henan province where residents appear to have succumbed to poisoning from pollution, developing into a so-called ‘cancer village’. Mr Li said (recording):
“A tenth grade student, from Shangqiu village in Henan, suspects people in his village have been getting cancer from the water. He took water from a well to Beijing for tests and found the water exceeded standard contamination levels in many indexes. That is their drinking water! No doubt they’re getting sick. So many people get cancer…liver, stomach, gullet and intestinal cancer. We really want to return to the village and help change the water.”

In desperation, villagers have begun searching for purer sources of water; Mr Li described this process (recording):
“The water on the surface is more polluted, and the polluted water goes deep underground. In this situation, the wells have to be dug deeper. But it’s expensive to dig deep wells, and the underground water will dry up if it’s over used. They’re trying to develop a cheaper method but can’t get any support from the government.”

Mr Li continued (recording):
“With the pollution by dirty water, the wells have to be deepened, from scores of metres to thousands of metres. With all the underground water being used up, won’t it run out? Now we have a method, building a water tower with biological screening. The water from it meets the standard for drinking water while the expense is cheaper. The cost to dig a deep well is enough to build two or three of our facilities. But we only get support from non-government organisations; the government doesn’t give financial support.”

There is a lot of funding for scientific research into pollution; however research results are often ignored. Mr Li spoke of the extensive efforts made by non-government organisations (recording):
“Scientists working for the government just think about how to get research funds. Many of them put the results aside after they’ve finished their research. They are not put into practice at all. But experts who work in non-government sectors are in very difficult financial situations. I know they are very good experts. They have to do a lot of research. Sometimes they have to investigate in person. They have to spend a lot of money. I have been working here on this field. The centre we built is called ‘The Theatre for Popularising Science’. We put the knowledge of environmental protection on the stage in a simple way, so that people can understand it easily.”

Yu Xin and Hui Hong of the SOH Radio Network

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Li Dun Village has been completely buried by mudslides caused by torrential rain in Fujian Province.

Nanping hit by torrential rain, authorities cover up

There one day, gone the next. The village of Li Dun is now completely buried under tons of mud after a devastating mudslide in China’s southern Fujian Province on June 18th. Locals say everywhere you look houses are collapsing, unable to withstand the constant battering of the floods. And villagers say authorities have kept the real death toll from the public.

Torrential rain and floods have devastated China’s southern regions for nearly two weeks now. Among the worst affected areas is Nanping City. At least half of all counties in Nanping province have been severely affected by the heavy rain. Just less than two weeks ago the water levels in Nanping’s Guangzhe county were 2 meters high.

And now local residents tell tales of horror scenes often only seen in disaster movies. Mr Chen, a local of Yanping district, tells reporters about the horrific mudslide that swallowed Li Dun village, saying at least 20 were killed.

He said, (recording):
“Many people died. The mountain slope fell into the river, and twenty some people died because of this. The head of Health and Disease Prevention [Centre] in our area is also dead. Thousands of houses haves collapsed and only 4,000 people from a township of 10,000 were allocated temporary shelters. Only three or four out of ten villages see their roads open. There is water stoppages and electricity blackouts. The collapse is so severe that one collapse happens every kilometer. Mountain slopes as wide as 100 meters are collapsed, in huge volumes.”

Mrs. Gong from Siqian village told reporters she witnessed a child being washed away in the river, but the authorities blocked the news. She said Siqian village is among the banks of Futun River, whose banks collapsed in recent years. She says the government embezzled the money reserved for repairmen.

Mrs. Gong tells reporters (recording):
“The source area from which Futun river runs was hit the most. Many houses were [falling] down following the flood on the 19th [of June]. Mudslides swallowed all the houses. My aunt’s family suffered losses [amounting to] tens of thousands of Yuan because of that. Mudslides also left many people homeless and at least 5-6 people are dead, as far as I know. In the county seat, three old people, including kids, were washed away by the water. But the thing is, the government leaders lie about the damage. If there were 10 deaths, they would say only 2 died.”

Torrential rains have caused severe damage and loss of life all across the region. According to Mr Wang of Wangtai township of Yanping district, Nanping, (recording):
“The local government leased the mountains with trees to someone. Many of the trees were cut and sold, so there is no soil preservation. When heavy rain falls, the damage has got to be severe. There are still dead bodies over in our village. All the roads are collapsed; it’s muddy everywhere. We have had no water and electricity for almost a week. We have to use candles; the villagers have not received any disaster relief aids.”
Torrential rain led to floods in many parts of Fujian province. A huge number of houses collapsed, infrastructure was destroyed, and farmlands submerged, causing more than 6 billion dollars in economic losses.

As of 4 pm on the 21st of June, the cities of Nanping, Sanming, Longyan, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Ningde, Fuzhou, and Putian have seen a total 664 villages and 2.6 million people affected. In addition, 44,200 houses have collapsed, 76 officially reported deaths have occurred, and 79 are missing.

Lin Li and Meng Mei of the SOH Radio Network

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Taobu villagers have seized 22 government vehicles and will use them as bargaining chips against the authorities trying to demolish their village.

Land rights protest leaves one villager crushed

300 villagers have clashed with police and demolition crews in Shandong Province. One villager was crushed by a government vehicle during the clash in Taobu Village of Weifang City. Villagers retaliated by destroying the vehicle. They also seized 22 government cars while demanding officials stay away from the village.

Taobu Village first came under target for demolition on April 23rd. Villagers received notice from the Weizi Town government that the 206 National Road was to be rerouted. It meant however that Taobu Village needed to be demolished. Local authorities failed to issue any legal documentation for appropriating the land. On May 26th, the Weizi Town government hired a large construction team to raze the village.

At 9am on June 21st, a massive demolition crew arrived. 60 vehicles were dispatched to carry out the demolition. Villagers came out in protest to block the crew. Song Weiyi was hit and knocked to the ground; he was then run over.

Mr Huang, a Taobu villager described the scene (recording):
“The Town Government, village cadres, public, inspection and legal personnel, came with unregistered vehicles to suppress us. There were 60 vehicles and about 2 – 300 people. Villagers put up the banners at the entrance to defend their village. Some saw how many people we had; so they turn and ran. Villagers stood in front of the trucks. One villager, Mr Song stood in front of a vehicle, but it didn’t stop. It first knocked him to the ground and the vehicle was switched off, afterwards it started up again, and it just crushed him.

A female resident of Taobu Villager also spoke to SOH: (recording)
“That day some vehicles crushed people; the farmers blocked their way and a fight erupted. They crushed Mr. Song and he was taken to hospital at once. Four of his ribs were broken, and pierced his lung, his leg is broken, the bone in his arm is also broken, and he is still unconscious.”

Villagers destroyed the vehicle (pictured) which ran over Song Weiyi.

Song Weiyi’s accident infuriated villagers to the point where they beat the driver of the truck. The vehicle was destroyed. They took control of 22 other vehicles, and deflated the tires. Later that evening the local government arranged to have the vehicles taken back. Several trucks waited in the neighbouring Beitao Village. Villagers took turns keeping a lookout.

Mr Huang, a villager said: (recording)
“We don’t let them take the vehicles, if the vehicle which crushed (Song) is driven away, we’ll have no evidence. Right now, we’re taking turns on duty night and day. The vehicles are protected and nothing is damaged. We are not cunning, not wicked, and the inner quality of these people is quite high.”

Local media have been censored from reporting the incident. The Weizi Town government has tried to distance itself from the incident. The license plates of the vehicles have been swapped so any connection with the authorities is removed.

Mr Huang said villagers were now concerned of possible reprisals from the authorities (recording):
“Villagers are afraid the offending vehicle will be taken away. There are still many government vehicles detained here. The villagers are worried of criminal charges. The government will take revenge, it’s not a simple matter of a crowd of villagers creating a disturbance and then letting the matter rest. Indeed, most regular people feel no security; many have their internet monitored.”

Yu Shan and Gu Qinger of the SOH Radio Network.

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Teachers stage kneel-down protest

Police arrested and detained a group of teachers last week in China’s Hubei Province. The crackdown was intended as a warning against large scale appeals, like the Gongan County appeal in April, when over one thousand teachers got down on their knees at the gates to the local county government building, seeking redress for stolen benefits.

Getting on your knees in protest seems like a bold statement, however one teacher explains the cultural significance behind it, saying (recording):
“According to locals, kneeling down is admitting to the need of financial help. Government officials said the teachers disrupted social order. As a result of this incident, most of the teachers have decided to appeal in Beijing.”

A representative for the teacher’s said (recording):
“Right now state managed teachers aren’t afraid of incarceration or death. If the Central Party Committee has policy arrangements, they pay no attention to appeals. They will turn away those who go to Beijing or provincial governments and arrest those who gather in public places. In 2008, a state-managed teacher attempted suicide by eating poison at a district court. County government spent an estimated 200,000 Yuan ($29,500 USD) on treatment for the teacher.”

Teachers’ representative Yang Huanqing was arrested and detained for ten days on the evening of June 23rd. Hu Pukun and Wan Shenggang, who held banners during the appeal, were each detained for five days.

A teacher’s representative said (recording):
“We must see the Central Party leaders. If this issue remains unresolved we will continue to appeal until justice is served.”

Fu Ming and He Wen of the SOH Radio Network.

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Sun Baoqiang, one of many outspoken critics of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre facing heavy police monitoring.

- Disgruntled villager runs down demolition team

- Anguished author’s outcry

- Dissidents ushered away during June 4th anniversary

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Disgruntled villager runs down demolition team

A protest in Henan Province has taken a turn for the worst as a disgruntled villager drove a truck into a demolition crew. On June 1st, Liu Danao drove his truck into demolition workers in protest against forced housing demolitions. The crash caused five deaths and over thirty injuries. Liu, who was accompanied by four other villagers, went to a local police station to turn himself in. Police subsequently detained several other villagers. Some have been released.

According to witnesses, a team of over 500 people, including police, riot police, fire fighters, government officials and demolition crews, went to Liuzhuang Village at around 6 am on June 1st. They were to demolish the homes of villages. In protest, Liu Danao first drove his truck, stopping in front of demolition machinery. Police began smashing his truck, in anger Liu proceeded to drive into the demolition crew.

China’s state-run media have run contradicting reports on the incident. They reported just four deaths and fifteen injuries, and also that police apprehended Mr Liu. Yu Guofu, a human rights activist in Henan has blasted official media for the incorrect reports.

He said (recording):
“The official reports certainly deviated from the truth. If it weren’t for the forced demolition, why would he drive his truck into these people? Now the officials bully civilians to such an extent that civilians have to protest. Four people died on the spot, another one died during emergency rescue. So five people died. The number of injuries is over thirty however, media reports said it was over ten. On May 27th, a demolition crew member fell when working and killed another person. All official media stay silent on this issue. They are hiding the truth.”

Yu Guofu told SOH reporters that Liu Danao is over sixty years old, he’s simple and well-behaved. He told us what happened at the police station (recording):
“Liu Danao went to turn himself in at around 5 p.m. Four villagers went with him. Those four villagers were detained as well. They were not released until June 3rd. Liu was about to be sentenced. His family and relatives, that is, his wife and two daughters, his younger brother Liu Sannao and sister-in-law, his sister and brother-in-law, were all taken away by the police. The villagers who went to police to appeal the next day were also arrested. Until now, only some of the villagers have been released.”

Starting from November last year, the Yutong Corporation of Zhengzhou City has planned to demolish South Liuzhuang Village to develop an industrial park. Local authorities did not reach any agreement with the villagers, nor did the demolition team follow any legal procedures. On May 31st, someone posted a notice in the village in the afternoon, it read:

“Water and electricity will be shut off on June 1 for the entire village, and the all-round demolition will get started.”

Yu Guofu said he received complaints from villagers as early as May, and the villagers have been appealing since April this year. However, the related departments simply ignored their appeals.

Yu said (recording):
“They came up with this “overlord agreement”, where 300 out of the 400 households in the village had to move out. Only eighteen households could stay. Villagers have been going to Beijing to appeal numerous times. The Henan Provincial Office stationed in Beijing intercepted these appellants immediately and sent them back. Due to corruption, they simply ignored their appeals. Now that Liu Danao has protested in such a drastic way, they have stopped the demolition temporarily, and are asking for the villagers’ opinions. Liu has protected the personal interests of all villagers. He can be said to be a hero fighting against corruption. However, based on the legal system in this society, he certainly will be mistreated.”

Wang Qian and Hui Hong of the SOH Radio Network

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Anguished author’s outcry

A Chinese woman faces ongoing pressure from authorities in the lead up to the release of her book titled: “Female Prisoner of the Red Mansion”. The book is a memorandum of her time spent in prison for leading a protest following the mass shooting of protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

On the day following the June 4th massacre, Sun made a public speech at Tiantong Road in Shanghai. She led a group of people in moving the barricades from one side of the street to the center of the road to protest, before she was arrested.

Sun Baoqiang was sentenced to three years in prison for “spreading rumors, incitement, and interfering with public transportation”. After being released from prison, Ms Baoqiang lost her job, apartment, and 21 years of work benefits.

Recently, when interviewed by SOH Radio she said (recording):
“Ever since I began writing this memoir, police from State security and the local precinct kept asking for my manuscript and threatening me. Four years ago I created a blog including this information. First they disabled the message board and then they deactivated the blog all together. I am being ‘silenced’ and don’t have a voice.”

Sun revealed that the Party has been monitoring her and her family in order to prevent the book from being published. According to Sun, (recording):
“All my mail was intercepted and all phone conversations were tapped. They not only kept calling my boss, but also called my landlord to evict me. My husband and son are scared and terrified, their suffering, hardship, humiliation, and depression are indescribable.”

Sun said (recording):
“‘Female Prisoner of the Red Mansion’ is a book that does not involve any state or any big secrets. The Party is afraid; they have no interest in serious crime but spend their time on us, the so-called dissidents. This is a real pity.”

Sun felt the reason the Communist government kept suppressing and persecuting her is because of her refusal to remain silent following the June 4th massacre.
She said (recording):
“Even though my outcry is so weak and feeble, as long as my heart is beating I will continue to write with my pen. Even though most of my writing is not published, this book has to be published.”

Sun was a typist at Shanghai Petro Refinery, and often published articles about contemporary issues. On June 4th, 1989, the Communist government used hundreds of thousands of troops and opened fire on peacefully appealing citizens and students in Beijing.

Despite struggling to survive over the past 21 years, she has never lost her faith. To date, Sun has written four books, and several commentaries on contemporary issues. Including her latest book, “Female Prisoner of the Red Mansion”, she has also written two novels: “Goriot the Shanghai Version”, and “The Low Life Shanghainese” series of books.

Fu Ming and Zhao Hui of the SOH Radio Network

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Dissidents ushered away during June 4th anniversary

Speaking over the phone, democratic activist Fu Shen has told SOH that police have been forcing many dissidents out of Xi’an in China’s north, for unknown reasons.

A city over 3,000 years old, Xi’an is the capital city of Shaanxi province and has been the capital, under various names, of some of the most important dynasties in Chinese history. Today, it is the home of several prominent democratic activists.

In the lead up to the June 4th anniversary of the infamous 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, several Chinese dissidents were arrested or sent away from Xi’an. In Xi’an, many were escorted by police to other provinces. Several dissidents from Guizhou in China’s south were also arrested.

Fu Shen told SOH that police told the dissidents they were being taken on a trip because they had, quote “worked so hard”.

He said (recording):
“At the moment, I am being escorted to some other place, out of Xi’an. I have no choice but to leave. Right now, almost everyone in Xi’an has been sent off. Ma Xiaoming was taken away yesterday. This morning, Ma Yuzhong, Zhang Jiankang, Yang Hai and Zhen Bao were taken away. All these heavyweights in Xi’an were taken away. This year is the last frenzy. Analysis of the situation around the country suggests that, for unknown reasons this year, everyone (would return) in three or four days, or a week. Three or four policemen or national security police acted as escorts, without any (formality), and they all had “beaming” excuses, such as ‘You’ve worked hard. Let’s go out on a trip’.”

When reporters called Guizhou dissident Chen Xi, his wife said he was already gone. Moreover, several other dissidents in Guizhou were also detained.

She told reporters (recording):
“He was taken by the police last night, without any (written notice). He did not take anything with him. It seems that Mo Jiangang was also taken away. I don’t know about others. It is (because of) 4th of June. Nothing was said (about their return), but it is possible to be after the 4th of June. He was told to take his own clothes.”

Telephone calls to Mo Jiangang and Du Heping weren’t answered. They were nowhere to be found.

Tian Xi of the SOH Radio Network.

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An interview with a former prison guard reveals the frightening extent of corruption and brutality in China's prisons (Prince Roy/flickr)

- Former prison officer reveals disturbing prison system

- More on lawyers Tang Jitian and Liu Wei

- Farmers take to railroad track in protest of land grabs

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Former prison officer reveals disturbing prison system

Mr Hu use to be a prison officer. He also served the CCP as a teacher and Party cadre. Once he became disenchanted with the shady and corrupt practices of China’s prison system, he resigned from all CCP affiliated organisations.

On May 8th Mr Hu spoke to SOH radio, giving us a glimpse into the dark side of China’s prison system. What he told us revealed systematic corruption and the flagrant abuse of human rights in many of China’s prisons. When he first joined the CCP, Hu developed an immediate dislike of the organisation. He spoke to us about this (recording):
“When I was in college studying a degree, my father suggested I join the CCP. I didn’t take his advice. Back then the Party propaganda went like this: ‘The majority of Party members are good. Only a small number, a handful of Party members are not good.’ However, I noticed that in places where I studied and lived bad cadres outnumbered good ones. It was quite disappointing. I wasn’t going to apply for Party membership. Afterwards, when I worked in the prison system, I often heard sarcastic comments from prisoners, like: “From what we can tell, police officers are even worse than us prisoners!””

Mr Hu told SOH that anyone with a hint of humanity would struggle to work in China’s penal system. He said (recording):
“All I saw was bribery, corruption, and beatings. It was outrageous. I don’t think this is a place where humans can stay. I need freedom. I don’t want to spend all my time trying to figure out the subtle hints in the body language of officials. One of my former colleagues still works at the propaganda department, putting a favourable spin on everything to police trainees. The last time I called him, I asked if he was pleased with his work. He said he was going crazy. He knows it’s all a blatant lie, and everyone else knows it’s a lie. Yet, he has to gloss over contradictions and make speeches to police officers. In other words, they fool themselves and lie to each other. So, I’m fed up with it, and don’t want to be a part of it. I decided to quit.”

Prison officers actually have the power to reduce prison terms. But some officers take advantage of this power; Mr Hu described one case (recording):
“They go out to deceive inmates’ families. For example, someone is in a labour camp. The officer tells his wife that he wants her ‘to understand the situation,’ a not so subtle hint that she should sleep with the officer in exchange for her husband’s reduced labour term.”

Mr Hu believes the flawed training system actually breeds unfit and violent cadets. Training regimes are lax and many underqualified and unfit cadets become officers (recording):
“Some graduated from high school and didn’t enrol in college [after failing the entrance exams]. Some finished military service and returned to their hometowns. Those with connections first became workers. After two or three years, he’s qualified to take exams to become a police officer. I once supervised the exams. It was completely out of control. Some students had parents who worked in law enforcement and never spent time studying. They copied each other’s answers during the exam. We didn’t dare stop them, because their parents were chiefs of departments. Officers who supervised the exam had to leave and smoke in the hallway. When I taught at such a school the students even dared to fight with me. After they passed the exam and became prison guards [while in China they still belong to the police system and wear police uniforms], they are most vicious when beating inmates. So vicious, that some inmates were beaten to death. Some inmates had mental breakdowns.”

Some prison guards were actually former soldiers. After returning from the military they bring unprecedented brutality to the prisons (recording):
“If you want to find anyone more vicious, it has to be soldiers. Sometimes, prison guards are angry at inmates, but even they don’t go too far with the beatings. Often soldiers are called in. These young soldiers, only 17, 18, or maybe 19 years old, don’t have any sympathy. They treat it like a boxing exercise. They simply lift the inmate off the ground and tie them to a tree using thick metal wire, and start rounds and rounds of punching.”

Mr Hu believes it was worth giving up his secure job in the prison system in exchange for freedom and human decency.

Fu Ming and Li Ming of the SOH Radio Network

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More on lawyers Tang Jitian and Liu Wei

The case of two Beijing lawyers facing the suspension of their practicing certificates continues to unfold in China. The case is receiving world-wide attention, and many foreign news agencies are closely following what unfolds in Beijing.

Tang Jitian and Liu Wei were notified by phone that a formal decision had been made about the cancellation of their certificates. The phone call was made by Chen Yinghai of the Law and Politics Branch at the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice on May 7th.

When interviewed over the telephone, Ms. Liu confirmed (recording):
“A decision has been handed down, but I was not formally notified. He asked me to go get the notice.”

Ms. Liu said, instead of handing her the decision at the Municipal Bureau of Justice, she was asked to collect it from a law firm. She said it was peculiar and “unacceptable” that normal protocol was ignored.
Ms Liu said, (recording):
“In fact, I do not have any legal connection with that practice any more. For mysterious motives, they told me to go to that practice to receive the decision, which I could not accept. Therefore I do not know the outcome yet.”

Ms. Liu believes the authorities’ were trying to avoid certain issues.
She said, (recording):
“According to the standard, I should fetch it from the [Municipal Bureau of Justice]. But today the convention was not followed. They wanted to avoid something.”
As for Tang Jitian, sources say his mobile phone has not been able to receive signals from overseas since his license was cancelled.

Calls to Chen Yinghui at the Law and Politics Branch of the Beijing Bureau of Justice, and Xiao Lizhu, the head of the Lawyer Control Department, were not answered.

On the 27th of April 2009, two Beijing lawyers Tang Jitian and Liu Wei, acted as the legal defense of Falun Gong practitioner Yang Ming, from Luzhou City, Sichuan Province. During the court proceedings, the presiding judge prevented Yang Ming from making his defense. Yang’s lawyers’ arguments were interrupted more than ten times. After their right to defend their client was deprived several times, the two lawyers withdrew from the courtroom in protest of the court’s illegal hearing. As a result, the Justice Bureau cancelled their practicing certificates for “disturbing the order of the court’

Falun Dafa is a spiritual practice, deeply rooted in Chinese history and traditions, whose adherents live by the principles of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance. It has been banned in China since July 20, 1999. Since then, adherents have been persecuted and illegally sent to detention centres, brainwashing camps, and forced labour camps. According to Amnesty International, torture and ill-treatment of Falun Gong adherents is prevalent during high profile political campaigns… Reports continue of deaths of detained practitioners following torture and extreme ill-treatment.”

Li Yifei and Xin Yi of SOH Radio Network.

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Farmers take to railroad track in protest of land grabs

400 farmers have taken to lying on a railroad track in protest of government land grabs. On April 29th, farmers from Changchun Village of Fujin in Heilongjiang Province lay on a stretch of railway for nine and a half hours. Dozens of tractors were also used to block a major highway. Armed police later arrived at the scene and dispersed the protestors with tear gas. A dozen farmers suffered injuries with two severely injured.

Locals’ estimate over 2000 armed police were dispatched to Fujin City. Central avenue and Oriental Plaza were held under tight control. One local told reporters (recording):
“There are traffic police on patrol every day, and there are also police and official vehicles from the Public Security Bureau on patrol. We don’t know if they carry guns, but there are many of them.”

The head of Changchun village, Ms Ling told reporters the farmers began blocking the railroads on the 29th. They managed to stop the number 4133 train from Jiamusi to Qianjin at 3pm.

Ling told us (recording):
“It’s been blocked for nine and a half hours. There were over 400 villagers and the police used tear gas on the crowd. About ten farmers were injured, two of them severely, and another two hospitalized. They had injuries all over their bodies. Some police were injured as well, but we don’t know how many.”

Ling said the authorities had seized over 40 square kilometres of land for state projects. For the next 14 years, the original owners of the land will only have the right to lease the land from the new owners. She told reporters about their demands (recording):
“Many people have come from the province, and some from the city. We just negotiated with them, telling them they must give the land back, as that’s what we want. The 40 square kilometres of land we have title to weren’t clearly appropriated. We did not mention money, what we want is land, not money.”

The farmers now reportedly own just 13 square kilometres of land, and the rest ‘belongs’ to the Fujin Agricultural Development Company. Farmers can only lease the land on an annual basis. It now appears they’re being forced to lease their own land, and that the company has become the landlord.

This situation actually stretches back to 2007, where government officials actually admitted the 40 square kilometres of land was acquired illegally through land seizures. Despite this, the authorities are still refusing to return the land to the farmers. The current protest is a result of this dispute. The protest itself has proven quite effective in achieving its aim. It seems even the Chinese Communist regime has been disturbed by the successful blocking of a train.

Tian Xi and Xin Yi of SOH Radio Network

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Amidst the extravaganza of the Shanghai World Expo lies housing demolitions, surveillance and heavy security (pictured: Jackie Chan). (proyitno/flickr)

- World Expo nestled in by heavy security

- Hand, foot and mouth disease ravages Guangdong

- Tang Jitian: “…the Justice Bureau is standing on truly wrong foundations”

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World Expo nestled in by heavy security

The world may be looking forward to Shanghai’s World Expo officially opening this coming Saturday, May 1st, but local residents are fed up with paying the high price for Shanghai to show off. Public resentment is on the rise in Shanghai with locals calling the World Expo “disastrous”. They say it goes against the will of the people.

Fuelling their resentment is the increased taxes put in place to help pay for the extravaganza, which officials say will be the most expensive in World Expo history. Security for the venue has ramped up and some residents have been put under surveillance.

SOH spoke to a Shanghai local who has visited the venue and this is what they had to say (recording):
“I went to the entrance to the expo, there are three lines of defense. The first one is barbed wire, the second one is a human wall, with one guard every three steps away, and the third one is an electrical wire, strong enough to kill animals. The defense is quite tight.”

Shanghai’s World Expo will cost about 400 billion Chinese yuan. For those not so familiar with Chinese currency, that’s a staggering 63.7 billion Australian dollars approximately.
Chinese officials are using this expo to showcase the rise and prosperity of China to a worldwide audience. Its theme is “Better City, Better Life”, which draws attention to the problems of urban growth and development. It has earned high praise from participants, but Shanghai citizens tell another story.

Jeanette Elsworth, Public Information Officer for UN-HABITAT, said that, as the UN agency on urban issues, her group welcomes the theme as an overdue recognition of the importance of urbanization to human development and the environment.

However, according to Shanghai citizens this show is simply costing too much. The investment is taken from the pockets of citizens, and the taxes, fees and inflation have all begun before the expo opens its doors to the world. In addition, the construction of the Expo led to some 18,000 families being displaced when their homes were demolished to build the 5.28km square venue. Many people who have appealed against the demolition after the fact have been threatened, detained, monitored, or thrown in to forced labor camp (recording):
“We can’t go anywhere, we are constantly monitored. There are hired people watching us all the time, and we can’t step out of the door. There are more than twenty people monitoring us 24 hours a day. We did not use any violence, only stated our appeal. We were told we couldn’t go to the Expo with appealing words on our clothes, we can’t hold sit-ins, can’t talk to media, and can’t get in touch with foreigners.”

The Expo does not seem to be able to bring joy and happiness to the citizens of Shanghai, and even family members of the police, who have special privileges, said they would never go back after seeing it (recording):
“Those who have been there said that a meal costs about 40-50 Yuan over there. One is not allowed to bring in bottled water, snack food or bags. Once a girl had a bag with her, and the police insisted on searching it. She refused, saying that this was her human right. But the police insisted on searching it, and found nothing in it. The girl was put in a detention centre for 4-5 days. There are many, many policemen at the Expo (300,000-400,000 of them), and they got in for free. But it’s a mess there, the subway system is interrupted, the touch screens are broken, most of the high tech stuff was not functioning.”

While many countries have come together to showcase their growth and development at the World Expo, it appears China has decided to say one thing and do another.

Tian Xi of SOH Radio Network

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Hand, foot and mouth disease is ravaging major cities in Guangdong Province, hospitals are struggling to cope.

Hand, foot and mouth disease ravages Guangdong

30,000 people have suffered hand, foot and mouth disease in Guangdong Province this year. Statistics from the Health Department reveal Guangdong has the highest infection rate nationally. Forecasts for next month see a surge in the outbreak. Doctors and nurses have said the number of patients has increased dramatically and the symptoms are often serious. According to the Disease Control Center in Dongguan City, the outbreak’s severity may be due to the number of migrant workers forced to live in poor conditions.

The Children’s Hospital in Guangdong’s capital Guangzhou has already begun its ‘Second Level Prevention’ campaign to combat the disease. Many infected children are sent to this hospital for treatment. Doctors working in the contagious ward have been too busy to answer phone calls.

A nurse revealed to SOH that child patients sent to the hospital often have serious symptoms and illnesses has developed quickly. She said (recording):
“The illness and symptoms change very quickly. There is a severe shortage of hospital beds. As a matter of fact, the room is huge, but the patients are numerous. Even if we have over 100 beds, there are more than 100 hand, foot and mouth disease patients, right? All child patients in Guangdong are sent to our hospital. Just imagine how many there will be!”

The situation in Dongguan City is among the worst in Guangdong. According to the Disease Control Center, in early April all 32 townships in the city had cases of hand, foot and mouth disease. From January to March they’ve been over 5000 victims, a stark contrast to the nine infections at the same time last year. Among the 5000, there have been four deaths and 45 are in a serious condition.

A nurse from the Women and Children’s Hospital in Dongguan told us (recording):
“This year’s outbreak is more severe than previous years. The symptoms change swiftly. Although there are few deaths, the number of critical cases is much higher than previous years!”

A nurse from the monitoring room for critical patients at Taiping Hospital said (recording): “The number of patients is huge; however, only severely ill patients are sent to our place. I am currently taking care of 12 patients. Children developed symptoms relatively quickly, and the situation worsens very quickly.”

Mr Huang at the Disease Control Center said there were more patients this year than in previous years. He told us (recording):
“We have seen both Coxsackie A16 and EV71. They were seen in previous years as well. As far as I know, many seriously ill patients went to small medical practices for their first treatment. The parents didn’t pay much attention to it. As a result, children miss the best time for treatment. Right now there is no vaccine, or any effective medicine. There are more patients this year than previous years.”

Another staff member at the Disease Control Center believes the outbreak of the disease is caused by the huge number of migrant workers. He said (recording):
“There are many migrant workers and they keep moving from one place to another. Most of the patients are migrants, especially contract workers. Their living conditions and hygiene are poor. The disease therefore spreads quickly.”

Now the disease is still spreading. The number of patients is 40% higher than last year. Deng Haihua, Director of the News Office in the Department of Public Health, pointed out in early April that the outbreak of the disease had hit earlier this year. The hardest hit are rural areas.

Wu Jiaqi and Wang Zhen of the SOH Radio Network

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Suspended lawyer Tang Jitian predicts disaster for the Chinese authorities if they continue corrupt practices.

Tang Jitian: “…the Justice Bureau is standing on truly wrong foundations”

The Beijing Justice Bureau has suspended the practicing certificates of lawyers Tang Jitian and Liu Wei. Following the April 22nd hearing, Tang Jitian spoke to reporters outside saying this was just another method by the authorities to suppress lawyers. He warned however the authorities risked their moral and legal standing with the Chinese people.

Despite losing his certificate, Tang stated he wasn’t disheartened, on the contrary he believes the Justice Bureau will be the true loser. Mr Tang said (recording):
“This process will be challenging to us individually, but in the long run, a government needs a good image to gain trust from the people or internationally. I believe they will be affected in the long term. As for my difficulties in making a living, or other issues, they can’t stop me from doing what I should be doing as a member of society!”

The People’s Intermediate Court in Luzhou was responsible for suspending their certificates. Tang Jitian asserts the court has never bound itself with the law. Last year on April 22nd, a hearing was held for Falun Gong practitioner Yang Ming. The trial was conducted so that Yang Ming couldn’t present an adequate defence.

Tang spoke to us about that trial (recording):
“They constantly interfere with our right to defend. There is no justice in the court, continuing the process would be conforming to illegal activity. It’s not only our interests, but those of the victim as well. Not only were we forced to withdraw from the hearing, there was an unknown person videotaping us. There has been a series of illegal issues. It actually shows the court doesn’t have any justice. He’s been struck and is serving a sentence at our suggestion. We can only say the Justice Bureau is standing on truly wrong foundations.

The suspension of Tang Jitian and Liu Wei appear to be part of a long term strategy to suppress dissidents and lawyers, Tang Jitian shared his views on the matter (recording):
“The Justice Bureau carries this out on lawbreakers and to control lawyers. They use this strategy to suppress. Through this suppression, it has the effect of killing two eagles with one arrow or killing many birds with one stone. It’s actually a warning to many others in the same profession. It doesn’t eliminate the revenge factor however, for example, in previous years we’ve demanded direct elections into the law association, or else we’ll openly publish their accounts, conduct audits and so on, it has stirred up people’s interest. “

Those who attended the hearing said the authorities were in lockdown mode and acted like they were facing a strong enemy. Security was present and roads were blocked around the front of Beijing Justice Bureau. Many people who wanted to go to the hearing were placed under house arrest and some people were arrest on site.

Fu Ming and Wu Tong of the SOH Radio Network.

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In his latest interview with AP, Gao Zhisheng is revealed to be a shadow of his former, lively self.

- Zhong Weiguang: “I believe the Communist Party…is still an evil group”

- Yunnan aid relief from regular people

- Victims protest Shanghai Mayor’s Taiwan visit

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Zhong Weiguang: “I believe the CCP…is still an evil group”

Renowned Chinese human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng reappeared recently after mysteriously disappearing a year ago. He was interviewed by the Associated Press on April 6th in the wake of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to the United States. Zhong Weiguang a Chinese scholar living in Germany, warned the Chinese Communist Party’s nature should never be underestimated. People should be wary of the temporary ease of control by the government.

Gao was interviewed on April 6th after going missing since February 2009. Before his disappearance Gao was seen as a strong, talkative, slightly plump human rights attorney. But recent photos of Gao shows a shadow of his former self. He is thin and his face seems disfigured. Upon seeing the photo, Gao Zhisheng’s wife, Geng He was in tears, and couldn’t believe he looked so old after missing for one year. Observers believe Gao may have been injected with drugs harming his nervous system.

A healthier, more robust Gao Zhisheng prior to his detention on February 2009.

Zhong Weiguang, an expert on authoritarianism and founder of the Chinese Cultural Freedom Movement, believes Gao was severely tortured. He said (recording):
“I finally saw the news and picture of Gao. The picture showed Gao’s appearance was totally different. We can see a change after severe torture, the kind bordering on life and death that would result in such a change in a person.”

Gao was targeted by the government after taking many sensitive human rights cases, especially when he wrote open letters condemning the persecution of Falun Gong. In November 2007, Gao published a letter entitled ‘Dark Night, Dark Hood, and Kidnapping by Dark Forces’, which described his abduction by police between September and November of 2007. According to the article he was subjected to electric shocks, his eyes were burned with cigarettes, and his genitals punctured with toothpicks. These accounts shocked the international community.

Zhong believes the recent interview by AP right before Hu Jintao’s visit to the USA was a political stunt by the Chinese authorities to achieve its goals. He said (recording):
“Ever since the communists took power in China, they have launched movement after movement of suppression and persecution. After each movement, they would again pretend to show goodwill to its people and to the outside world. But all of this, from what is demonstrated in Gao’s case, serves no purpose but to uphold and maintain its grip on power and to stay in power. I believe the communist party, in the era of Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao, is still an evil group. The very nature of the CCP is just as it was ten years ago, nothing has changed.”

When Gao disappeared many human rights organizations and the United States and British governments repeatedly questioned the Chinese regime on his whereabouts. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Manfred Nowak also expressed concerns over the personal safety of Gao. Zhong Weiguang talked about the role the international community has on Gao’s safety (recording):
“The reason we hear about Gao on the news, is not because the CCP has repented and started respecting the rule of law, nor because it cares about human rights. It’s the concern shown by people and media all over the world. And all those good people with hearts and consciences, that make the CCP afraid. So what we learn is towards the CCP we have to keep exerting pressure.”

Tang Yin and Yu Hang of SOH Radio Network.

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Yunnan aid relief from regular people

The disastrous drought in China’s Yunnan Province still hasn’t eased. Many victims of the drought have told SOH reporters that local government efforts have been completely inadequate. Common people are now forced to provide relief. Also, a Lincang City representative publicised a plan to open a new hydroelectric dam and plant large quantities of eucalyptus plants, despite the worsening the disaster.

Li Shilong, an official representative of Aihua Town in Lincang, told reporters the local government is building a hydroelectric dam which is creating a water shortage and effecting water quality. Town folk have raised the issue with authorities many times but many were detained or sentenced to re-education through forced labour.

Li Shilong stated (recording):
“We made it known to them, but the government just ignored it. For ten years we haven’t planted rice and eucalyptus on this side. No other trees can survive where eucalyptus are planted. Some areas have perished.”

In Yunnan Province, there is a mountain village in Yulou County of Chuxiong Yi Prefecture. A reservoir which supplies water to the village sits ten kilometres away and is slated to last a further two months. Food supplies will last nine more months. The village secretary, Li Guangzhou said locals have had difficulties getting food and water; they’ve had to rely on the goodwill of people from other provinces for aid.

Li Guangzhou said (recording):
“We try getting water from anywhere; it’s very difficult to draw water. We only dare shower once a month and we use the same water to wash our legs, water vegetables and feed animals. It isn’t just water, we don’t have fodder and we need to sell it. We are 60 km from town, and too far away. We don’t have money to buy, we have difficulty getting vegetables. We people do labour and government aid is inadequate, there are people here from Jiangsu, Hubei and Hong Kong.”

In late March, students from Sapiwu Village Primary School in Nanhua County were reportedly drinking dirty water to quench their thirst. This has raised public concerns. The village committee has built two wells to ease water constraints and are still looking for other sources.

A committee member said (recording):
“We’ve built two deep wells, and now things have eased a bit. We’re still looking for water sources, if we can find a new water source, we will draw from it. The water is 65 meters groundwater, the water is fresh. There’s still no irrigation, farms must wait until the rains come. We are 40 km from the city, we still have enough vegetables to last a month.

The suddenness of the drought caught farmers by surprise and has affected crop growth and farming work. Subsequently there’s been a growth in the number of people working outside villages. In one instance, a factory village had a population of 2500. Previously, only 200 people worked outside the village. Now half the village population work elsewhere.

Lu Fang and He Wen of the SOH Radio Network.

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Shen Ting (right), Chairperson of the 'Chinese League of Victims', protesting during the Shanghai Mayor's visit.

Victims protest Shanghai Mayor’s Taiwan visit

As the Mayor of Shanghai Han Zheng, visits Taiwan to promote the World Expo. Leader of the ‘Chinese League of Victims’, Shen Ting has made a special trip from France to protest. She said behind the glory of the expo lay the tears and blood of victims whose homes were forcibly demolished.

According to Shen, about 4,000 houses were destroyed for the expo, impacting nearly 18,000 families. Some were even beaten to death on trains while they travelled to make appeals. Some were taken to labour camps or died of injections from unknown drugs. So far three deaths are accounted for. From May 2009 to March, several people have been sentenced to terms of forced labour in prison.

Shen said the league had compiled a book titled the ‘Shanghai Expo – Shame to the World’, which was delivered to the headquarters of the World Expo in France and to the Polish Government. While in Taiwan, Shen called upon the Mayor of Taipei, Hao Longbin, to pay attention to the suffering by Shanghai residents whose homes were wrecked.

She said (recording):
“Taiwanese people live in democracy and freedom. They can voice the injustices they suffer any time. If these Shanghai residents were to apply for a protest, they would be arrested immediately. Under the totalitarian rule of the communist party, there is no freedom of speech.”

She further told reporters (recording):
“Forced demolition and construction in Shanghai began in the 90s. Initially, citizens sold their homes at cheap prices for fear of government coercion. They gradually started to defend their rights. But going to Beijing to petition is tough. On paper we aren’t allowed to appeal, but in reality appellants are persecuted severely. In 2002, Shanghai won the bid to host the World Expo with the slogan, ‘Better City, Better Life’. What we see now is it has already broken its promise, going against its slogan.”

The World Expo is scheduled to run from May 1st until October 31st in Shanghai. Shen Ting is chairperson of the ‘Chinese League of Victims’. In 2003 Shen had her Chinese travelling documents annulled for suing Shanghai millionaire Zhou Zhengyi and organising the league.

Li Jingyu and Yu Han of the SOH Radio Network.

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A former hero of the PLA is now forced to wander homeless around Beijing petitioning (not pictured).

- Former PLA hero turned poor vagrant
- Dissidents speak out over CCP conference security
- Hainan farmlands seized, 13 arrested

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Former PLA hero turned poor vagrant

A former hero of the People’s Liberation Army, is now blacklisted and has been reduced to petitioning. Wang Guilin, who served during the Sino-Vietnam War, has petitioned to the Letters and Complaints Bureau over injustices he suffered as a result of the war. His appeal has largely been ignored.

Wang Guilin fought in a series of border skirmishes in Vietnam in 1985. This was part of a greater series of conflicts from 1984 to 89, which is known unofficially as the ‘second Sino-Vietnam War’. It followed the first, official 1979 Sino-Vietnam War. Wang led the ‘106th Dagger Division’ charged with the 211th main offensive of Lao Son. Severe battles raged for six days and nights. The division gained six key hilltop positions and killed 12 enemy soldiers. They received awards from the Kunming Military Region; and were recognised as a ‘model of solid attack’. Wang Guilin was recognised for his contribution and was promoted to battalion commander. Subsequently, higher ranking military personnel began misreporting the actual size of the victories, to gain more credit and prestige. After an investigation was carried out, soldiers including Wang Guilin became scapegoats for the misrepresentation.

Wang Guilin confirmed these reports in a recent interview (recording):
“I was part of the engagement in Lao Son on February 11th 1985. We attacked and occupied six enemy hilltops. On February 13th, the event made the front page of the ‘People’s Liberation Army Newspaper’, it said we had attacked and occupied six positions and killed 12 enemy troops. When headquarters investigated, they accused me of exaggerating the reports, and placed criminal charges on me. The division leader and deputy level commander, Wang Yonghuai, exaggerated the scale of the battle for the sake of glory. He reported that we killed 93 enemies. The rear squad leader reported 103 enemy casualties. Commander Su Jungao reported 150 kills. Pan Lijie, the division’s political commissar accused me of being a criminal. Our commander was subsequently demoted.”

Wang Guilin told reporters after being discharged from the army; in 2001 he was arrested and locked up in a labour camp for three years. From September 2006 to June 2009, he spent a further three years imprisoned in the Xuzhou Military Region. On June 23rd 2009, Xuzhou authorities prepared false documentation saying he had been sent back to his hometown. Wang now wanders destitute around Beijing. In Beijing a person must be registered with the authorities if they want to live or work, because Wang is documented to be residing elsewhere, he won’t be able to work or buy housing. Wang continues to petition but this has had no effect and he continues to suffer imprisonment, beatings, and re-education through forced labour. At present, he has no work, no home, and no identity.

Wang Guilin further told reporters (recording):
“When I was petitioning they arrested me and beat me until the pit of my stomach was purple, it was still purple after two months. My medical records stated I had blood in my urine. My arm was broken twice. I was beaten twice at the Letters and Complaints Bureau as well. I haven’t committed any crimes. From 2003 to 2006, I was in a labour re-education camp; from September 2006 to June 2009 I was in a small, private prison in the Xuzhou Military Region. It was a special modified room. They locked me up there.”

Fu Ming and Ai Xin of the SOH Radio Network.

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Dissidents speak out over CCP conference security

The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) two major conferences closed on March 14th, but the monitoring of dissidents, rights activists and petitioners has not stopped. In order to ‘safeguard’ the conferences, 700,000 security personnel had been mobilized to patrol. Some dissidents had their freedom restricted. Others were arrested or kidnapped.

On March 12th, the daughter of an 80-year-old appellant from Beijing, Wang Xiuying, said they’d been petitioning for seven years about the demolition of their home, which is still unresolved to this day. She said (recording):
“Since the 25th we’ve been under twenty-four hour watch with police car escort. They follow us during our one-hour walks each morning and evening. Before they watched my mum only, but now they watch me as well. Why are they so afraid, so nervous? I think they’re scared of the scandal if people hear that an 80-year-old doesn’t have a place to live. Nobody takes any action in the government. They want to cover up the lack of solutions. So they’re scared to death.”

A university professor Gu Guoping, who’s appealed because of a forced demolition, said: (recording):
“I was monitored. First, they forbid you from going to Beijing from the 12th of February to the 15th of March. Second, if you do go, they will take action. If you go again, they will hold you in prison. Third, they could frame you and keep you at the jail or send you to a labour camp. Anything is possible.”

An activist from Beijing, Gao Hongming, said (recording):
“I was under constant surveillance from March 1st until the end of the conferences. There are police and security downstairs. They escort me when I go out and watch me around the clock. I think they’re afraid I will get in touch with foreign media.”

For two years, 60-year-old Yang Yongquan has been appealing for the unjust death of his son. His freedom was also restricted during the conferences.

Ms. Zheng from Yangguang Gongyi spoke of what had happened to other petitioners, she said (recording):
“Mr Liu Anjun was taken on a ‘trip’. We don’t know his whereabouts. Another of our volunteers, Ms Shang Junxia was also taken away from Bejing. Please pay attention to Wang Bing. We have no news on him and cannot even confirm that he is still alive.”

Han Fei and He Wen of the SOH Radio Network

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Hainan farmlands seized, 13 arrested

Authorities of Danzhou, Hainan Province have seized 3.3 square kilometres of land from over 20,000 people. On March 13th a rubber plantation with three farms were taken without proper compensation. Twelve representatives of the farmers have appealed without success. They were all arrested and one of them is now critically ill in prison.

In late 2009, Cao Jing, head of the Public Security Bureau of Danzhou ordered the arrests of the representatives including Xie Weizhan and Tan Dahuan. Zhou Haiying, the wife of another representative, Huang Shiwang, was also arrested on the charge of ‘assembling to disturb social order’. This was based on her visit to the office of the Public Security Bureau to see her husband. One of the representatives, Tan Dahuan, is now said to be in a critical condition and has been sent to hospital for treatment.

According to Mr. Luo from the Heluo Farm (recording):
“They told us to go and attend a meeting, but then they arrested us. People from ages 30–70 were all arrested. Families aren’t allowed to visit us; some of the sick ones are so ill they’re dying. They put us in hospital with handcuffs, with security personnel watching us.”

Police officers seized the harvests from the three farms in the region. Farmers who tried to defend their properties were beaten. As a result, they were forced to flee their homes and seek employment elsewhere.

One farmer, Mr Zhong spoke to reporters (recording):
“The police used tear gas on us, and hundreds of them came to seize our property. We tried to sue them and they told us whoever dares to sue will be arrested. This is too dismal and without justice. We don’t have land, so we have no money. We go out of town to work for a living, and our kids are therefore unable to go to school. We are very concerned. We have gone to the authorities to appeal 12 times, and were transported back twice when we visited Beijing.”

According to the farmers’ legal representative, Mr. Huang, one man named Xie Weizhan, who is 70 years old, is very sick and is ill. He’s suffered numerous sicknesses after being put in prison. Mr. Huang said (recording):
“They went together to appeal, only to be arrested and beaten. When they write to appeal to authorities, their letters receive no attention. The lawsuit for compensation went on for years, but the police ended up jailing a dozen farmers. Two or three of them are very ill; one of them is so critically ill that we don’t know if he is still alive or what kind of treatment he’s received. All the information is blocked.”

Huang also said the city government changed the registration details of the land, giving the property rights to the county government. The farmers sued to have it overturned, but were refused. The land seizures then continued. According to Huang (recording):
“There are 21 village committees there and the properties are jointly owned by 20,000 people. The three farms have been operating for 60 years. Based on Chinese land law, if the land has been farmed for more than 20 years with no one else claiming ownership rights, the land will belong to the people farming it. The Hainan Intermediate People’s Court has ruled that the rubber plantations are owned the farmers, but the Supreme Court ruled the land belongs to the government. The government has sold over 0.67 square kilometres of land and corrupt officials and businessmen are benefitting; this is real corruption.”

Police have said families of detainees are not allowed to visit family members in custody.

A police officer told SOH (recording):
“There is nothing wrong with refusing visits, you don’t even need to call us to inquire about it. If the family has different views on the matter, you can go see the authorities who have jurisdiction over this matter.”

Lu Fang and Yu Liang of the SOH Radio Network

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Chinese authorities have issued new regulations to stem the problem of illegal land evictions. These regulations however have been heavily scrutinised.

- Canton train tickets run sparse, ID ticketing ineffective
- Beijing Judicial Bureau monitors Falun Gong lawyers
- New property regulations widely condemned

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Canton train tickets run sparse, ID ticketing ineffective

It is allegedly the largest annual migration in human history. It sets a new record year after year after year. An estimated more than 2.5 billion journeys, more than 2.5 billion destinations; all in the 30 days before Chinese New Year. Every year in the month leading up to February 14th, Chinese nationals across the entire country go home for the holidays. As the record number of travellers continues to increase, tickets home become scarce, driving up ticket prices, as well security measures.

Recently, China began checking ID cards for the sale of train tickets. Passengers’ names are printed on the tickets in an effort to prevent ticket scalpers. However, travellers say it is still hard to get a ticket from Canton to Beijing. Ticket scalping still exists and bus fares have risen as well, making it difficult for many peasants working in the city to return to their countryside homes for Chinese New Year.

Mr. Jin, who is a peasant worker from Dong Guan, Guangdong Province, said many farmers that turned into city laborers had to stay in the city to spend new years, as they could not attain train tickets.

He told reporters (Recording):
“I am in Hubei Province. I am scheduled to go home on Feburary 7th, but since I could not book a ticket, I have decided to spend the New Year holiday in Dong Guan. Some of my friends rented a charter bus and went home, but most of them could not buy a ticket, so they will stay here during the holidays. There are so many people at the train station waiting, all the way from the ticket window to main street. There are just far too many people there.”

Ms. Wang managed to return to her home in Henan Province. She said all the train tickets departing Canton and heading northbound are sold out and buying from the scalpers would be too costly.

Ms. Wang said (Recording):
“All the tickets before New Years are probably all sold out. Some people could not get any tickets, so they went home by airplane. The day before yesterday when I arrived, the ticket prices had already increased.”

Mainland China media states that there are now ID scalpers in front of Canton Railway Station. Lost ID’s are sold to travellers for 80 Yuan each. The ID card and the ticket from the scalper could then be used to board the train. According to Mr. Chen, checking ID and printing passenger names on tickets cannot solve the problem of ticket scalping.

Mr. Chen said (Recording):
“For those who are desperate, they could get any ticket. The ones who obtained the tickets had connections to internal employees of the railway system. Adopting the system of checking and naming tickets cannot really solve the problem. People can use fake IDs to buy tickets. Ticket scalping is a lucrative business and they can charge 100 Yuan on cabins with beds and 50 Yuan on seats. As for those who are eager to go home to spend the New Year, buying those high priced tickets from scalpers is the only option.
Mr. Ye also managed to go back home; he told the reporter that those who came from the north to work as labourers in the south all need to get on the train in Canton. Some of his fellow villagers could not obtain any train tickets and they had to take the motorcycles home or charter a bus. Bus tickets are rising rapidly as well.

Mr. Ye told reporters (Recording):
“It is the same every year. Some of the workers might have spent a week sleeping on the street to line up and buy a ticket. The line was as long as 2-3 kilometers, but they still could not obtain a ticket. The factories they worked at are all closed for the holiday, so even if they stayed, there would be nothing to eat. Some rode a motorcycle back. Bus prices rose a lot. Many returned on a chartered bus, costing about 100 Yuan each, but that price is said to increase to 140 or 150 Yuan. This happens every year, lasting for about 40 days, when Chinese New Year is around the corner. There is an entrepreneur who bought 4 or 5 buses, and he can get his investment of hundreds of thousands of Yuan back because of this rush. Isn’t he good?”

Craig Richter; Lu Fang of the SOH Radio Network.

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Beijing Judicial Bureau monitors Falun Gong lawyers

An illegal hearing of two Falun Gong practitioners was held in Yichun City of Heiliongjiang Province, on the morning of January 26th. Before the hearing of Sun Dexiang and Liu Mingshu, the Beijing Judicial Bureau warned the two lawyers representing Sun Dexiang not to post their arguments on the internet or accept interviews from foreign media.
Sun and Liu are practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice of mind and body that teaches the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. Practitioners of Falun Gong, along with religions like Christianity, Tibetan Buddhism and Catholicism to name a few, are persecuted in China.

Sun’s lawyer, Mr. Li Jinglin is from Beijing and he has provided his service to numerous Falun Gong practitioners. Li Jinglin said (recording), “I have been warned on other cases that no lawyer could publish their defense over the web or give interviews to foreign media. This is a huge step backwards for the law. It is a stressful period right now. Therefore I’m not at liberty to disclose much right now. It is too difficult to be a lawyer in China.”

Also representing the defendants is Beijing lawyer Li Changming. Li submitted a “not guilty” plea for Sun. He turned down an interview for fear his telephone was being monitored by Communist authorities. Li Changming said(recording), “My telephone is not safe. I’m not at liberty to discuss these matters.”

According to the son of Sun Dexing, Che Hongbo, the hearing on the 26th went from 9am to 12pm. Che Hongbo said (recording), “The result of the first trial is not out yet. It is usually expected to be released a month and a half after the court accepts the case. A decision must be made within this time period. A checkpoint was set up at the entrance, and only those with visitor’s passes were allowed in. The court only gave one pass to me, and no one else. There were seven or eight people, all waiting at the entrance hoping for justice. The lawyer’s arguments were quite good, but he didn’t give it to me.”

According to reports Clearwisdom net, another Falun Gong practitioner in her eighties, Ms. Liu Mingshu, was tried on the same day. On the 20th July last year, after Liu was illegally kidnapped, she became seriously ill. It was not until she paid 10,000 Yuan, that she obtained a guarantor awaiting trial. Her family carried her to the court, and she remained silent through the entire hearing.

Perry Luo, Xin Gang and Lu Fang of the SOH Radio Network.

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New property regulations widely condemned

A new regulation for housing demolitions has just been released. On January 29th, the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council issued a draft resolution titled the ‘Ordinance for Housing Collection and Compensation on State-owned land’. As soon as the new regulations were released, it received widespread condemnation. One criticism was this wouldn’t put an end to forced demolitions and only gave it a new name and a legitimate front.

Liu Feiyue, a human rights activist based in Hubei Province, says the regulations will create a legal hotbed for forced evictions due to its inclusion of commercial relocations. He told reporters (recording):
“Actually, these regulations should focus on the demolition of land for public purposes. However it includes commercial activities, in fact, it permits such commercial activities to continue existing. We believe however public demolitions and relocation shouldn’t include commercial activities. Commercial demolition is akin to buying things from a market, it’s a relationship of buying and selling, buying and selling are a different relationship from public welfare.”

Mr Liu says the regulations will be difficult to implement due to corruption amongst officials. He stated (recording):
“In reality, the authorities are greater than the law, and since officials hold absolute power, many regulations can’t be implemented effectively. They’re just sheets of waste paper. We’ll be very concerned even if the new regulations pass through, this means developers and local officials will have to give up their vested interests, I can see great difficulties with this.”

Wu Tianli, a Beijing resident believes the regulations don’t deal clearly with the public’s interest. Because there is still a huge commercial interest at stake, it will be difficult to protect people’s rights. She said (recording):
“If these regulations were for the people, it would clearly outline their interests…Because the buying and selling of land still exists, there will still be competition and forced demolitions won’t end. This is the truth.”

The Legislative Affairs Office has stated it is open to suggestions and opinions on the regulations. Ms Wu says this is only for show (recording):
“Forced demolitions and relocations have caused worldwide anger. It is very difficult to deal with and it may feel embarrassed. So it let’s everyone think it’s open to suggestions. This is only for show; I do not believe it is true.”

Chen Qiyong, a victim of forced demolitions in Shanghai, says the regulations don’t grant any protection to victims, and only provide protection to developers and officials. He said (recording):
“It’s a change in name only; the people still don’t receive any benefits. Before the government would demolish our homes, force us to relocate and steal our property. It’s these same people who have set up the regulations to keep up with the times. It acts as a protective umbrella. They’re saying the stealing of property is now legitimate.”

Li Huifang, a Shanghai petitioner, has issued an appeal for millions of victims around China. She said (recording):
“Before you issue these regulations, you should resolve issues from the past. There should be a proposal for problems left over from the past. Corrupt officials should return property they robbed from ordinary people. Punish those who broke the law. We are all victims, we were detained and re-educated through labor and all this because of relocations. These demolitions have caused great pain for many of us; they should pay back the innocents.”

According to Shandong lawyer Ni Wenhua, the unconstitutional ‘Regulation on the Dismantlement of Urban Houses’ released by the State Council in 2001 is still in effect. He says cases of forced demolitions are actually increasing all over China.

Chris Thomas, Fu Ming, and Zhu Jiaqi of the SOH Radio Network.

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Police called in to handle protests over land seizures in Guangdong Province.

- Guangdong villagers afraid to speak out on land robbery
- Authorities give in to Guangdong land protests
- New train ticketing policy slammed

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Guangdong villagers afraid to speak out on land robbery

On January 9th, villagers from Wuchuan Village in GuangDong Province, told SOH, 0.93 square kilometers of land in their village was forcibly taken by developers. The villagers, threatened by corrupt officials, received only a third of the compensation.

Wuchuan Village used to own one square kilometer of land, but developers took 0.93 square kilometers in September. As for the rest, a villager told reporters (recording):
“0.07 square kilometers remained, but were used for roads. Essentially nothing is left. All the land is gone.”

The developers only gave villagers 65,000 renminbi per 0.0007 square kilometers, instead of the market price of 180,000. A villager told reporters (recording):
“Some farmers opened up factories, but [the officials] called in the tax department to audit the factories. [All the villagers] kept quiet, and let them take the land away.”

The villagers used to lease the land for 20,000 renminbi per 0.0007 square kilometers annually. The loss of the land put over 4,000 villagers without a source of income. A villager told reporters (recording):
“Now, each person has 7500 renminbi. Our land had been hired out at 20,000 renminbi for every Chinese acre. I would earn that much in a few months of work, but they robbed us for 65,000.”

A neighbouring village in Titian is suffering the same problem. Nearly 700 villagers have filed a joint lawsuit against the Governor of Guangdong Province, Huang Huahua. Huang Huahua is the highest ranking official to have been indicted, since the introduction of administrative law. The case was heard publicly on December 9th 2009, by the People’s Intermediate Court of Guang Zhou.

Farmland being forcibly taken is a common issue in today’s China. Officials work with merchants to intimidate ordinary citizens, often inciting strong protests from farmers.

Chris Thomas and Tian Xi SOH Radio Network.

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Authorities give in to Guangdong land protests

Farmers from Shantou, Guangdong Province have protested for two months against village officials. The officials illegally sold the property of farmers. The protesters went to a local government office to appeal. The local government eventually gave in, partially resolving the issue. This was on the condition no more protests were to take place, or villagers risked being arrested.

Over 14,000 farmers live in Nanwan Village. In June 2009, the local government began leasing farmland back to villagers. However only 944 of a total 5477 square kilometers of land was leased.

Consequently, from June until September 10th 2009, thousands of farmers have marched around the village beating drums and gongs. They’re holding banners demanding justice, and their land returned.
One villager said in an interview (recording):
“We marched for two months, from 6:30 pm every night to 10:30 pm, beating our drums and gongs from our village to the neighboring village. Currently only a small part of the problem is resolved and we are still not satisfied.”

On July 13, 2009, thousands of farmers marched for hours from their village to appeal to the local government office in Cheng Hai.

Another villager spoke to reporters (recording):
“We have about 5,000 people. Our feet swelled, blistered and some even fainted from the heat. It’s really horrible and pitiful; they are highly dissatisfied with the government. Many people stood on the bridge holding colorful banners, lining up like a long dragon.”

In the end, the authorities conceded. The amount of land sold to development companies was reduced from 674 square kilometers to 270 square kilometers, and then finally to 54 square kilometers. The villagers have now been given 6.5 square metres of land each, to be used for 30 years. However, this was under the condition there would not be further protests.

A villager said to reporters (recording):
“Last time they said this, they lied. Later on they arrested us, threatening us while hoping fewer people would dare go back onto the land”.

Craig Richter; Gu Qinger and Yu Liang of the SOH Radio Network.

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New train ticketing policy slammed

China’s railway departments have placed travel restrictions on Chinese New Year revelers. Train tickets can only be purchased under a person’s real name. Further they’re now limited to three a person. Chinese lawyer Xie Yanyi believes these policies are not based on Chinese law and infringe peoples’ rights.

Xie Yanyi said (recording):
“At present, the public authority has adopted this policy. It infringes private rights, and has no legal foundation. Once these illegal policies are adopted, it’s just the same as giving illegal powers to public authorities. They control private rights, control public areas, and control the public’s right to access the Internet for information.”
Purchasing tickets under real names looks to have little effect on ticket scalpers. Because it’s believed many scalpers have connections with railway staff.

Xie Yanyi said (recording):
“This new ticketing policy will in fact benefit the railway department heads, but seems to be developing corruption. I believe the naming policy they’re trying to adopt will not solve the problem. Many ticket scalpers, a considerable number, go internally. For example, some scalpers have internal connections, and don’t need proof of identity when buying tickets.”

Xie Yanyi reminds the public to remain alert and not trust propaganda. Citizens must be aware of their own rights when being asked for identification.

He said (recording):
“Everyone must remain alert as it’s hard to tell the truth from propaganda. The crucial point is there must be legal authority and legitimate procedures. You must ask the relevant party and get their consent for the investigation. This can help prevent abuse of public authority.”

Craig Richter; Fu Ming; and Yu Lain of the SOH Radio Network.

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Zheng Shuzhen (L) holds a portrait of her deceased grand-daughter Zhou Mengxin while grieving outside the Complaints Department of the Ministry of Health in Beijing on May 8, 2009. She claims the child's death, caused by injesting toxic with lethal amounts of melamine, has never been dealt with appropriately by their local government. AFP PHOTO / Frederic J. BROWN

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Poisoned milk scandal: civil lawsuit lays way for future cases

The first hearing on the civil lawsuit regarding the Sanlu poison milk powder scandal, recently took place at a district court in Beijing. SOH interviewed the plaintiff’s lawyer Peng Jian, who said that the Sanlu Group was unable to pay any amount of financial compensation after it was declared bankrupt. Peng said parents of victimized infants are seeking facts and truths of the matter through the civil case, to build the foundation for future social welfare claims.

According to media reports outside of China, Shunyi Court on the outskirts of Beijing accepted the case. The court hearing began on November 27, and the case was presented by both parties. The next hearing is due to take place on December 9. The plaintiff, 30 year old Ma Xuexin from Henan Province, had a 20 month old boy who fell victim to the poisoned milk powder. He requested compensation of up to $55,184 renminbi. He also requested that Sanlu contributes towards his son’s medical expenses before he reaches adulthood.

His lawyer Peng Jian said, on February 12, 2009, the Sanlu group which became officially bankrupt no longer had the ability to pay compensation to victims of the scandal. However the reason for proceeding with the court case was in protection of social justice. Peng said (recording), “The purpose behind this, is to uphold social justice and the spirit of the law. From this viewpoint, the party responsible should be put on the defendant’s stand, to face the law as well as the public. They should take on the relevant responsibilities through the judgment, and be clear on these responsibilities.”

Last September, in Min county of Gansu Province, 14 infants fell ill concurrently with symptoms of kidney stones. The discovery officially revealed the melamine contamination in China’s milk powder industry. To date, the facts of the victimized infants have yet to be confirmed through formal civil lawsuits.
According to Peng Jian (recording) “They can also confirm their status as victims of melamine contaminated milk powder through such civil lawsuits. Even if the proceedings cannot take care of the main requests from the plaintiff, the hearings will confirm facts of the victimization, and establish factual references to forming the foundation for future claims for social welfare and compensation.”

Lawyer Peng believes this lawsuit has set a standard for parents who wish to seek justice in the future. (Recording) “This case has been very important, one could say it has set the standard. Lawsuits from parents in similar situations, will follow this model, that includes the statements of facts and reasons for the lawsuit against the defendant.”

Chris Thomas; Bo Ming; and Yu Lian for the SOH Radio Network.

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Chinese AIDS Advocates under House Arrest in Henan

AIDS advocates in Henan Province of China told reporters that, because of a lack of regulation on blood transfusions, there are more and more AIDS patients in China because of infections from blood products. These patients do not have the necessary medical care nor any guarantee on their livelihood, and were denied their rights to appeal. On the eve of World AIDS Day, many advocates for Chinese AIDS patients went to government offices to appeal, only to find themselves house arrested.

One such advocate is Tian Xi, he told reporters that because there is a lack of regulation, prevention and medical treatment of AIDS is nothing but a slogan of local government officials when seeking their own political interests. There are more and more AIDS patients in China, yet they do not get adequate medical treatment. Those who got AIDS because of blood transfusions went to court to have their case heard, only to find the court refused to hear their case.

Tian Xi (recording): AIDS prevention and treatment becomes a show piece for politicians, the basic medical care of the AIDS patient is not guaranteed, let alone their basic human rights of survival. There is a wider and wider spread of AIDS in China, and the situation is not optimistic at all. There is also the trade of blood. In China, the judicial system is very much a random thing, and there is a lack of monitoring and check and balance. That’s why these problems are taking place. The blood safety issue is far from being resolved.

It’s reported that 40 AIDS patients from Henan Province went to Beijing on November 25th to appeal to China’s Ministry of Health. One of them, Tian Xi, was infected with AIDS in 1996 because of a blood transfusion, and he got hepatitis B and hepatitis C as well. But he was brought back home to Henan and house arrested.

Tian Xi (recording): I went to the Ministry of Health last Thursday with a banner, I wanted to seek justice for this infection. I was brought back by Henan government officials and now I am staying at home. Two others who went with me last Thursday are also under house arrest, and they do not have any freedom also.”

Another advocate, Wang Xiaoqiao, her husband was working for a work unit, where he suffered an injury and then received a blood transfusion and acquired the AIDS virus. According to her, most AIDS patients in Henan got AIDS in this manner.

Wang Xiaoqiao (recording): Many people got AIDS, many through blood transfusions. The rest is through selling blood. My husband got infected in 2003 and became bedridden. I am a handicapped person, and I was hoping the government would help me and my child. The person whose blood was given to my husband is an AIDS patient, and he is still alive. Because I have this live witness, I went to court but the court would not hear the case.

Wang said that since her husband became ill, the livelihood of the whole family became a problem. She went to appeal many times but all were fruitless, and she was imprisoned for this twice. Many people like her wanted to seek justice, but are afraid to do so since this may affect their family negatively.

Wang (recording): The county government officials imprisoned me twice. The party and the government accused you of big crimes, and imprison you. Many people want to appeal, but are afraid. If one is in prison, the whole family will suffer, no one will take care of the patients and the children.

The government of Henan encouraged blood trade in the mid 90’s, and used it as a way to stimulate the economy. The “blood plasma economy” lead to many illegal blood trade centers established in the province. But the way they extract the blood is very primitive and does not following a hygiene procedure, hence leading to a wide spread of AIDS in that province.

Michael Anderson; Wen Fang and Kai Di for the SOH Radio Network.

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Villagers stage massive protest over land sale

Thousands of villagers from the Nangaoying Village of Hebei Province have barricaded roads for eight straight days in a massive show of protest. The protest has been aimed at local party committee members whom the villagers are accusing of conspiring with land developers to carry out illegal acts of property theft. The villagers have demanded that the authorities return the housing and land that was their livelihood.

During an interview with Sound of Hope, one of the villagers tells us (recording), “The government has allocated a piece of land for renovating the old village. Villagers were supposed to be moved onto this land for renovation. As it turned out, the Village Party Committee and the developer changed the development into commercial housing. One property was promised to each villager, but none was given. All the new lots were sold. The villagers in the end got nothing. Now we are fighting for our legal rights. The developers have even hired local ruffians to intimidate us.”

According to villagers, the Party Branch Secretary, He Shengguo, has also been colluding with the former head of the Village Committee, and the chief executive of Hebei Jijing Real Estate Development Ltd. He obtained approval under the pretence of renovations in order to sell 156,000 square meters of private land belonging to 1300 residents. The villagers have lost their properties and land without any compensation.

Another villager has told SOH (recording), “The land of the Village Committee was not waste land, but rather basic farm land that villagers rely on for livelihood – we have the maps to prove this.”

Under pressure, the developer had to negotiate with the villagers. Their chief executive, Wang Jinsheng, had promised 150 million in compensation but in fact hired 50 thugs to beat up villagers. A 70-year-old villager was severely injured.

With a population of 7,900 people, Gaoying Village used to be considered a well-off village and was quite well known. Now the local authorities had torn the village into pieces, leaving villagers with no means to make a living.

Perry Luo; Anna and Yu Shan for the SOH Radio Network.

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Shen Ting, the chairperson of the Coalition of Chinese People Facing Injustice, has spoken out against possible forced relocations, after the approval of Shanghai Disneyland.

- Land seizure concerns over Shanghai’s Disneyland project

- Toxic milk scandal hearing cancelled, plaintiff detained

- Longing for the collapse of China’s Berlin Wall

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Land seizure concerns over Shanghai’s Disneyland project
(0:35)

The decision to construct a Disney-based theme park in Shanghai has been the cause for much concern for many Chinese residents. Whilst economists are worried about the impact on Hong Kong’s own Disneyland, other NGOs fear that the project would initiate a large-scale land confiscation, and have urged Disney and local authorities not to forcibly evict local residents.

The news broke on the 4th of November and triggered a frenzy of media coverage and discussion amongst the Hong Kong press. Experts were apprehensive that Shanghai Disney would cannibalize Hong Kong Disney’s business.

Assistant Professor Chen Yunzhong of the Department of Social Sciences at the Hong Kong University told SOH reporters during an interview(recording) “The original plan for Hong Kong Disney was for mainland customers to make up two third of the clientele. In reality they make up only one third. In the near future when Shanghai builds Disneyland number two, mainland customers visiting Hong Kong Disneyland would amount to less than one tenth of its current customer base!”

In Shanghai, the main topic for concern was the large-scale land confiscation that the Disney project may trigger, resulting in large numbers homeless victims. The chairperson of the NGO, “Coalition of Chinese People Facing Injustice”, Shen Ting, called for Disney not to collaborate with the Communist government to abuse human rights or engage in forced removal.

Shen said (recording) “First we need to remind Disney’s headquarters in the US not to violate local residents’ human rights and their right to habitat during the construction. They need to be vigilant. This time we will inform Disney headquarters in advance, asking them to keep an eye on the Shanghai administration to see whether there is any human rights violation during the resettlement process.”

According to reports, Shanghai Disney will be built at the Chuansha Township in the Pudong District, where 409 hectare of land has been earmarked. With total investment of 24.4 billion Yuan, Disney has targeted an opening in 2014. China holds majority stake of 57% in the project and Disney 43%. An editorial in Hong Kong’s Apple Daily pointed out that this was a political present from the Beijing authorities as U.S president Obama leaves for his China trip.

Perry Luo and Liang Zhen of the SOH Radio Network.

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Toxic milk scandal hearing cancelled, plaintiff detained
(3:50)

On November 5th, Wang Gang, a plaintiff in the lawsuit over the melamine contaminated milk scandal, was detained for two hours at the Yangfangdian Police Station in Beijing’s Haidian District. Five days before his scheduled hearing on November 10th, Wang’s home was searched, and the hearing was canceled without reason. According to Zhao Lianhai (423), a representative for parents of toxic milk victims, the police actions were carried out to ease government fear of other parents coming out to support the hearing.

Wang Gang, whose child was a victim of melamine poison milk, brought his child to hospital on November 5th, hoping to get written confirmation of poisoning. On their way home, they were stopped and searched by police, before being taken and detained at the Yangfangdian Police Station for two hours.

Wang told SOH (recording)
“They show no documentation for the search, and said nothing before they grabbed my hands and pressed me against the car. The officer was very rough, and cuffed my hands. I said ‘On what grounds are you handcuffing me? I’m not a criminal suspect. I cooperated with your search, and I carry nothing dangerous’, the cuffs were extremely tight, my hands became numb, and I can still see the imprints. I was cuffed behind the back, and while driving they braked deliberately so that I would bump into the front seat. I was held at the police station for over two hours.”

Representative Zhao Lianhai said many people intended to travel and support the hearing on Tuesday, some parents had already booked train tickets.

Zhao said (recording)
“As for the hearing being cancelled, no reason was given; they only made a phone call to say it was canceled. If they were truly just, without fear for more attention on the issue, they shouldn’t have cancelled. Meanwhile many parents feel they’ve been deceived, particularly by the court. After all it’s under government administration, and they’ve gone back on their word. The scheduled date was so easily canceled.”

Zhao Lianhai also told us that Wang Gang’s unreasonable detention, and the cancelled hearing, was an act of suppression from the authorities, fearing voices of support.

Zhao told SOH (recording)
“Speaking of his detention, the officers also searched for his identification. Yet even with his cooperation they were so rough, weren’t they using a form of suppression? We really feel there’s no way out. We’re hoping the government would have more humanity. Many parents want to show their concern, as well as others in society. We would have been in the public gallery, and if it wasn’t available, we planned to stay outside the courthouse. This has caused much fear to the authorities. ”

SOH called the Yangfangdian Police Station, but the officer who answered denied Wang was handcuffed.

The officer told us (recording)
“Usually, people brought in for questioning are not handcuffed. Aside from those involved in major criminal cases, we do not use handcuffs.”

It was revealed to the public last year that baby powder produced by the Sanlu Corporation had high amounts of melamine, which is supposed to be used in small amounts. As compensation offers from authorities were deemed inadequate, parents of poison milk victims brought civil action which was rejected by most courts. Since July this year, five parents in Beijing, filed the lawsuit to Daxing, Shunyi, Xuanwu, Xiyu as well as the Fengtai District Courts, but to date only two cases have been accepted.

Caden Pearson; Lin Li; and Si Ming of the SOH Radio Network.

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Longing for the collapse of China’s Berlin Wall
(7:54)

November 9th marked the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Walls collapse. On this special day, people in mainland China expressed their wishes to spread awareness of the Communist Regimes corruption, so that others will awaken and fearlessly break through China’s Wall of suppression.

Ms Miao from mainland China said that, many democracy fighters in China have attempted again and again to bring democracy back to China. Their efforts have lit the darkness created by China’s iron curtain, and have made many people aware. The Chinese Communist Party is struggling for it’s survival, and their power is so weak now that they need to use military force on civilians to maintain power, just like that of the corrupt Qing dynasty.

Ms Miao (recording): “Bringing down the Berlin Wall of China depends on ourselves, as we need to bring down the wall in our heart, by overcoming fear of the Communist Regime. Fighters such as Liu Xiaobo, Guo Quan, and Chen Guangcheng have upheld the torches for us, and illuminated the darkness on this side of the wall. We have all seen this clearly, and a tiny spark can ignite a fire on the prairie. We are hopeful the entire nation will awaken, and with these leaders charging forward, the masses will also follow.”

Another person from Hebei (requesting to remain anonymous) said that since Communist rule in China, too many dissidents have been incriminated for their speech. In fact, it is the corrupt officials themselves that will overthrow the Regime, they say.

Anonymous mainlander (recording): “I see people after people being arrested, and this makes me very angry. I have lost hope with this regime. Can we subvert the regime? No. It’s those corrupted officials who will topple the regime. The so called crime of subverting state power is nothing but an excuse to incriminate people based on their speech. More and more people despise and depart from the Communist regime. But if people are complacent with status quo and remain indifferent, the collapse of the Chinese Berlin Wall will be difficult.”

Anonymous mainlander (recording): “There are indeed many people who have been awakened, and many are pursuing freedom of speech, the press, and freedom of thought. There are some who were sentenced to death for what they have said. Professor Guo Quan is such an example of being incriminated for his speech. It’s great Chinese netizens are seeking press freedom and freedom of speech. But I don’t think the wall is falling presently, and if we don’t do anything about it, its collapse will be even more difficult. Therefore, we need to speak up further.”

A netizen from Sichuan said that, the invention of anti-blocking internet software made the regimes blockade fruitless. Many netizens use such software to see the world outside, and have learned many truths.

Netizen of Sichuan (recording): The Communist regime has spent so much money on the Golden Shield project, which is meaningless. The Ministry of Public Security is said to have spent billions of Chinese dollars on this, but this money all belongs to the people. Many Chinese people are still very poor, many can’t afford to go to school or even feed themselves. The money should have been spent on people, and their livelihood. The corrupt are the Communist leaders. They’ve wasted so much of the public’s money, and built a Chinese Berlin Wall. They block overseas websites, but thanks to the anti-blocking software, we are now able to obtain information from overseas. It’s wide open now, and the wall is full of holes.”

Chris Thomas, Wang Qian, and Si Ming of the SOH Radio Network.

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Residents in Beipu Village, Fujian Province have maintained intense resistance against official attempts at land seizures and relocations.

- Beijing activists apply to protest during Obama’s visit

- Fujian residents deny relocations with gas canisters

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Beijing activists apply to protest during Obama’s Visit
(0:18)

A group of around 30 activists have applied for a demonstration to be held during a visit by United States President Barrack Obama to China. On the morning of November 6,rights activists Qi Zhiyong, Li Jingping and others went to the Beijing Municipal Public Security/ to hand in the application form. They hope to draw the attention of the Western community to China’s human rights situations.

Li Jingping, a Beijing dissident says that a participant of the 1989 Tiananmen democracy protest, soldier Zhang Shiju, is also one of the applicants for the demonstration. They want the United States to pay attention to plight of the Chinese people.

Li said, “We request that (the Regime) return to a constitutional rule, provide human rights and call on their conscience and morals, and provide redress for the (Tiananmen Massacre). Because the Zhao Zhiyang issue is the biggest human rights issue in China. Human rights do not exist in China and what (the Regime) says is all false… For now at least, I don’t feel I have human rights, because I am left homeless… What human rights do I have? Also a lot of people had tried to intercept Wen Jiabao’s car, and Wen has ruled that local governments should deal with petitioners…in the end what happened to them? They’re thrown in jail.”

Like many other activists, 64 year-old, disabled, Qi Zhiyong is placed under house arrest when overseas officials visit China.

“(Obama)’s visit to China just involves the discussion of the climate, or other economic issues. We hope that he would bring up the issue of human rights, and truly improve China’s human rights. He should be a good catalyst. In fact, his arrival has indirectly caused our right to live as well as our living spaces to be trampled upon. Because of the effect of his arrival, people like me – dissidents… I myself have been subjected to a formless oppression, whether it’s house arrest, or being taken away from Beijing. For example, someone once came with a list of 10 people they wanted to see, but in the end couldn’t see any of them. Why? Because the Chinese government had hidden all these people, using the police and illegal means to place them under house arrest.

The United States is the international police, which we need, we need this type of international and just condemnation towards the Chinese government, they need to mention these things. He hasn’t even arrived yet. But around the country dissidents from Guizhou, Nanjing, Jiangsu, Chongqing and Anhui have all received warnings from the police, that during this period they’re not allowed to leave, and not allowed to go to Bejing.

Beijing petitioners noticed that the Beijing Public Security team have replaced their signage for a more public-friendly message ahead of Obama’s visit.

“Now the signage is very new, the place to apply for demonstration has 3 signs, one is – materials, the other, Beijing Municipality Bureau of Public Security Celebration Event Reception, and one more is the People’s Letters and Visits Reception. These are all fake, actually this is just the place to apply to hold demonstrations, and they have used this to lie to Chinese people and foreigners.”

Li Jinping says Beijing town patrol officials have begun driving away street vendors.

“Yesterday I saw it all over the streets, these town patrols are driving around and taking the people’s tricycles, and arresting them. This group of them have all left, they’re afraid of being detained so they abandoned their tricycles; you can see the car has dragged a lot of motorbikes and tricycles, more than a dozen. Everyone is cursing this on the internet.”

Dissidents believe that human rights need to be obtained through the efforts of the public, so they have decided to put into action their fight for human rights.

Caden Pearson; Tian Xi of the SOH Radio Network.

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Fujian residents deny relocations with gas canisters
(4:50)

Residents in Beipu Village, Hushi County, Putian City have reported violent relocations by local authorities. Defiant villagers have resorted to using gas to attack police. Gas canisters in the county have reportedly been sold out, with households keeping on average 7 to 8 canisters to use against police.

On November 6, SOH spoke to Beipu villagers. They told us there have been rumours of relocations for several years. Last week, 400 people dressed in police outfits broke onto their lands. Villagers reported online that they are now prepared with self-protection materials to counter a new attack by the government.

Wu said:
“Our village now has a lot of things for self-protection. We can’t not have these, as the police use many things like electric batons, prying tools and police batons… we have no other way, so each family has prepared liquefier, petrol bottles and bricks. If they really want to use force and beat us, we really have no other way but to protect ourselves. We must have these things…or we’ll just be beaten to death.”

Villager says, on October 30, the group of 400 police, lead by the Deputy District Chief He Jingqin, Chief of Development Office Chen Longxian and Hushi County Chief Xu Haifeng broke into Beipu Village, breaking down doors and beaten anyone who retaliated.

Wu said:
“Around 9 am, everyone was selling things on the street, those who stayed home were all elderly people…they stayed back to look after the home. They (the police) forcibly pried open the doors, the elderly people tried to stop them, and they started to beat up the elderly…everything. They just beat up the elderly, 60 or 70 year olds…because we didn’t have very many young people at home.”

And elderly woman from the village said:
“The villagers were beaten, on their heads…there was a lot of blood. Those old ladies, 60 or 70 years old were all beaten. It was a mess on the day…a big mess, they just beat people up randomly. A lot of people were injured. Over 400 people came here, they broke down the doors…people were not home, the doors were all broken.”

Around 10am, villager Wu Ahdong who was in his 60s started to retaliate. He opened the gas at his home, and lit it up in front of his home, while wielding a kitchen knife to defy police. Neighbours soon followed his acts, and the local officials were scared off.
Villager Ms Wu says the local authorities did not have any legal documentation and they were not given any compensation:

Wu said:
“If the country needed something or if they had a plan to locate us or some compensation conditions to discuss with us…we are not the type of stubborn residents who refuse to move. After all, we’ll people…farmers, and our efforts has earned us this bit of assets…and you don’t give us any relocation plans or have some arrangements for us and just break through the door like that. Now our land is in a prime spot, if we were to sell our house, it would be at least a couple of million Yuan…but they say our house is not worth more than $100,000. There’s no way, it’s very dark.”

Mr. Zhen from a neighboring village says that forced demolitions and relocations occur frequently there, and there is very little compensation, and in the end, some people don’t even receive any money.

Zhen said:
“There are a lot of demolitions and relocations…and some building has been built next to the road, some decades-old homes have been forcibly demolished. The compensation is nowhere near enough, not at all, they just do this and that, and the government is a mess, and no more compensation has been given. “

Villagers have now made a pact that as soon as local authorities come again, they will strike their gong as a warning. Each family has also prepared gas canisters and have vowed to use their lives to protect their hard-earned assets, and the land on which generations before them have walked.

Keith Ware; Tian Lin; and Wang Zhen of the SOH Radio Network.

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Detained author and democracy advocate Yang Tianshui's health is rapidly deteriorating in prison.

- Chinese writer Yang Tianshui critically ill in prison

- Collusion of Anhui officials and merchants to expropriate farmland

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Chinese writer Yang Tianshui critically ill in prison

Renowned Chinese freelance writer Yang Tianshui’s health is in a critical situation in prison. He has had a fever for one week, with a body temperature as high as 39 degrees Celsius. He has been in the prison hospital for over one month.

His family are extremely worried about his health and his older sister Yang Guixiang told a reporter on November 4 that Yang is suffering from several kinds of ailments and is very weak.

She said (recording) “He is suffering numerous kinds of diseases. He’s been having a fever for one week now. The result from the medical exam shows that it is Intestinal Tuberculosis, Tuberculosis Pneumonitis, and Tuberculosis Inflammatory Bowel Disease. He has Diabetes and high blood pressure to begin with in addition to arthritis, which is the most serious of all his ailments. During the relapse of his arthritis, he could not even close in his fingers. I am really worried that he may not be able to get through.”


His eldest sister, 71-year-old Yang Tongmei, went to visit him at Nanjing Prison on October 27. She said he was so sick that he could not even walk by himself.

(Recording): “She said, he wrote me a letter before October 27, from the hospital. He had sustained a fever, and his temperature was 39 degrees Celsius every day, for a week. His Pneumonitis got so much worse that he was suffering Pleural effusion. The doctors suctioned a lot of water from his lungs. He was extremely skinny, and could not walk by himself. A patient who is sick to this extent, you can imagine, is in a very bad shape.”

Human rights activist Zhang Lin of Anhui province told Sound of Hope reporters that according to standard practice, Mr Yang’s severe condition makes him eligible for medical parole. However, because he is a prisoner of conscience, the procedure for medical parole is very complicated and requires approval from several levels of organizations.

Mr. Zhang said (recording) “With all the delay from the complicated procedures, usually the person would die before the approval is granted. The Chinese communist regime has a policy, which is trying not to have the detainee die inside the prison. Therefore, as soon as one is found to be dying, the prison authorities will quickly start the procedure, trying to get this person out. However, due to the delays, many people still die inside the prisons. At the time they die, the procedure is still halfway through.”

Yang Tianshui’s elder sister Yang Guixiang said the prison authorities simply ignore his requests and those of his family, paying no attention to Yang’s illness. She calls on people at home and abroad to step forward for the sake of Yang’s health.

(recording): “She said, we hope you can help us appeal to international society, to pressure the Chinese government to give him freedom, and grant him medical parole so that he can receive treatment outside the prison.”
Mr. Yang has been striving for the development of China’s democratic undertaking all his life. In 2007, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison on the charge of subversion of state power, for the publication of one of his articles which were said to be attacking Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders and having the intention of overthrowing the CCP. Previously he has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by the communist regime.

Matthew Ytsma; Tian Xi of the SOH Radio Network

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Collusion of Anhui officials and merchants to expropriate farmland

Some farmers in Wuhu City released an online petition, accusing the local government of collusion with an influential merchant. The merchant is accused of selling over 6.6 acres of agricultural land at a low price, causing many farmers to lose their land and become unemployed. The sale was also made without proper approval to convert farmland into an entertainment venue.

On November 4th, two villagers in Shi Wei Township spoke with a reporter about the collusion between officials and developers who had seized their farmland.

One villager named Chan angrily told a reporter that he had been appealing for a solution from authorities over the years. The local Letters & Complaints Bureau not only ignored his appeal, but used threats to intimidate him so that he would not petition again.

(Recording) “I have been appealing to the authorities. In January 2009, I also applied to the Complaints Bureau in Wuhu City, without response. Without my consent, the local government sold my private land to Tengfei Jewelry Company. I had not received any kind of compensation for my private land, the ownership of which evidenced by relevant documents. It is a system to protect farmland and, apparently, our agricultural fields were expropriated. The field is established under our scientific research and was forcibly taken away, which is the collusion of official and merchant. I appealed to the Wuhu City Complaint Bureau that intimidated me, saying: “You would be arrested if you were in the Complaint Bureau”. The Deputy of Wuhu City Complaints Office also said threateningly, “You should be concerned about your petty life”. Because I was afraid, I dared not air the issue.”

Villager Chan also revealed that corruption of local authorities has become very serious since 2002 when a succession of large blocks of farmland was illegally occupied. Commoners appealed to higher authorities, but the government merely acts carries out its routines with little real interest.

(Recording) “Farmland in our region had all been seized for development with only ours remaining. Local residents claimed corruption in the construction industry, occupying land, profiteering, and ignoring the lives of commoners. We report the problems, but government acts casually, and passes the buck. So far, our problem remains unsolved. There are even bigger sinister forces behind the scene. (Our appeal) goes nowhere.”

A villager named Wang said that his agricultural field was seized, and he has been appealing to relevant departments for 7 to 8 years while each government department acts irresponsibly, kicking the case back and forth.

(Recording) “This issue remains stagnant. City government asked township authorities to settle, but the problem still remains. We have nowhere left to appeal. Now, 7 to 8 years have passed since 2002 when it occurred. We report to the provincial government that requested city authority to resolve the matter, and then city government passed it to the township authority. The Complaints Bureau failed to respond, and had to appeal to the provincial government. Several years have gone by while authorities toss the case about.”

When a reporter interviewed a villager named Wang, he was very happy. He says that no domestic media dared to report on their problem.

Afterward, the reporter called the deputy director of the Complaints Bureau in Wuhu City, and the Director said that he was in a meeting and cannot answer reporters’ questions.

Donna Ware; Han Fei of the SOH Radio Network.

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Jia Kuo appealing to the New Zealand Prime Minister to help release his father Jia Jia from detention.

- Detention of Jia Jia unlawful say Chinese lawyers
- Police beat female staff at retail shop

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Detention of Jia Jia unlawful say Chinese lawyers
(0:16)

On October 21st of this year, Jia Jia, the Former General Secretary of the Shanxi Association of Scientists and Technology Experts was arrested when he arrived in the Beijing Airport from New Zealand. He is a permanent resident of New Zealand, and used his Chinese passport to enter the country on a self-proclaimed mission to bring democracy to the Chinese people.

Jia’s arrest attracted international attention from the legal community. Many local and international legal experts have expressed that the authority’s actions of limiting Mr. Jia’s freedoms are clearly unlawful.

Zhang Lihang from the Han Ding Law firm in Zhejiang province expressed that, although China has signed The International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, the Covenant never passed through to legislation. This means that the Covenant has very limited legal binding force. Mr. Zhang says that in the case of Jia, local authorities will most likely only apply China’s punishment and immigration laws. Even so, the secretive way in which Jia is being detained appears to be unlawful, he said.

Zhang said,

“Looking at this case from the perspective of the law, even if he has already entered Chinese territory and is no longer in the international border control area, to receive such restrictions on his personal freedom… Mr. Jia expressing his political stance or opinion does not equate to a criminal offence, thus the treatment he has received is clearly unnecessary. To put it more clearly, it is most likely a violation of the law.”

Yang Zaixin, a lawyer from Guangxi province also offered his legal opinion on the matter. He stated that, according to Chinese law, a person who is charged with a crime, detained or even just arrested must be allowed to contact their family within 24 hours. The secretive detention of Mr. Jia therefore is clearly unlawful.

Yang said,

“It is extremely clear that there is no legal basis for the treatment [Mr. Jia has received]. In fact not just Mr. Jia, but many brave and righteous people have been detained in China. The family members of these arrested persons have not been contacted for a long time and they are not given any legal protection. For example, persecuted lawyer Gao Zhisheng’s family still does not know what has become of him and no authorities will tell them. Generally speaking, there is no rule of law. Political cases are always kept secret and the person charged will have their rights restricted or even completely removed.”

One Beijing Lawyer who wished to remain anonymous expressed that Mr. Jia is a UN Refugee and thus should have all the rights of a UN Refugee, including freedom of speech. Regardless of what Jia has said or done overseas, under the 1933 Convention Relating to the International Status of Refugees, he should not be subject to criminal punishment in China.

The Beijing Lawyer said,

“Within mainland China, only a lawyer who is a Chinese citizen can practice law and defend a client in a lawsuit. So if his son wanted to find a lawyer, we could recommend one. According to the Convention relating to the International Status of Refugees, he cannot be prosecuted because of his actions overseas. Therefore if the court truly follows international conventions, he cannot be prosecuted. It all depends on how the government chooses to handle it.”

Caden Pearson; Li Yifei; and Wu Tong of the SOH Radio Network.

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Police beat female staff at retail shop
(4:16)

Image of injured can be found here.

Reports have surfaced of a violent incident involving police and patrons of a clothing store that occurred ahead of China’s National Day on October 1st. A staff member at Lan-Tian Clothing Store said the Weishi County Government in Jining City mobilised 400 police to trash the store. According to the staff member, it was to make way for a so called “Accomplishment Exhibition” – to showcase for the 60th anniversary of the Communist regime’s takeover of China. Victims say police looted the clothing store, and two female staff was badly injured.

The clothing store is situated at the Shi-qun Art Gallery. It holds a lease and a license to operate. Staff Zhang Mei-lian told SOH that when asked by the government to move, they requested assistance with finding a suitable location.

Zhang Mei-lian said, “When they asked as to go, our CEO said as long as you arrange somewhere for us to go it’s fine, because we have more people and our staff need to fill their stomaches and survive…They didn’t agree to anything, and didn’t look for any locations for us, they didn’t take care of anything, there was no compensation or anything like that, and now within one night, they took everything we had.”

From the night of August 25th to the next morning, over 400 public security officers, military police, and other administrative officials, broke through the wall of the store and its anti-theft gate. Staff was beaten and 22 truckloads of merchandise were taken.

Zhang Mei-lian said, “It was too wicked, too despicable, at that time a young girl was in front of the door, and when the door broke, she sat down and cut her rear end. Then one of the officials, surnamed Wang, kicked her in the stomach when she tried to get up, and the glass stabbed through her abdomen, and she fainted right there. The worst is, after she fainted we begged them to help her and not waste any time, but they said she’s already too far gone. They were beating us and just ignored our requests.”

Several official documents issued in September revealed that the violent trashing on August 26 was at the direction of the Shiwei Government. Despite this, the Jining Government and the local court later detained store staffs and tortured them to make them admit that they had broken the law.

Zhang Mei-lian said, “All of the girls were locked up in 12 police stations, and they tried to extract confessions on us, some were cuffed to a bench, and we were tortured so that we would confess we had broken the law.”

The CEO of Lan-Tian Clothing Store has been forced to flee to another province. The Jining City Court has issued a notice that he would be compensated. However, the Bureau of Public Security has issued a summons for him for “suspected involvement in disrupting public order.”

As far as the store staff are concerned, they do not trust the court process, and do not believe that anyone will be brought to justice.

Zhang Mei-lian said, “The court is also governed by the City Government, even if we sue there would be no use. Our CEO cannot go home, we really have be wronged, we’re innocent.”

Many of the staff who work at the store are girls from the countryside. Now many of them have to return home. In the end, there were no so called “Accomplishment Exhibition” held, and the store space is sitting empty – and the staff do not want to return.
Zhang Mei-lian said, “After they trashed us, we can’t face that place anymore, if we go, it’ll remind us what a sad place it was, it’s very upsetting.”

Caden Pearson; Wu Jiaqi; and Wang Zhen of the SOH Radio Network.

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