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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Reenactment of organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Students warned not to leak information about Bird flu outbreak at their schools

Bird flu has been rampant across Chinese schools since the start of this term.  But school authorities have blocked information.  A college student recently told SOH that those who discussed the flu on the internet were warned by school officials.  The student said that information on the pandemic had been strictly censored by the Chinese regime.  Blogs and forums at various universities were shut down a few months ago, disallowing any postings.

Student (recording), “There have been many postings lately that talked about cover ups by the school.  Leaders have been specifically appointed to oversee speech, forums and blogs so as to limit the students’ freedom of speech.  They would investigate.  The internet centre at our school has the technology detect this topic.  So students dare not talk freely.”

The student continued (recording), “The Deputy Director role at our school is the same as Vice Mayor.  One of them used to be a Vice Mayor.  No one can touch him.  Many students do not approve of the various conducts of the current leadership.  Students’ complaints about embezzlement, etc. were blocked by the school authorities.”

It is reported that following the closure of China BT Net, and the renowned VeryCD download site will also be shut down within the month.  This year the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television has pulled the plug on 414 audio visual sites.

A student named Wu from Xi’an Posts and Telecommunications University said (recording), “Sealed schools do not allow internet access.  Students can not watch TV, even in their dorms.  There is nothing to do after school.  We are getting rather agitated.  Our school has been sealed off for nearly a month and a half.  The quarantine should have been completed.”

A female student from Wu Yi University said (recording), “The information is not given out to the public.  I know of two in our class, but are unsure about others.  Not just our school, I think most schools are like that.  But from a students’ perspective, most believe the information should be disclosed so that everyone knows where things stand.”

Chris Thomas; Lu Fang; and Yu Lian for Inside China for the SOH Radio Network.

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Eye-witness comes forward, moved by Falun Gong practitioner’s resilience

On December 12, the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) reported new evidence on the Chinese Communist Regime’s crimes of live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. A new witness gave details of his personal account as a bystander, while vital organs including heart and kidneys were harvested from a live female Falun Gong practitioner in her 30’s.

During an interview with SOH Radio Network, WOIPFG’s spokesperson Wang Zhiyuan said the new witness, who once worked in the police bureau of Liaoning Province, spoke out to reveal what he had seen, as he was deeply moved by the upright character, compassion and tolerance of Falun Gong practitioners in the face of death.

Wang said (recording) “The Falun Gong practitioner he had contact with was extremely strong willed. He said, at the time, the deputy chief of the detention center kicked her face with tough leather shoes, while incessantly shocking her with an electric baton; during the winter climate they poured cold water on her body, and stripped her clothes… this kind of physical and mental torment went on and on. According to his account, with countless cuts and bruises all over her body, she refused to hit back or return any verbal abuse, and persisted with her belief. Even until the moment before her heart was cut out and her body sliced open, she still called out “Falun Dafa is Great”. She kindly advised her tormenters with hopes that they would awaken. This witness said the only request for practitioners of Falun Gong was to give one word of abuse [against the practice of Falun Gong], or sign there name to assure they would never practice again. It was a very simple task which to him looked like an act of raising one hand, but even so these Falun Gong practitioners did not comply, as they chose to guard their conscience and persist in their belief.”

According to Wang, another factor which contributed to the witness’ decision to speak out, was that the cruelty of the organ harvesting procedure shocked him. Wang said, in order to conceal his identity in their initial conversations the witness did not clearly state the location where the organ harvesting took place. However in subsequent conversations he clearly stated the location of the live organ harvesting was the 15th floor of the General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region. The witness expressed the inner torment he felt in failing to put a stop to these inhumane crimes, thus seeking consolation through exposing them.

(Recording) “The second point was how he witnessed the entire process of live organ harvesting.  The brutal acts he witnessed shock him still.”

When witnesses first spoke out to expose live organ harvesting in the secret concentration camp in Sujiatun, Shenyang city of Liaoning Province, on March 9, 2006, the news astounded the world. Wang Zhiyuan said, since then many organizations and individuals have carried out independent and undercover investigations. Two investigators from Canada, David Matas and David Kilgour recently published a book entitled “Bloody Harvest”, which was a collection of evidence in support of the allegations gathered through their independent systematic investigations. WOIPFG also holds a large amount of supporting evidence pointing to an organized  genocide of Falun Gong practitioners under the Chinese Communist regime.

(Recording) “This is genocide, systematically arranged and organized in mainland China and it has not been restricted to local regions. We can see this from a number of angles. Firstly, [the persecution] is carried out under government policies, supported by documents. It has been a nation-wide, large scale persecution lead by the national 6.10 office, which has mobilized all levels of government, police force as well as the military. Secondly, people who have taken part include the police, armed police, the People’s Salvation Army, ordinary citizens, as well as staff at various government levels. Also investigated was Chen Qiang, the liaison for kidney supplies at the Kidney Transplant Center of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) No. 307 Hospital in Beijing. Chen Qiang told us boldly and directly the way in which these transactions took place, and how organs of Falun Gong practitioners were harvested. He also said these activities were organized “like a dragon”. The imprisoned Falun Gong Practitioners are being stock piled and then sysematicly murdered while their organs are being removed.”

Wang Zhiyuan said, the reports from WOIPFG as well as the publication from David Matas and David Kilgour, along with the confessions submitted to Minghui.org by two forensic investigators who took part in these crimes, not only contribute to the proof of the Chinese Communist regime’s organ harvesting on Falun Gong practitioners, but give clear indication that these crimes continue to take place today. Wang Zhiyuan called on those who have participated in these crimes to assist in exposing the atrocities, obtain forgiveness as well as opening a path to the future for themselves and family members.

Craig Richter and Yu Shan for the SOH Radio Network.

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- Chinese champion awarded Human Rights Leadership Award;

- Beijing residents say National Day parade was threatening and militaristic;

- Chinese textbooks fabricated, teacher says.

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Chinese champion awarded Human Rights Leadership Award

Li Guohong, an employee at the Henan Sinopec Zhongyuan Oilfield, has received an award from the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Foundation. He was presented the ‘Human Rights Leadership Award’. Li Guohong expressed his thanks and is positive over his efforts to help vulnerable groups. He pledges that in future, he will be more actively involved in this work.

However Li is unable to travel to California to accept the award in person as Communist authorities will not allow it.

Also receiving the award are Wu Fan, the President of China’s transitional government; Chen Yizi, adviser of the former Chinese Premier; Zhao Ziyang, public Union lawyer; and Xia Lin and Wang Xiaoning, who are on the Chinese Social Democratic Party Central Committee .

Mr. Li Guohong said the recognition he received encourages him to work harder.

(Recording) “Some of my behaviours are recognised by some groups and people. I am very please with that. It is my honour. It is due to this that I shall be able to do more to help others. I see there are other friends that have received the award. I, personally, think that they are much better than I. I only follow my own wishes, because I am only a person who lost his rights, so I have to protect my own rights.

Li has worked for many years to defend the rights of vulnerable groups. Between 2001 and 2002, he was detained for a month on the popular charge of “subverting state power”. The CCP uses this charge to put away anyone it is afraid will undermine its power. This is mostly human rights advocates, members of outlawed religious groups and political dissidents.

Li’s crime was publishing articles and being in contact with members of the China Democracy Party. In 2007, he was sentenced to 18 months of re-education, or brainwashing as we call it in the West.

Caden Pearson and Tian Xi of the SOH Radio Network.

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Beijing residents say National Day parade was threatening and militaristic

During the Chinese Communist Party 60-year anniversary of its rule, a huge number of people mobilized. The number of people has rarely been seen in the CCP’s history. The CCP used the Military Review as an efficient instrument to show off its military force; however, this activity didn’t win any honor for the CCP. Instead, it established a militaristic image to the outside world.

After watching the Military Review, Mr. Liu from Beijing, had this to say:

[Recording]: “The Military Review this time is a kind of intimidation and a kind of psychological oppression to its ordinary people. This Military Review seems to be very serious. There are martial laws, 7 province union actions, and inspections. Lots of places have been searched. But in fact this is also the CCP’s guilty conscience to keep away ordinary people and mainly guard itself against resistance from those common, low-level, weak population.”

Mr. Liu added today’s CCP is like a remake of the Nazis. He warned that, in a desperate situation, they may become militaristic.

[Recording]: “Adopting dictatorship is to protect its authority. But very likely it will use military power aggressively and finally become militaristic like the Nazis. By looking at the current situation, this is an inevitable choice. Otherwise, a tumultuous situation will occur. To stabilize the situation, the CCP has to use this kind of aggressive military show to intimidate its opponents at home and abroad. And it will go in this direction farther and farther.”

The CCP has established its authority for the past 60 years; however, Mr. Liu believes people’s thoughts are changing and the CCP’s dictatorship is no longer applicable in China. Mr. Liu said, if the CCP insists on centralization of power and dictatorship, eventually its authority will decline.

[Recording]: “My friends including those known from the Internet, call on Nationalizing Military, stopping party and media prohibition, and forming a democratic Multi-Party structure. The majority of them hold this opinion. Such a dictatorial system with the party threatening people with weapons is taking a step back into history. If it’s not changed, it may cause a horrible result. If authority is maintained in a militaristic way, I don’t think it will last long.”

Donna Ware; Qin Yue; and Yu Liang of the SOH Radio Network

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Chinese textbooks fabricated, teacher says

The content of this story is not surprising, but it is true. Which is more than several Chinese primary school text book publishers can boast. A language teacher from a Chinese school has exposed fabricated information in primary school text books. These text books apparently adopt real historical figures and events, but are told the way the CCP wants its nationals to know.

Guo Chuyang has been a language teacher for six years. She has worked with more than 20 primary school language teachers to establish a civil education system research group. This group collected and analysed more than 300 textbook articles in a two year period. The materials were sourced from three primary school textbook versions dated from 2002 to 2009. They found more than half the articles were fabricated.

The group published a report titled, “Analysis: The Textbooks of Chinese Children”. On October 5, the Global Times reported Chuyang comparing the Chinese-language teaching textbooks to the tainted milk powder mixed incidents of 2008. In which several infants were poisoned by with the toxic substance melamine.

The Chinese Sound of Hope reported on He Yi. The 19 year old University of California student was a past student of Guo Chuyang. He discovered that a story he learned in grade two while he lived in mainland China, entitled “Edison Rescues Mother” was pure fabrication.

The text book article he read taught that Edison’s mother suffered from acute appendicitis. And that under the light of a few oil lamps, the 7-year-old Edison used mirror reflection to help the doctor complete the operation successfully.

Yet historical facts show that Edison was born in 1847. The earliest discussion of appendicitis in the medical field was dated in 1886. Thus when Edison was 7, the appendicitis operation was nowhere in existence.

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Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army are driven to extreme lengths to ensure they perform flawlessly for the National Day parade.

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

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

Security forces packed the streets and buildings of Beijing. Including SWAT teams and snipers.

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

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

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

(To know more please listen to our podcast)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Residents now mostly get their water from wells.

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

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

Caden Pearson, SOH, Brisbane

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Daughter fights for murdered fathers rights

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Threat of civil war escalating in Burma

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

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

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

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

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

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

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A relative of an earthquake victim mourns at Beichuan County. Relatives have been seeking justice against corrupt builders and officials responsible for shoddy school buildings.

- CCP steps up oppression of quake victims;
- The CCP’s pre-National Day Show;
- Water pollution shocking.

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CCP steps up oppression of quake victims

It has been more than a year since the devastating Sichuan earthquake. However many parents of children who died as a result of poorly constructed schools are still trying to seek justice. Thousands of students died during the quake, and parents are pointing the finger at local officials for the substandard construction. Parents had tried to go to Beijing to appeal, but many have been sent back home. With the politically sensitive date October 1st coming up, the Chinese communist regime has stepped up its oppression of the grieving parents.

More than 240 students from an Elementary School in Dujianyan’s died during the quake. The school had less than 700 students. A parent of one deceased child surnamed Li says,

“It’s been over a year, and every night I cannot sleep well. The image of my adorable son constantly appears in front of my eyes. They are so young and innocent, and shouldn’t have died. Those who should have died are the greedy and corrupt officials, and those black-hearted building constructors.”

The parent said, the Communist regime has made a series of restrictions for parents trying to appeal, but it has not solved any problems.

“When we appealed, the government ruled that only five people can go at once, if you have more than that, then your appeal is illegal. If the same five people constantly appeal, then they’re classified as harassing the appeals office, and we’re then labelled with this crime. If our problem isn’t solved by our appeals to Dujianyan, and we go to Chengdu or Beijing, then we’re said to be appealing to the wrong level of government, and our appeal ends up in vain. Why is this? They only make a record, and don’t solve anything. For example, they wanted to investigate the school’s building materials, but until now no tests have been done. The school grounds are empty, how can they test? It’s already been more than a year and (the officials) are pretending like nothing’s wrong and just try to comfort us. All of the parents are very dissatisfied.”

With the approach of October 1st, when the Communist regime will celebrate its 60th anniversary of rule of China, oppression on the parents has increased.

“The parents dare not displease (the authorities), if I take a lead to organise something, then the State Security, or Public Security will immediately seek me down. And if we go and air our grievances at a particular place, or go appeal to someone, like in Beijing, then we will be captured and taken back. We will be detained for a month or half a month. If I make a phone call now, now that its close to October 1st, if I call a parent and say that we will go to appeal, then I would been seen as the leader and the government will detain me, this is for sure. The government is severely controlling us, who dares to (misbehave)? If anyone stands up, that person will be targeted. Governance of the people, what is that? With no people, where do they get their governance from? Now they are just governing us.”

Ms Li a Parent, who’s child was a victim in the disaster says that authorities are prohibiting them from being interviewed by media, and stopping them from speaking the truth or going to appeal.

“These are all shoddy constructions, it’s been more than a year, and there are no results. I don’t even know if this phone call is being tapped by them or not. They all know about the phones, I can’t say much. All I can say is that they don’t allow the parents to go.”

The Communist regime’s aversion to the issue of school construction qualities has always been the focus of overseas media. The regime suppresses those parents who seek investigations into the shoddy construction, and holds those responsible to account. To cover up the truth, the CCP is spending huge sums of money.

“Now the schools are being built very splendidly. What’s surface work? Looking at these schools, my heart is bleeding. It is like the return for the cost of the lives lost. These schools cost at least tens of millions of Yuan. What are we meant to think? We have expended this, if the government used the funds, and had spent just an extra 20,000 or 50,000 Yuan, then not so many children would’ve died. If you can seek out all these black hearted constructors and responsible officials, and hold them accountable, we will all feel very good. No matter how much money you give me, be it 5 million or 10 million, my son’s life cannot be brought back.”

Some Chinese issue experts believe the continual cover up by the CCP off the shoddy constructions will ignite even greater public anger.

This is Matthew Ytsma reporting for SOH Wellington, New Zealand.

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The CCP’s Pre-National Day Show

October 1rst marks the 60th year anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) regime. According to custom, CCP authorities plan to hold a National Day parade and review of troops in Beijing. CCP authorities dispatch troops, Armed Police Forces, and other similar kinds of power, and spend lots of money and resources to assure its success.

As early as last December, Chinese media voiced its disagreement with planned activities, citing huge troop reviews as both labor- and money-consuming. Recently, Mr. Chen Xi, the famous human rights activist from Guizhou Province, told SOH reporters that this is a continuation of the so called “Image Project” performed by the CCP’s one party dictatorship. Xi added that such events convey despotism and arbitrariness to people at home and abroad, seriously disturbing residents, and depriving their human rights.

[Recording] From what I know, during this large National Day celebration period in Beijing, people in Beijing are not allowed to open their windows and doors. Isn’t this a huge disturbance to residents? Since they are a one party dictatorship, they don’t care. Because they’ve been disturbing and annoying people for a long time, they don’t have this concept. For example, they are not supervised by public opinion and don’t listen to different voices from people’s various medias. They insistently spend taxpayers’ money on this kind of showy celebration, which has been done for several decades.”

According to Chen Xi, local democratic dissenters in Guizhou Province have become targets of the CCP’s strict monitoring and suppression.

[Recording] For example, last night, the police especially knocked on my door to see if I was here. Then, today, there are 5 or 6 policemen around us when we have activities.

Chen Xi said that CCP authorities will seize this opportunity to ballyhoo and laud peace and safety.

[Recording] “…So they have a chance. In other words, they were given a chance after 60 years. They will definitely not miss it and they’ll whoop it up. They want to largely change their ugly image in people’s mind.

Chen Xi stated that the CCP’s show in front of people at home and abroad actually demonstrates the panic in their heart.

[Recording] They do this as a show for people at home and abroad, especially domestic people. For instance, we know recently social unrest, group events, and voices from rights-protectors have emerged continuosly. This means, folks greatly complain about the CCP’s overbearing behavior. Then they show Chinese people their arbitrariness and pass on this kind of information.

[Recording] The CCP wants to show international society their regime’s great power, large accumulated wealth, and sacrifice more people’s benefits. So they need such a large action to express this voice. This is also a voice of panic from their heart.

In Chen Xi’s final comments, he calls the 60 years under CCP rule a horrific 60 years. It has deprived people of their dignity and rights.

[Recording] The CCP’s activities are methods to legitimize their governance of this country. What is that based on? It’s based on their outrageousness and violence, as well as mastering a kind of absolute power. They show it by depriving people’s dignity, which is different from international society. So for the CCP’s authority, this is their consistent style.”

This is Keith Ware of SOH Washington.

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Water pollution shocking

A recent survey conducted by the Chinese State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) showed that the scope and severity of water pollution in China is horrifying and has become a public crisis.

According to SEPA’s investigations, in the past two years, there were 140 water pollution accidents in China occurring on average every 2 to 3 days.

However figures are far worse according to the Ministry of Supervision’s statistics, which show in recent years, more than 1700 water pollution accidents annually.

According to the “State of the Environment in China” issued by China’s Environmental Protection Administration, the evaluation of water quality that was carried out on nearly 140,000 kilometers of rivers, showed approximately 40% is severely polluted. All seven major river systems were included.

Another important survey issued by the Environmental Protection Administration showed the national statistics of 131 rivers flowing through cities, of which 36 rivers were severely polluted, 21 were heavily polluted and 38 were moderately polluted.

The communiqué said the Yellow River in the past 10 years, is constantly being polluted. The quality of water is so low it has basically lost the function of water. The Yangtze River is no exception with 60% polluted.

In the evaluation of a study done on 2,000 km of the Huaihe River, 78.7% did not meet the standards for drinking water, 79.7% did not meet the standards for fishing, and 32% did not meet the standards for irrigation water. 10 years ago, it held more than 60 species of fish all of which are now extinct.

In addition inter-regional rivers are extensively polluted, localized small and medium rivers in the cities are not able to escape contamination. In Guangzhou, the 14 waters that form the Pearl River which weaves through urban areas are black and smelly.

According to the survey of Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey Bureau 95% of the sea water in the Pearl River was heavily polluted. The East China Sea used to be as rich as “sea granary.” Now red tides occur every 4 years in June. Experts point out that this is the result of concentration of the country’s pollution through rivers to the coast; it had ruthlessly torn the “last defending line” of China’s water pollution.

This is Matthew Ytsma reporting for SOH Wellington, New Zealand.

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Dissidents and petitioners have been kept under wraps in the leadup to China's National Day.

- Dissidents under surveillance during China’s National Day;
- Relatives of Falun Gong practitioners send open letter for help;
- Hackers attack Chinese rights website.

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Dissidents under surveillance during China’s National Day

In order to secure safety during the celebration of its 60th anniversary during China’s National Day, the Chinese Communist regime put many people under house arrest. Tiananmen mothers, and democratic activists who had participated in the 1989 June 4th democratic movement and other appellants are all under local authorities’ surveillance.

One of the Tiananmen mothers Zhan Xianling was under house arrest for three days during the Fourth Plenary Session of the Chinese Communist Party’s 16th National Congress. Even though she was sick and could not go out, the police still guarded the entrance of her living complex for the entire three days.

[Recording]: I have been under surveillance for several days. It began on September 15th. It’s September 18th today. It is for the Fourth Plenary Session of the 16th National Congress. Question: Did you say 24 hours? Yes. There was three people, and also a police car. It so happened that I was ill and could not go about. There was only one occasion that I went downstairs. They immediately followed me. They monitor whoever they feel afraid of. That is how scared they are towards these people. That means they feel guilty themselves. I am an old woman over 70 years old. In addition, I was sick. I was just released from hospital not long ago. I would feel tired if I talked too much. However, these people still put me under surveillance. I see that these people are weaker than me.”

Qi Zhiyong, who is still disabled from the June 4th massacre was forced to leave the hospital he was staying at on September 17th. Immediately after that, 10 police officers began monitoring his residence. On September the 25th, and the 26th, he will be forced to leave his residence in Beijing, and go to Shijiazhuang until October 1st, until the National Day celebrations are over.

[recording]: They will force him to go to Shijiazhuang, around the 25th or 26th. Firstly they forced him to leave the hospital. He was not allowed to stay in hospital, and was asked to go back home and to wait for further instruction from above. Now there is a police car at his front door, and a police car at his rear door. There are six policemen, and four security guards.”

Hu Jia’s wife Zeng Jinyan has been forced to leave Beijing as well. She was sent to her hometown Fu Jian and is being forced to stay there during October 1. Her husband Hu Jia is still imprisoned.

[recording]: Most likely Zeng Jinyan has left. We cannot reach Qi Zhiyong by phone either.”
Jia Jianying, wife of another detainee in He Dupu prison, has also been under surveillance since the morning of September 19th. It will be over on October 10th.

[recording]: We are under surveillance, from seven in the morning. It will continue this way until October 10. The surveillance of Zhang Jianguo and Gao Hongming began as early as September 15th. Gao Hongming and Yang Jing were not allowed to stay in Beijing and were sent to other places. Gao Hongming is the deputy chairman of the China Democracy Party, and so is Zhang Jianguo. Zhang Jianguo lives in Beijing. Even when he told the security guards he wanted to go watch a movie, they would not allow him to go. When he told them he would do grocery shopping, the guards said they would report to upper levels and ask for permission. It is different from before. This year’s surveillance is very strict.

Appellant Ye Guoqiang of Beijing has been under surveillance since September 17th.

[recording]: There are fewer guards this time, just one policeman and two security guards. They are hiding and suppressing all these problems. Once these problems errupt, who is to be held responsible? Who is doing the wrong deeds here?

Appellant Tang Shenggui was forced to leave Beijing. His elderly wife had cerebral thrombosis and difficulty walking. However, Tang had to take his wife to Shanghai and stay there with relatives and friends until after October 1.

[recording]: I am leaving tonight. The train leaves at 10:10 p.m. The police will not follow me to Shanghai. They will send me to the train station.

Appellant Wang Jianping was taken to the police station when she went to the city government on September 15th to appeal. Now she is being held at a hotel.

[recording]: I have been under house arrest since September 16th. There are three guards. I am being held at a hotel, near the police station. It is an order from the Police Department at the municipal level. A policewoman stays in the same hotel room with me. They take shifts to monitor me. A male policemen and a security guard live in the hotel room across the hallway. The security guard sits in front of the door every night. I heard it would end on October 10th.

During all festivals, holidays, sensitive days, and congress meetings, these people are under surveillance by the police. They think the government is fearful and weak.

By SOH reporter Tian Xi.

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Relatives of FLG practitioners send open letter for help

Over the past few years, Beijing residents Jingping Niu and his wife Lianying Zhang have endured severe persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) due to their practice of Falun Gong. In response to the couple’s sentencing to labour camp re-education, their family members have written an open letter to European Parliamentarians, hoping to catch the attention of international organisations such as the UNs. They hope the criminal activities against Falun Gong practitioners conducted in Chinese labour camps can be investigated. They also hope for such evil deeds to stop, and for justice to prevail.

On August 6th this year, the family members of Niu and Zhang, along with other Falun Gong practitioners, wrote a letter to European Parliamentarian Edward McMillan Scott. They hope he will continue to call on the world to stop the CCP’s persecution. They also want the whole world to understand the cruel acts committed against millions of Falun Gong practitioners in labour camps.

Niu is currently held at Beijing’s Tuanhe Labour Camp, while his wife is detained in Masanjia Labour Camp in Shenyan city. With the help of righteous individuals, their family members have come to understand full extent of the couple’s plight, which in turn has raised considerable concern for their safety.

Zhang’s brother had this to say:
(recording)
“I actually felt like dying inside when I heard about how she was treated. Before she went to the (labour camp), she had an operation. In Tongzhou at that time, she was nearly unconscious. In fact she has still not recovered. Her health has deteriorated, whether she will one day return to the life of a normal person is anybody’s guess!”

On May 21st, 2006, with no one else to turn to, Niu decided to seek the help of McMillan Scott, who was investigating in China at the time, in order to expose the brutality of the treatment that his wife had received. The couple have since then become targeted individuals of the CCP.
Under the CCP’s policy of “no meetings without transformation”, the rights and health of many Falun Gong practitioners in labour camps have been seriously impeded upon.

Zhang’s lawyer told SOH during interviews:
(recording)
“While I was representing her, my main job was to push for an administrative reconsideration. I was acting for the couple. However they refused to let them meet. We suggested the reconsideration be adjourned, and it was maintained. After she was transferred, they refused to let us meet with her, and that they will not allow any meeting to take place until she is considered transformed.”

Transformation refers to the CCP’s policy of getting Falun Gong practitioners to renounce their belief, and to write an oath that they would no longer practice.

Zhang has been reportedly close to death on numerous occasions after being tortured in labour camps. Although the family have asked lawyers to represent the couple, they have been severely hampered by legal restrictions and red tape in their crusade for justice.

This story was brought to you by SOH reporters Yifei Li, Jingxi Ling and Perry Luo for Inside China on SOH Radio Network

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Hackers attack Chinese rights website

A Chinese news website translated as “Rights Defend China Net” has been attacked by hackers. The attack began on September 19th.

Qiufeng, the website’s editor said, 【Recording】 “This attack is very, very serious. Since the site was established it has never been attacked like this. The website had been paralyzed since the 19th, and it is still paralyzed today. At one time, as soon as we launched the website the server could not stand, and then we were hastily forced to stop the site again.”

In the past this website has been shut down for 100 days by Communist authorities for publishing articles deemed “sensitive”.

Last year the website published an article titled, “The number of Olympic gold medal does not determine people’s happiness.” This led to the site being shut down for 40 days.

The site can only handle 150 cyber hits per second. From what the service provider told Qiufeng, it was being accessed 40,000 times per second.

The attack also affected another website sharing the same server provided by Beijing Interest Soil Media Culture Co. Ltd. Two days later when the site’s technical staff tried to relaunch the site they discovered the attack has not ceased.

Qiufeng had proposed to the site space service providers to request the Internet police monitoring department handle the case.

A technician from the service provider said that he is not clear how the Net monitoring department will manage the attack on the site.

The above news is brought to you by Guo Liang and Xi Wen, hosted Caden Pearson for Inside China Today on SOH Radio Network.

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In preparation for China's National Day, authorities have clamped down on famous dissidents including: Li Subin (top left), Mo Shaoping (top middle), Guo Guoting (top right), Jiang Tianyong (bottom left), Han Zhiguang (bottom middle), and Li Heping (bottom right). (Web Images)

- Security ‘moat’ in place before National Day;
- Beijing human rights lawyers harassed before National Day;
- Nasty ‘disposable chopsticks’ made in Chinese prisons;
- Severe pollution around Hebei villages, children poisoned.

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Security ‘moat’ and armed police in place before National Day celebrations

Even before National Day on October 1rst, Beijing security is on the highest alert status. Armed policemen patrol the streets. On September 8, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Ministry of Public Security decided to formally start the “Moat” Project from September 15.

Because of the Party Central Committee’s Fourth Plenary Session held from Sept 15 to 18, as well as the coming National Day celebration, Beijing security maintenance is also on the highest alert status, with an intensively nervous atmosphere.

Witnesses said the Armed Police Force are carrying guns and civilian policemen carry new .92 Model revolvers while patrolling on the streets. When dealing with these issues, the Armed Police Force have the right to shoot. Police vehicles patrol the street in 10-minute intervals.

[Recording] “Now policemen and the Armed Police Force are patrolling together. Having received the order, the Armed Police Force can shoot whenever there is a problem. They all hold miniature tommy guns loaded with bullets. It’s more nervous and has stepped up to the highest alert status. The Armed Police Force’s patrol cars go one round for 10 minutes. To handle emergencies at any time, the Armed Police Force sit in the cars and hold up the guns, which were previously carried on the shoulder. The police vehicles follow them. They hold new 92 Model revolvers, wear steel helmets and bullet-proof vests, and even arm their teeth.

External media reported that both the Armed Police Force and policemen will be armed with guns to patrol at night in some significant areas, such as Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Shanxi, and Shandong starting from September 15.

According to citizens, blended Beijing Security Maintenance troops have increased to 1 million people already.

[Recording] Tootsy Detective Team and Capital Militia have increased to 1 million people. One of them is sitting in the doorway of our building. At night, they report who comes and who leaves from each family.

Senior media professional, Ms. Gao Yu said, “the whole country is monitored and controlled by the army and police. The prison is badly packed.

[Recording] Now not only 7 provinces, but the entire nation applies the Moat Project and has patrols at night. The entire Ministry of Public Security will conduct a special action in September. Petitioners or any one who interferes with the security patrol will be sent to prison. Now procuratorates, courts, and the Ministry of Public Security also feel there are not enough prisons.

Dissenters and lawyers are all monitored. Xinjiang business persons driven away from Beijing to Langfang have their cell phones monitored.

[Recording] “Every dissenter and rights-protector are watched. The CCP forces people to call it policy and call rights-protection a crime.”

Beijing’s Zhong Shan Park is not publicly open before the October 1- enforced restriction period.

[Recording] “According to the newspaper, you can’t come after they start the restriction period. If you want to come, you can come after October 1.”

Beijing Hotel is not open to the public during the National Day period. Customers who check in before October 1 will be given a safety inspection.

[Recording] Now it’s like this. From September 28 to October 2, our hotel is not open to the public. Before and after that, we’re open.
(Reporter: why don’t you open to the public?) This is because it’s a unified arrangement by the government. Normally we follow the Ministry of Public Security’s regulation. There is a safety inspection before September 28. Now we have a safety inspection.

A citizen said that such a money and manpower-consuming National Day security maintenance makes people not know whether to laugh or cry, and makes people feel tired and unacceptable.

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Beijing human rights lawyers harassed before National Day

From the beginning of this year, the judicial authority of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has ignored the right to advocate. The Public Rights Authority (PRA) of the CCP has denied more than 10 human rights lawyers licenses in Beijing. On September 9, a SOH reporter interviewed many Beijing lawyers, to include Li Heping, Jiang Tianyong, and Li Xiongbing. They collectively stated that they had been recently harassed by Chinese Secret Police.

Beijing lawyer Jiang Tianyong’s house had been monitored by police since July 30th. Jiang told SOH reporters that those monitors record the time he leaves and returns home. Now, the Chinese Secret Police have been talking with him directly.

Jiang said: [Recording] “They have been here a long time, sometimes they record a little, sometimes a lot. Several days ago I received a call from a policeman. He asked about my plans for National day or October 1. He also asked me to contact and report to them if something happens. Other lawyers warned me that around National day, the police may be taking some action.”

When interviewed by SOH reporters, the lawyer Li Heping stated, some time ago he received a police’s warning. The police threatened that by National Day, either he leave Beijing. or the police would come to his home. The Beijing government has a saying; be more aggressive than the athletes in the Olympic Games.

Li Heping said: [Recording] “During the Olympic Games period, we were tracked closely by the police. Criminal laws clearly state that tracking and harassing a citizen is against the law. Although paid by the Chinese tax payers, the police constantly track and harass innocent citizens. This is the PRA perpetrating crimes. The laws in China don’t seem to apply to the PRA. I think this is horrible.”

Li still remembers vividly that, on September 29, 2007, he was kidnapped by a group of unknown thugs. They beat him violently in a basement and performed electric shock on him for 6 hours.

Li said: [Recording] “Two years have passed. Tomorrow will be October 1. I don’t know if anything has changed. It’s is called National Day, but the Chinese citizens at this time, China’s legal citizens, law-abiding citizens can be hurt by the PRA. This is a very abnormal thing.”

SOH reporters also attempted to contact other lawyers who are often harassed on sensitive days. These reporters found that the lawyer Teng Biao currently is not in Beijing, the lawyer Li Fangping has said, so far, nothing happened. The lawyer Li Xiongbing didn’t want to talk too much but just said that nothing has been changed. He did mention that he had been asked by the Chinese Secret Police to have a talk. Before that, during his wife’s pregnancy, he and Li’s wife, had been forced to move many times.

Amnesty International released a report on September 7. In recent months, the CCP has launched an unprecedented attack on Human Rights Lawyers, other figures in law related circles, and law supporting organizations in Mainland China. Based on their observations, especially in this new round of suppressions, Human Rights Lawyers seem to be affected first.

This is Keith Ware for ICT on the SOH radio network

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Nasty ‘disposable chopsticks’ made in Chinese prisons

Disposable chopsticks are called sanitary chopsticks in China. Are they really sanitary? These chopsticks are commonly used in restaurants. However, the packaging process would make one dumbfounded. Several individuals who had witnessed the packaging process revealed the secrets.

Liu Wei, a female Falun Gong practitioner who had been detained at the Beijing Eastern District Detention Center and Beijing Women’s Labor Camp told reporters the hygienic conditions at the detention center and the labor camp were horrible. The detainees were not allowed to their wash hands before they started to package the chopsticks.

[Liu Wei’s recording]: “Every day each person could only go to the restroom three times, and we could only use it for two minutes each time. We could take only one bath a month; and we were only allowed to change our underwear once a week. The chopsticks were sent to restaurants directly after we finished packaging.”

When she was detained in the labor camp, she suffered coercive brain-washing, and was immersed in a water-cell. On one occasion, she felt her heart was about to fail and she didn’t even remember who she was. She successfully escaped from China, and now lives in Germany.

Another Falun Gong practitioner Chen Gang had been detained at Beijing Labor Camp Bureau for Dispatching Detainees, known as “the gate of hell”. Chen Gang described how jailors compelled detainees to package disposable chopsticks.

[Chen Gang’ recording]: “At the dispatching center, we had to package chopsticks for 16 to 20 hours a day, sometimes even 22 hours. You cannot imagine how nasty the chopsticks are. The dispatching center is dirty itself. We were not allowed to take a bath for several months. Each time, we were given only two or three minutes to wash our hands. We had 20 people competing for five or six faucets; the water was trickling from the faucets slowly. Everyone’s bodies stunk.”

The Epoch Times reported on February 25, 2004: “With dozens of inmates squeezed into one small room, the chopsticks waiting to be packaged were piled on the floor arbitrarily, and often stepped on by workers. The inmates’ job was to put the chopsticks into paper coverings labelled by the Department of Sanitation and Epidemic Prevention, though the inmates had not gone through any epidemic prevention or sanitary measures themselves. Many of them had skin diseases, such as scabies outbreaks, and some were drug addicts or had been diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases.”

[Chen Gang’s recording]: “The Tuanhe (Twan her) Labor Camp also requires detainees to package chopsticks. It has become a most typical slave product. If the government really cares about the well-being of the commoners, the government should go investigate this matter.”

By SOH reporters Tang Xi and Zhao Hui

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Severe pollution around Hebei villages, children poisoned

In the 1970’s a dam was built to function as a reservoir for local villages in Chengde county, Hebei Province. Today, it serves as waste dump for local mining company Yinfeng Corporation Limited. The dam which once was used to store water, prevent floods and irrigates farmland now poisons the local villagers.

The Yinfeng mining company refines silver and lead. Years of running waste into the village’s water reservoir has seriously impacted on the health of the local environment, with waste seeping into the soil.

Many locals have also been diagnosed with strange illnesses. There have also been reports of children being diagnosed with lead poisoning.

Villager Ms Li told overseas reporters (recording), “They detected about four or five with lead poisoning. People who had no symptoms of illness have not had tests, but some who saw the doctors because of their illness were tested and found to have lead poisoning.”

When the town realised the seriousness of the situation they got together to campaign to stop the mines use of the reservoir. The authorities responded by arresting and imprisoning four villagers for 6 months. The authorities refuse to release them and their trials continue to be delayed.

On describing the process by which these villagers were arrested, Ms Li said, (Recording) “Last time when we went to block the waste truck, there was no violence or abuse, and they did not block the mine completely. They simply did not allow the waste to be tipped into the dam. They were arrested just like that. At 4 or 5am in the morning of March 17, people came and abducted them. It has been about 6 months, and they have been detained with no further explanation or negotiation. They were just said to have committed the crime of “gathering mobs to cause trouble, disturbing the order of society”.”

Recently villagers from Panjiagou revealed to overseas media that Yinfeng Corporation Limited has bribed authorities with financial enticements.

Interviewed villagers complained one by one that the chief of the village has colluded with the mining company and assisted them in bribing relevant official departments.

Villager Ms Chen said (recording), “The chief of this village has his heart aligned with the mining company. They spent money; the village chief gave the higher authorities money. Then once they have received the money they would not resolve our issues, even the environment bureau, pollutions control bureau and water bureau are ignoring us.”

The above was brought to you by SOH reporters Wen Fang, Fang Liang and Caden Pearson for Inside China on SOH Radio Network.

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Please leave a comment at www.insidechinatoday.net or send an email to insidechinatoday@sohnetwork.com

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The 'Quit the CCP' movement has gained new heights with over 60,000,000 resignations so far.

- Quitting the CCP becoming massive trend;
- Fear of war in Kokang, Chinese businesses in panic;
- Appeals pointless in Beijing, time for public protest.

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Quitting the CCP has become a massive trend

The massive wave of ‘Quit the CCP’ movement in China, initiated by the publication of “Nine Commentaries of Communist Party”, has reached another milestone today, with over 60 million people announcing their withdrawal from Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations. According to Dr. Gao Dawei, Director of Global Quit CCP Service Center, this is quite a significant milestone and it is a reflection of the awakening of the Chinese people’s conscience, ten years after the collapse of the Communist Bloc in Eastern Europe.

Dr. Gao Dawei said, (recording) “the 60 million who quit CCP embodies the awakening of the conscience of Chinese people. The movement is a magnificent act of the Chinese people that is in accordance with the heavenly mandate as well as the call of the people. It embodies the heavenly mandates to eliminate Chinese Communist Party in China and bring back the blessing that’s long overdue. We noticed that now, people from all walks of the society are quitting, including many Communist party and government officials. It used to be the case that people would quit on their own, now they spread the news to other people as well.”

One notable example pointed out by Dr Gao is that of Mr. Qiu Mingwei, a reporter from People’s Daily who recently fled from China. Qiu quit the CCP through the Epoch Times website: According to his remarks “(recording), party and government officials would use their advantage of access to quit on the web, some even quit openly. This has become a trend. Behind the natural and man-made disasters in China, many people saw the evil acts of the party, and many have lost their hope for the party.”

There are more and more natural and man-made disasters in China, and there are more and more uprisings by the people against the party. Many come to the conclusion that it isn’t worthwhile to sell themselves to the party. Many officials, including high ranking military personnel, have quit the CCP with their real names. For example, there is a party policy research institute, all seven people within this institute have read the 9-commentaries, and they have all quit the CCP with their real names after a discussion amongst themselves.

A prominent psychology professor in China, Sun Yanjun, came to the U.S. to study. He then went back to China, charged with setting up a research institute aimed at using modern psychology to help with Communist brainwashing on religious people, including Falun Gong practitioners. As soon as he read the 9-commentaries, he changed his mind. He has since quit the CCP and has even quit working for the party.

Dr. Gao asks that all Chinese people should at this critical juncture in history participate in the spreading of the 9-Commentaries and encourage those around them to quit the CCP. When the Chinese Communist Party finally collapses, he believes that more people would be able to lead a decent life and enter a bright future.

By Qin Yue, Yu Liang and Perry Luo of the SOH Radio Network.

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Fear of war in Kokang, Chinese businesses in panic

Since recent sparks of violent conflicts in Kokang, Burma, all refugee camps in Yunnan, China have been evacuated. Despite the reluctance of most refugees to return to their original places of residence, the Chinese Communists regime forced their repatriation. Chinese business owners in Kokang are also concerned for recurrence of the violent conflicts, and many intend to flee the city, in fear of their lives.

Tens of thousands of Chinese people run businesses or work in Kokang. More than 90% of shopfronts have contributions from Chinese investors. Mr Huang, a Chinese business man in Kokang said, that he feared misconduct and robberies from the Burmese army, and many Chinese people are packing for their return to their hometown.

Mr Huang said, (recording), “All of the Chinese government’s refugee camps have been evaculated, and many refugees repatriated. Many of those refugees had no wish to return, as they feared for being robbed by the Burmese army. Those villages previously occupied by the alliance army had been cleaned out. The civilians who lived on the skirts of the village are now all homeless. [The army] has robbed Chinese shop fronts on the grounds they occupied, and captured the strong men. They also take vengeance on those who are found to be family members of the alliance army. The Chinese people who return are all packing, and on the way back to China. On the 28th, when a leaving group approached the Burmese borders reached Golden Triangle, the Burmese army captured a girl, and the girl was crying for help.”

Miss Zhang, a Chinese business owner in Kokang said Chinese people around her locality are all anxious that the violent conflicts may once again arise. However, some are still reluctant to leave, as their return to China would mean the loss of their income, home and possessions.

Miss Zhang said, (recording) “We are afraid that war may again take place. We have had our business here for many years, and sometimes we don’t see many Burmese people around at all. What can we do just by fearing them? Tens of thousands in investments cannot be shifted or pulled, and it cannot be sold, so we can only stay here. If the gun shots begin, we could only flee. Burmese people occupy this place, and we cannot communicate due to language restrictions. Sometimes when they come and and take things they don’t pay.”

Chinese business man Mr Zhang felt disappointed at the Chinese Communist government’s neglect of Chinese people outside of the borders. According to Mr Zhang, on the 28th of August when a Chinese man was killed by the Burmese army, they made calls to Chinese government officials for help, but the government took no notice. People who escape to the refugee camps set up by the Chinese Communist regime even have to pay for meals.

Mr Zhang said (recording) “If war breaks out again, we could only do the same, that is to flee. I would not want the shop any more. It cost us more than ten thousand, and all of our savings are here, so I also hope they do not declare war. Don’t mention the government, there is no hope in the government. Refugee camps also demand fees and charges, a dollar per meal, and seven dollars for a better meal. When the power cuts, they use a small electricity generator to fix the problem.”

Another Chinese business man from Kokang, Mr Ou-Yang said, the Burmese government has occupied the land around their place of residence, and the atmosphere is filled with the threats of war, which could break out at any moment. Mr Ou-yang said (recording) “Now that Kokang has been occupied, and the tanks have arrived, it’s not possible for there to be no war. We don’t know when it will happen.”

It has been 20 years since the Kokang alliance army signed the cease fire agreement with the government. On August 27th, a violent clash between the the Burmese government and the alliance army at the“Chinese special region”. Kokan leader Peng Jiasheng is now missing.

This was brought to you by Lin Li and Yu Lian and hosted by Caden Pearson for Inside China on SOH Radio Network.

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Appeals pointless in Beijing; time for public protest

Many petitioners have appealed in vain to different levels of the appeals office for many years. Recently, some petitioners have published a written proposal that suggests all petitioners hit the streets to expose publicly the evil conduct of local officials colluding with appeal offices of the central government to persecute petitioners.

Ms. Wang, a petitioner from Shandong province told reporters her personal experience. Ms. Wang thought she would be able to reverse the unjust verdict she suffers by filling out the registration forms at different appeal offices. However, once the petitioners filled out the registration form, local governments would bribe and buy over the officials at the appeal offices, and obtain their registration forms from the officials. Ms. Wang has suffered six kidnappings, and five illegal detentions for appealing. Later, she was sent to a labor camp for one year and 9 months. She endured numerous tribulations.

[Recording:] It serves no use to fill out the registration forms at the appeals office. No one tries to solve the problems for us. We went there appealing to protect our legal rights; however, we found out we cannot protect our rights by appealing. To the contrary, we suffered even more. Our legal rights are infringed upon even more. When we went to the city of Jinan, upon arrival, they claimed we were appealing with abnormal means. Then we were sent to detention centers, and labor camps. Some were sentenced to prison. Around August 20th, four or five of our fellow villagers went to the national bureau of appeal. After they came back, they were detained. They were released yesterday, however, as soon as they were released, they were again detained at a hotel, and were not allowed to come home.”

Another petitioner from Shandong named Liu Fengqin told reporters the National Bureau of Appeal resorts to all kinds of methods to deceive petitioners.

[Recording:] There are no human rights in China. Chinese people are living in a society in which they are wronged and exploited. They searched us, arrested us, treating us like criminals. Born into such a society, how can we not feel sorrowful? Do we have one day we feel delightful? No such day. If these corrupt officials are not eliminated, there is no use going there to appeal. No one is taking care of these matters. These state policies are written to be make believe in front of foreigners; they are not to be implemented for us. Not for us.

Liu also said the so-called appeal departments are not a place for handling issues of civilians. They are only a tool for maintaining state power. Petitioners feel helpless and extremely sad. That’s why they decided to take their grievances to the street to expose the persecution they have suffered.

[recording:] There’s collusion from top to bottom. They all collude. The national bureau of appeal was handed over to a supervising office on December 1, 2008. Since then no one has taken care of petitioners. Wouldn’t you say the handing over to the supervising office was fake? That appeal office deceives petitioners into going there, and petitioners are detained for 10 or 20 years. If all petitioners get onto the street in Beijing, they will be scared. You know.

By SOH reporters Wen Fang and Yu Shan

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Over 30,000 refugees fled Burma into Yunnan Province following military conflict in the border Shan state. The Chinese population in Burma are dissatisfied with the CCP's lack of assistance.

- Supreme Court Judge calls on Chinese judiciary to safeguard CCP;
- Falun Gong practitioners scapegoat for Hunan lead poisoning;
- Environmental disasters affecting economy;
- Kokang businessmen disappointed in CCP.

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Falun Gong practitioners scapegoat for Hunan lead poisoning

Factory contamination poisoned thousands of children in Wen Ping Town, located in the city of Wu Gang in Hunan Province. So far many suffering children haven’t received any treatment or subsidies. It’s also said that the neighboring Si Ma Chong Town has had an outbreak of lead poisoning, causing the populace to panic. Recently the local government has published an announcement, framing parents of the suffering children as Falun Gong practitioners. They then capture them in the name of suppressing Falun Gong.

An anonymous person from Wen Ping Town stated that many local people have been poisoned by lead, and are without treatment or subsidies. Recently, protesting parents have been arrested and falsely labeled as Falun Gong practitioners.

The Wen Ping Resident said [Recording]: “People were caught here. They say it’s because of Falun Gong. It’s wrong. There’s no Falun Gong here. They arrested people, making up something about Falun Gong. I was told one person is being detained. Many people haven’t received any replies after requests of medical expenses. The Government doesn’t care about people above 14 years of age. No subsidies are given. Nothing is taken care of. They came to catch people and told us not to create a disturbance. The upper level government has sent some messages. Since the beginning, we’ve been very angry. They mainly threatened us farmers not to speak.”

In Le Shi Village (Wen Ping Town’s neighbor) there are 4 metallurgical plants. Last month, some parents took their children to hospital to find that they had been lead poisoned. This raised panic. Currently children under 14 years old have been examined.

Ms. Dai from Si Ma Chong town said, [Recording]: “The whole school went for examination. But there is still no result. There is an ironworks upstream and even the color of the water is black. We dare not to drink the water here. People say this is like suicide. It’s horrible. In the announcement, they mentioned Falun Gong. Here we don’t have Falun Gong. In fact, it has no relationship at all. Anyway, they can say what they want to say. Those who were unconvinced have torn the announcement down.”

Mr. Xiao from Wen Ping Town in Wu Gang City said [Recording]: “The contaminated area is very broad. Many places haven’t been examined to see if they are poisoned or not. Some parents took their children themselves to have tests and told the government the situation. But the government threatened them in the name of suppressing Falun Gong.”

Mr. Xiao also said, [Recording]: “An area within 5 square kilometers has been affected. Many villages have this phenomenon. The neighboring 4 villages have been taken care of, with more than 1300 people in these villages. In our Wen Ping Town, people above 14 years old are not examined. If people look for blood testing themselves, the places that conduct this test have got the government’s direct instructions. They’ll probably categorize them as Falun Gong, but It’s most likely that they are not Falun Gong. They’re probably just threatening ordinary people.

Both police in Wen Ping Town and Si Ma Chong Town refused to answer our reporter’s questions.

A policeman in Si Ma Chong Town said, [Recording]: “It’s not easy for me to say anything to you. And I don’t want to say anything.”

On August 9, because the lead poisoning event was not addressed in We Ping Town, it caused people to block the street in protest. The local government sent over 200 policemen to suppress them.

By SOH reporter Wang Qian and Lou Lan

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Environmental disasters affecting economy

Dr. He Ping, President of China’s Environment Fund, said (recording), “Due to this change, the south will experience more floods, while the north will undergo drought. This has happened before, but the climate change has made it more serious.

The country’s average rainfall is 4.8% lower than normal, the lowest since 1987. Northern areas of China are affected by severe drought. However, in late July to August, Sichuan, Chongqing, Hunan and Zhejiang were hit by torrential rain, triggering flash floods, landslides and mudslides, three times more than last year. The average temperature is higher, and the contrast of high and low temperatures is obvious. China has the largest greenhouse gas emissions in the world, and it is threatening China’s environment and economy.

Dr He Ping (Recording): “China’s manufacturing industry relies sixty-seven percent on coal, so the impact on the environment is a powerful thing.”

Dr. He Ping pointed out that the damage to the environment has outweighed the economic growth. (recording) “Acid rain has damaged crops, degraded land, and impacted food production, as well as forestry productions. Health issues, such as disease and health care costs, account for 8% of China’s GDP growth. Thus, the loss of environment has not improved the GDP in any way.

Despite the Chinese authorities’ willingness to take action on the global warming issue, there is a certain degree of conflict between large state-owned enterprises, causing contradictions in the climate policy. This has put pressure on whether China is able to contribute to the alleviation of global warming.

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Kokang businessman disappointed in Chinese Communist Party

Last month, violent conflict broke out in Kokang a special region between the Burmese military junta and the rebel army of Kokang. As a result, tens of thousand of refugees have fled to China. The violence has brought great losses to Chinese businessmen in the capital of Laukkai and these businessmen have condemned the Chinese government.

Huang, a businessman from Laukkai said, “The violent conflict broke out without any early signs, with tens of thousands of people flooding into china, some left home without any belongings. The conflict began on the 27th of August, and on the 28th many businesses owned by Chinese in Laukkai had been robbed. I witnessed a Chinese person being killed on the 2nd day of the conflict. We are hoping the Chinese government is able to offer protection. We had called the authorities but they asked us to hide, and they blamed us for going to investigate, so I’m very outraged. They didn’t even give out any statement to help us.”

Mr Huang said “The Chinese Communist government has always ignored the Chinese people overseas who have been persecuted. It is very sad and disappointing. In Burma, you can see people killed on your doorstep but the Chinese government never say a word. The Chinese people are very unlucky and are extremely disappointed, he said.”

Ouyang also escaped from Burma and said his wife was gunned down when she went to find out about the fighting. Chinese people have been killed, but the government has never responded.

Ouyang said:
“If I was a citizen of the USA, and were injured, what would the American government do? I am a Chinese person, but I have never trusted the Chinese government. Fearing for their safety he has asked people to leave but they have their livelihoods here and they have invested everything they have. They would die in poverty if they leave, so they don’t. They might survive but if they are unlucky, they might be gunned down.”

“With the Chinese government, the news is very restricted and censored. They try to cover up the truth.”

He said, “You have a special reporter status for this interview, but they will check your interview transcript when you leave, and they will try to hide a lot of the truth, because the situation in the refugee camp is very bad. In the first day, two people were disposed of. I don’t know the reason why they died. That’s why, when we have the opportunity, we leave the camp. I don’t trust communism, that’s why I’ve stayed in Laukkai for five years. I have tertiary qualifications, but I dislike what the government does. I call for the United Nations.”

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Jiao Guobiao (left) and Shen Zhou (right) say the growth of the internet will cause increasing problems for the CCP's media censorship.

Headlines…
- Fears of ‘Internet subversion’ seen in Mainland media
- Local government abducts farmers and tears down houses
- Taizhou government withhold land compensation

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Fears of ‘Internet subversion’ seen in Mainland media

The charge of “inciting subversion of state power” is used liberally these days by the Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, as a club to strike down the threat of dissent among the masses.

The list of so-called “threats” to the CCP has grown past human rights champions, like Gao Zhisheng; or religions, like Christianity; or people, like the Tibetans and Uighurs; and even exercise and meditation practices, like Falun Gong; to include popular social networking websites, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

You might be asking yourself “is this for real”? And the answer is, “yeah, it actually is.”

Recently, state-run newspaper ‘People’s Liberation Army Daily’ published an article, which for the first time revealed the government’s fear of what the article calls, “Internet Subversion”.

Entitled, “Internet Subversion: A Security Threat Not To Be Neglected,” the article went on to be reprinted by state-run media “China News” on August 6. It described Internet subversion as a “malignant tumour” that threatened social stability and national security.

Overseas Chinese scholars and activists believe the article highlights the unstable mentality of the Regime.

Professor Jiao Guobiao, former lecturer in journalism at Beijing University had this to say:
“As a government, if freedom of press is enough to subvert it, and freedom on the Internet is enough to overturn it, this indicates that it should be subverted. Every type of new technology can bring subversion upon it, this can only mean that its authority lacks legitimacy, and what accompanies this is a very weak mentality.”

The article alleged that Twitter, Facebook and Youtube, were threats as they have been intentionally utilised as channels of political culture infiltration by Western states.

The article emphasised the need to elevate technological abilities to “strike back online attacks,” as well as “isolate, screen, and lock down,” the World Wide Web in China.

According to Branch Secretary of the Chinese Democratic Party, Shen Zhou, articles of this type not only reveal the CCP’s fear of Internet freedom, but also that repeated attempts to increase Internet surveillance and filtration have seen inadequate results.

Many people still manage to successfully break through the web censorship with software such as Free Gate and Wujie.

Shen Zhou told SOH:
“Internet discussions can truly reveal the thoughts of everyday citizens. There have been a widespread appearance of articles that criticised the CCP, disclosed darkness in the society, called out against corruption, and unveiled the corrupt conduct of local government authorities.

“So, the CCP has seen this, and know that public opinion is strong. This also means they are intending to carry out a strike out on the Internet. To be honest with you, most of these online articles have been written under aliases, and these Internet users only seek to express some of their own thoughts and dissatisfaction with the government.

“If the CCP feels that their governance could be overturned even through the Internet, I think we can see how they are doing in terms of their own governance, and there is much doubt over this matter.”

Shen Zhou also said the CCP is likely to adopt terrorist tactics toward Internet users who stand against the Regime, if they are unable to control and lock down discussion forums on the Web.

He gives the recent example of the arrest of Guo Quan, the founder of the Chinese Democratic Party. Guo Quan was prosecuted with, can you guess, “incitement to subvert state power”, because he published articles which strongly criticised the CCP, on the Internet.

The above was brought to you by Bo Ming, Yu Yin and Caden Pearson for Inside China on SOH Radio Network.
Our next two reports deal with land seizures by the Chinese regime – this first story looks at how authorities will deal with residents who refuse to leave their homes when ordered to leave. Chris thomas brings us this report:
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Local government abducts farmers and tears down houses

Monday, August 10, 2009

In Yiquan Village of Zhenjiang, of Jiangsu province, many Chinese farmers who refused government compensation for their houses and did not agree to relocate saw their houses torn down. One of them said in his petition document that the Zhenjiang Water Works Investment Company colluded with the local government, abducted those dissenting farmers, and forced them to sign a release for the dismantling of their own houses. Ms Yan, one of the farmers, talked to our reporter.

Yan was restrained and deprived of her personal freedom on June 17, 2008, when she refused to give up her house and relocate. She was taken to the police precinct and forced to sign a release document. Her house was torn down but she is yet to receive any compensation.
On the day of the abolishment she said: “The government was behind this act of tearing down my house. Several hundred people, including police and neighborhood officers organized by the government, came and did it. It was just like abduction. They abducted me, and used a red quilt of mine to blindfold me. Two strong men held my arms and covered me with the quilt, so I was completely covered, which was very horrible and terrifying. It was at midnight that they started dismantling my house. My legal residence was brutally dismantled late at night. Without any legal procedure or due process, they just did it. It was really horrible.”

It’s said that the local government destroyed the private residences not for public goods and building infrastructures, but to make money for themselves through commercial development. Many houses were destroyed just like hers, said Mrs. Yan.
She said “They used that piece of land for commercial development, and not for public use as they claimed. It was profit for themselves. In the Wenzhou district of Zhenjiang, many houses were dismantled. We farmers did not sign our name to consent to it, and many people’s houses were destroyed because we did not sign. Many were beaten, brutally beaten. We are really suffering right now, and the standard of living for peasants without farmland is really low.”

Mrs. Yan also told the reporter that, those farmers who lost their land went to appeal, but they were all persecuted. No matter how difficult it is, she said, she would persist and continue to fight for her own rights.
She said: “I went to Beijing twice to appeal, and they took revenge by punishing me every time I went back. They would hold brainwashing classes to punish me, and deprive me of my personal freedom. I was detained for 80 days for petitioning in Beijing twice, 60 days after I came back for the first time, and 20 days the second time. They restrained me, and would not allow me to go to Beijing to appeal. But I will continue to fight for my own rights, and I will continue no matter how difficult it is. I will go to Beijing to appeal, even if it costs my life.”

Dong Wensheng, the official in charge at Zhenjiang, was reached by phone for comment, but he strongly denied the existence of the forced abolition.
He said: “There was no such thing. (Reporter: I saw the report on the Internet). Oh, that’s nonsense, it is impossible.”

By Wen Fang of the SOH Radio Network.

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Taizhou government withhold land compensation

Recently, some villagers in Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province, claimed that during the past two years the Phoenix District Office in Taizhou City illegally occupied over 1000 Mu (165 acres) of land in Dongxie Village. The office destroyed a massive amount of residential housing while withholding land compensation that should have been given to the villagers. As a result, local villagers lost their livelihood.

According to the villagers, since 2006 without any proper formality the office forcibly occupied some 1000 Mu (165 acres) of farmland by bulldozing over crops and digging out farm roads. A villager, Chen Changzhao said (recording), “There was no national standard document or public announcement. The land compensation is 16,000 RMB Yuan per Mu (0.16 acres), which stayed with the group without being given out to the individuals.”

When the reporter phoned the vice chief of the Phoenix District Office, Sun Yihong, about withholding the villagers’ compensation, Sun denied the claim. He said, “No, there was not such a thing. All those who had their land taken could have received the money.”

Another villager, Chen Haizhang, said that Sun was lying (recording), “He was lying. He lied because he had no way out. He did not pay. He owes us 55,920,000 RMB,” he said.

Villagers said that the office confiscated the land under the pretence of developing a university town but in fact built commodity housing, such as the Shengtang Flower Garden, Shanghai Grand Garden, and the First City in Dongruen.

A Villager, Mr. Wang, said (recording), “They used the excuse of building a university town but now are building commodity housing, such as Shanghai Grand Garden. Even the First City in Dongruen is commodity housing, some of which have been sold.”

Villagers have appealed to the city and provincial government and written to Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao all to no avail. More than 200 farmers had their houses torn down, land destroyed, and sources of income lost in exchange for commodity houses and profits from these are given to officials. Farmers who lost their land hope to expose the despicable acts of the local authorities and to gain support.

By Lu Fang and Lu Yan of the SOH Radio Network

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The articles displayed great loyalty to Hu, they cover topics such as “strengthening the party’s command”, “following along the party’s guidelines” and “The development of scientific concept as an important guiding principle.”

Analysts have also pointed out that Navy seniors were in disagreement with President Hu and ended up having to postpone the armed forces review which would have coincided with the 60th Anniversary of People’s Liberation Army Navy. Fearing punishment the highest ranking officials of the Navy released such an article in order to appease President Hu and promote party unity.

Photos also showed that when President Hu was reviewing the troops, his face was unusually serious, and displayed no interaction with Central Military Commission leaders and heads of the navy. Experts believed President Hu is upset over comments made by his senior staff in relation to the sensitive issue of China’s developing aircraft carrier program. It has been said that Hu Jintao placed great emphasis over the 60th anniversary review, in which he had hoped to be a historic milestone in China’s quest for modernisation.

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Yu Sizhu, Department of Defense spokesperson of Taiwan said, (recording), “The case has been moved to the investigative bureau, and it is in justice proceeding. Since the case is still under investigation, no details will be provided.”

As more and more cases of CCP espionage are reported in the news, legislators in Taiwan caution that, with more cross-strait interactions between Taiwan and China, the government should pay more attention to Chinese Communist infiltration.

Pan Mengan is a legislator in Taiwan, (recording), “Among many active duty soldiers in Taiwan, some of them went to China, and were then recruited and seeded to work for mainland China. The Defense department should have a thorough investigation into the matter, especially on R&D institutions and its chief administrators, in order to ease the security concerns of our citizens.”
In addition, according to the National Security Bureau of the ROC, there have been 3,100 cases of Chinese Internet Army personnel attempting to attack and steal information from Taiwan government websites, with the intention of seeking military intelligence.

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The usually stable region of Ganzi is now under a tense cloud with officials using nearby Maretang as a makeshift airport while helicopters are used to bring in troop reinforcements to a number of prefectures including Gangzi and Luhou. Communication systems including the internet and short-messaging have now been cut off for close to two months.

The above news is brought to you by Fang Qiong for Inside China Today on  the SOH Radio Network.

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According to Hong Kong’s South China Morning News, the Chinese military was praised for its rescue and relief efforts for the Sichuan earthquake last year. This year also marks the politically sensitive, 20th anniversary of the June 4th Tiananmen Square Massacre. This pay rise is believed to be a means of boosting the morale of military personnel.

Soldiers have been given a 50% raise, while mid-level officers received 30%, and 20% went to high ranking PLA officers. The Chinese Defense budget saw an increase of 15.3% over the previous year. A spokesperson of Chinese People’s Congress said during a press conference on March 4th that rising military spending meant increasing the standard of living of PLA soldiers.

At a time when the Chinese stock market has fallen drastically, many factories have been closed, many peasant workers have lost jobs and been forced to return to the countryside. College graduates are also finding it difficult to find jobs. The growing social unrest has made it essential to raise military salaries sharply.

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In 1990, the cancer rate in Uighurs was 30% higher than that of other regions in the country. From 1993 to 2000 the national incidence of cancer was two folds more than that of other areas. Today, the Silk Road Tourism sites located in the same region as the nuclear testing ground, pose a high risk of nuclear radiation. Professor Gao Tianchun has a forum titled “Disasters by Chinese nuclear tests at Silk Road and the role Japan should play” sponsored by a Uighurs Association. Gao Tian-Chun once won a New Range Science and Technology Association Award and a special award from Kanegafuchi Takagi Chemical Industry and Technology.

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