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

- Sichuan swamped by floods and rains

- Sichuan quake victims shocked by housing costs

- Land seizures spark Suzhou protests

- Calls of support during July 20th anniversary

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Sichuan swamped by floods and rains

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

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

That’s equivalent to 867 million US dollars.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tian Xi of the SOH Radio Network.

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

Sichuan quake victims shocked by housing costs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yang Zheng and Wang Zhen of SOH Radio Network

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

Land seizure sparks Suzhou protests

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fu Ming and Li Ming of the SOH Radio Network.

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

Calls of support during July 20th anniversary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Liang Zhen of the SOH Radio Network.

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

- Disgruntled villager runs down demolition team

- Anguished author’s outcry

- Dissidents ushered away during June 4th anniversary

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Disgruntled villager runs down demolition team

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wang Qian and Hui Hong of the SOH Radio Network

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Anguished author’s outcry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fu Ming and Zhao Hui of the SOH Radio Network

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Dissidents ushered away during June 4th anniversary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tian Xi of the SOH Radio Network.

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Onlookers gather following the most recent kindergarten knife attacks on April 29th.

- CCP covers up kindergarten attacks

- Petitioners speak of World Expo detention

- A hundred miners terminally ill from poor conditions

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CCP covers up kindergarten attacks

April 29th was a day which shocked China as a knife-wielding man went on a rampage in a Chinese kindergarten. Initial Xinhua news reports stated children were killed in the attack. However to the surprise of many, official reports said there were no deaths and just severe injuries.

The attack occurred at the Central Kindergarten in Taixing Town of Jiangsu Province. Local police sealed off the kindergarten immediately after the incident, and parents were forbidden from entering to see their injured children. On April 30th, the day after, over ten thousand people gathered on the streets protesting the inhumane decision, demanding a stop to the cover-up of the truth.

On May 1st, Shanghai began the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Expo. Major Chinese media outlet Sina began circulating an internal notice to media outlets asking them to withdraw the initial report by Xinhua. The notice read: ‘In light of the World Expo’s opening ceremony, this news cannot be displayed on the home page for now.’

Ling Feng, a renowned commentator on China, told SOH the Chinese Communist Party bears great responsibility for the incident. By covering up the truth the regime has shown a lack of humanity.

Ling Feng told reporters (recording):
“We’ve seen from news reports that over ten young children were slashed, and hospitalised. Unexpectedly, parents were forbidden from seeing them. When young children are injured, their mind is most vulnerable and fragile. Their biggest wish is to have their parents by their side. However, their parents weren’t allowed to see them! Is it because they [the CCP] are afraid to let people know the real number of injured children? What is it they’re afraid of? As a result, over 10,000 people took to the streets to protest instantly. Why are parents forbidden to see their injured children? The CCP is just inhumane to such an extent. Don’t they say the CCP can represent the parents? The government can represent the parents? Their conduct is very offensive. It’s all politically oriented. They completely disregard humanity.”

More surprisingly, before being allowed to see their children, most parents were required to sign an agreement sparing the hospital from any liability, in the event the children died during emergency treatment procedures.

Ling Feng had more to say about the situation (recording):
“It’s been over 30 years since the [CCP] adopted the reform and open-door policy. However, today’s situation is no different from Mao’s time. The authorities completely disregard humanity and suppress it. Where do you say we’ve made progress? Such conduct is outrageous and can easily incur people’s protest. That’s why over 10,000 people gathered to protest. There were a few dozen children injured; their family and relatives probably add up to a few hundred. However, over 10,000 people came out onto the streets, because they couldn’t bear the sight of such outrages. When the government fails to resolve the problem properly, the conduct is further intensified. If there are more such incidents, these people know they’ll be in the same situation – they will not be allowed to see their loved ones. At the very least, the incident reveals the government is incapable of protecting these young children.”

Renowned race car driver, and writer and blogger Han Han publishes regular articles in his blog about China’s social issues. He published a recent article titled, ‘Children, You Have Dampened the High Spirits of the Grandpas.’ Han Han wrote the following quote:
“Our pitiful kids, you are the ones poisoned by the tainted milk; affected by the vaccines; buried to death in the earthquakes, burned to death in fires. Even when the rules of adult society cause problems, you are the victims of the adult avengers who stabbed you with knives. I hope what the Taizhou government announced was true; that all of you simply suffered injuries and none of you died in the incident. These adults and the elderly have failed to fulfil their obligations. I hope when you grow up, you will not only take extra care of your own children; I hope you will make this society care about all people’s children.”

Incidents of large-scale killings in schools and kindergartens in China have occurred frequently in recent months. It has left parents in fear and has shocked the Chinese people.

Jing Ru of the SOH Radio Network

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Petitioners speak of World Expo detention

As expected, the opening of the World Expo has coincided with the police arrest and detention of petitioners. On May 1st and 2nd, 17 petitioners visiting the World Expo were detained and are being sent back to where they came. The petitioners claim they’re fully entitled to visit the Expo but have endured harassment the moment they arrived. We hear from some petitioners, who despite being arrested, managed to contact reporters.

Song Yujie, a petitioner from Liaoning Province, was forced into a car by police from Beijing. Ms Song managed to make a phone call to reporters while she was waiting in the police car, she told us (recording):
“I’m in a car, escorted by special Beijing police. I am with Liu Chunbao. Jiang Jiawen is not in the car yet. We have to go. We were chased down by the Directors of the Liaoning Provincial government, Feng and Duan.”

Song further told us (recording),
“I did not come here to attend the World Expo or to appeal. Feng promised to stop at Shenyang. If I am forced to go back to Dandong instead of Shenyang, I will commit suicide.”

Song is Taiwanese and began petitioning when her property was seized by the Dandong authorities. She sought help from the Straits Exchange Foundation, an organisation responsible for interests between China and Taiwan. The Exchange however falsely claimed she was not Taiwanese.

She had one last thing to say to us before her call was cut off (recording),
“I am now in a special police car not knowing where we will go or what will happen.”
After this statement police confiscated the mobile phones and ID cards of the petitioners.

Wang Xiuzhi a petitioner from Langfang City of Hebei Province was taken at 4pm on May 1st. incidentally; she still had her mobile phone and managed to speak to reporters (recording):
“At 4pm, 11 people from Langfang City forced me onto a car. They were awfully rough, showing no willingness to resolve my issues.”

Wang began petitioning when her partner was murdered. Ever since then she has been seeking justice for his death, she spoke of her experiences (recording):
“I have been detained over 100 times, kidnapped to mental hospitals or drug rehabilitation institutes on numerous occasions, and sent to labour camps three times.”

Wang said her mobile phone could be snatched from her at any time, leaving her with no access to the outside world. She hopes her efforts will bring attention to her situation and her safety.

Feng Yongji, a petitioner from Xinjiang Province, was illegally detained in Shanghai at an office respresenting Shihezi City of Xinjiang. She said (recording),
“I’d rather stay at the assistance centre than come here, but they forced me into the car.”

Feng couldn’t understand why the authorities were dealing out such heavy security (recording):
“The Prime Minister said let justice be sunnier, let ordinary Chinese citizens have more dignity. Does sunny mean arresting people at will? Is this dignity?”

Feng began appealing because her husband was wrongly sentenced to nine years imprisonment. Her husband was later set free and she began petitioning for compensation. For that she was detained and sent to labour camps many times.

Ma Yongtian from Jilin Province who was also detained told reporters (recording),
“We are still at the assistance centre. There are four of us left.”

Ma said local authorities from Jilin were getting ready to take her away.

Peng Jingmei from Datong, Shanxi Province was the last petitioner to be released from the assistance centre.

Fu Ming and Li Ming of the SOH Radio Network.

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A miner from 460 goldmine debilitated by pneumoconiosis, also known as 'black lung disease'.

A hundred miners terminally ill from poor conditions

Nearly one hundred miners in Gansu Province have contracted ‘black lung disease’, also known as pneumoconiosis, a condition prevalent among miners. The case occurred at the number 460 goldmine on Mazhong Mountain in Jiuquan City. Families of victims spoke to SOH reporters saying there was no proper protection against dust inhalation in the mine. Many families have incurred major debts paying for treatment. Victims now are unable to work and many are terminal.

The number 460 goldmine on Mazhong Mountain was a fresh opportunity for many impoverished villagers. Villagers gathered from surrounding towns like Heisongyi Town, Shuigou, Xuanma River, and Xizhuanzi. They all found however poor conditions and corrupt management. The mine itself is devoid of effective dust prevention measures, protective equipment or ventilation. For six years one miner after another developed pneumoconiosis or what’s more commonly known as black lung disease.

Yu Tianyue from Shuigou village said his father, Yu Qinghai worked many years in the 460 goldmine. Last year he found out he had pneumoconiosis. Apparently the disease has no effective cure.

Yu Tianyue described his father’s condition (recording):
“It doesn’t work with medicine and becomes more serious every day, it’s getting very serious and the expense is huge. He has difficulty breathing after walking a few steps and breathes heavily afterwards, he can hardly breathe and coughs terribly. The minimal insurance cover only covers a few hundred dollars, it basically isn’t enough. He’s worked many years in the Mazhong mine, the powder from rocks is particularly dusty, and it’s the reason behind the disease. There is no dust prevention equipment as the owner wants to save money.”

Yu Tianyue revealed to us that victims often can’t continue working due to their condition. Consequently they struggle to support their families or send their children to school. It is now commonplace seeing teenagers leave to work in other cities to support the family.

Yu Tianyue told us (recording):
“Many people in the village go there for work, and they only breathe pure air a few days at a time. There is now medical aid. There are no contracts and they reject our pleas, there is nowhere to appeal. There are thirty to forty year older fellows suffering from the disease in our village. Many cannot go to work but they are the main breadwinners for the family, many children go to school but there is no financial source.”

Mr Li from Miaotai village, a worker of the mine, said his father Li Fayu and six of his uncles all suffered pneumoconiosis, one of them passed away last year. He said the goldmine was located in a remote area and there were little water supplies. The management often provide very poor meals, and water is often of very bad quality.

Mr Li spoke to our reporter (recording):
“The condition of this mine is extremely bad; in order to conserve production costs the owner avoids implementing protective measures. The masks provided are of inferior quality. We breathe in dust from the rocks into our lungs. Because we don’t understand contracts, we are exhausted from working in that place. We can’t even earn a few hundred dollars a month and can’t support our families. Further the owner often deducts fees from our wages. They go up the mountain for six month stretches, we are migrant workers and don’t know how to defend our rights.”

Mr Li also said his family has supported his treatment. Now they are in debt, and many families become penniless and incur debt.

He said (recording):
“There is no machinery for the farm work on the mountain, they all use bulls to plough fields. We can’t work using our own strength; we even need our relatives and friends to help. This is very difficult for the family… we also have to spend money on medicine and families are falling apart, just like our family. My uncle’s family is the same; the people who work in the mines all face this problem. Firstly spend the money earned on the disease, then borrow money from friends and relatives after all the money is gone, and then wait to die after all the money is spent.”

There are over five hundred mining corporations in the Jiuquan region of Gansu. Illegal mining is commonplace. The owner of the 460 goldmine, Pan Zhanlin, also happens to be a representative of Suzhou in the National People’s Congress. Originally the company was approved to mine an area of 0.5 square km. The mine has currently exploited over 50 square km. At present three people have died from pneumoconiosis in Miaotai village, and there’s one death in the neighbouring Shuigou village.

Wang Zhen and Lu Fang of the SOH Radio Network.

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

- World Expo nestled in by heavy security

- Hand, foot and mouth disease ravages Guangdong

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

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World Expo nestled in by heavy security

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tian Xi of SOH Radio Network

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

Hand, foot and mouth disease ravages Guangdong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wu Jiaqi and Wang Zhen of the SOH Radio Network

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fu Ming and Wu Tong of the SOH Radio Network.

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The Global Internet Freedom Consortium's five leading anti-censorship programs puncture the 'internet blockade' (centre). The five characters (top-left) read: 'Five swords bring righteousness to the world'.

- Falun Gong anti-censorship software opens door to freedom

- ‘Tiananmen Mothers’ under watch while paying respects

- 115 survivors rescued from Wangjialing mine collapse

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Falun Gong anti-censorship software opens door to freedom

The Chinese communist regime has blocked information from China to the rest of the world since 1999. The year the suppression on the Falun Gong meditative practice began. Enormous materials and manpower have been expended on the blockade. To give Chinese people access to information, computer experts amongst overseas Falun Gong practitioners have developed various tools to penetrate the block. As of today, the ‘five musketeers’ of anti-censorship software have become indispensable tools for Chinese people longing for true freedom.

Jiao Guobiao, Associate Professor of Communications at Peking University and human rights advocate, uses the software. He spoke to reporters about its benefits saying (recording):
“I use this technology to get on the Internet; I do not browse Chinese websites. As a habit, when I go online, I cross the firewall and visit overseas websites. This is because those sites have information that we can’t see from inside China, either through television or newspapers.”

Jiao obtained the software in 2004 from his friend. He most often uses Freedom Gate, Ultrasurf, and FirePhoenix. He stated (recording), “I have nothing else to use, just these. I have all three of them on my desktop and I use them all.”

Liu Shihui, an attorney in Guangzhou of Guangdong Province, became a loyal user of the software two years ago. He found Freedom Gate by accident when browsing online. Since then, Liu has made frequent use of Freedom Gate and Ultrasurf. He told reporters (recording):
“The one I use most is Freedom Gate and occasionally I use Ultrasurf. I usually switch between the two. Recently, Freedom Gate has become more useful – very useful. Because it uses many proxy servers, as long as you get on it, websites promoting universal values and ideals all become within your reach.

“Last year when it was the Communist Party’s 60th anniversary, the blockade was very strict. This could be due to the major meetings occurring in spring. The software updates itself very fast, so we feel it is quite useful.”

Liu further told reporters (recording):
“Without any anti-censorship software, there wouldn’t be a way to visit websites such as the BBC, VOA, RFA, and Reuters. Also, when one has a problem getting through the firewall or if you need software, just say it loud in the chat room and someone will provide it.”

Anti-censorship software has been very welcome in China. Freedom Gate, Ultrasurf, GTunnel, GPass, and FirePhoenix have been called the ‘five musketeers’ of anti-censorship. At present, this type of software has become very popular in China. Many users have thanked Falun Gong practitioners for devoting their time, money, and efforts into developing the software and providing it free of charge all over the world.

Fu Ming and Kai Di of the SOH Radio Network.

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‘Tiananmen Mothers’ under watch while paying respects

A mainland Chinese reporter has revealed that Communist authorities have sent police to monitor the tombs of the victims of the June 4th, 1989, Tiananmen Square massacre. Every year on the 104th day after the winter solstice, or April 5th on the Gregorian calendar, falls on the Qingming Festival.

The festival is to honour ancestors by tending to the graves of the departed and by going outside to enjoy the greenery of spring time. For Chinese mothers it is a day to remember their children whose lives were ended by order of Communist officials 21 years ago.

The ‘Tiananmen Mothers’ say they are not afraid of this kind of unreasonable and illegal tracking and monitoring. They also say they firmly believe that justice will return to China one day.

Zhang Xianling sweeps the tomb of her son every year on his birthday; April 3rd. She said that her annual tribute is monitored by local authorities despite never making arranging a formal gathering.

Zhang Xianling said: (recording):
“When we went to sweep the tomb yesterday, the police came with us. It is also a form of monitoring. It was us that went and they followed behind us. After getting there and when we were in the memorial service, a plain clothed [policeman] watched us.”

Another Tiananmen mother, Xu Jue, told a reporter that on June 4th in 2009, she was obstructed for sweeping the tomb for her son. This year she planned to sweep the tombs of her husband and son in Beijing, at Mt Babao on the Qingming. One day before she left, the police called her and told her that they would be going with her while she swept the tombs.

Xu Jue said (recording):
“I will go to sweep the tombs this year regardless. They said they will come with me. If they want to come; they come, I will sweep my tombs. If they do not followed me they will not be at ease. Since the National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress up until now, their people watch me attentively from downstairs. Really, as an old lady like me, to sweep the tombs of my son and husband, what crime did I commit? Why do they watch me so attentively? It is already 20 years later and they are still like this.”

Two Tiananmen mothers indicated that this kind of unreasonable behaviour is proof of a guilty conscience, and [the Communist Party’s] fear. The women say they are not afraid at all.

Zhang Xianling said (recording):
“It is just like with no fears of the unknown, they always monitor like this. Because we are not afraid of them, so they have become afraid of us; I think they are afraid of me. If they are not afraid of me, what do they monitor me for?”

The ‘Tiananmen Mothers’ believe their persistence will gain the support of the world’s people and they will one day receive justice.

Zhang Xianling said (recording):
“We will disregard whether they change or not, we will be persistent. Moreover we are convinced that our persistence, and with the support of people from the world, and each aspect of the forward force of democracy, the change will come sooner or later.”

Fu Ming and He Wencai of the SOH Radio Network.

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115 survivors rescued from Wangjialing mine collapse

115 survivors have been found at the flooded coal mine of Wangjialing, according to Chinese state media. At present the miners have been taken to hospitals for treatment with the help of rescue workers. Thirty-nine miners remain unaccounted for.

At 12:30am the first batch of nine were rescued. They were conscious and still clear headed. The conditions of those later rescued remains unclear.

When interviewed, Gao, the director of Hejin Aluminium Factory’s employee healing ward, said his hospital accepted thirty-six survivors from the mining accident. He told reporters that most are stable with a few in serious conditions with possible heart issues. Forty-seven others were sent to different hospitals.

Local residents were not happy about the delayed rescue efforts. Local media, however, praised the Chinese authorities. Since the accident, police have sealed off the mining area, and villagers aren’t allowed near (recording):
“They declared martial law due to presence of national leaders. Nobody was allowed in. There were five or six cars full of police.”

According to villagers, the developers of the mine purchased much of the surrounding farmland. The majority of the proceeds from these purchases ended up in the pockets of corrupt officials. The villagers in turn were left with next to nothing (recording):
“My employers left after they made their money. The mine is the largest in the country and nationalized. The land cannot be farmed. How do they expect the villagers make a living? They don’t want to become thieves or robbers. So they risk their lives as miners.”

Drinking water has also been polluted (recording):
“We used to drink water from the mountain creeks. While the mountain was being mined, the water flowed deeper underground. Then the creeks dried up. The water flowing from the mine is our main source of drinking water.”

On March 28th, the Wangjialing coal mine became flooded trapping 153 miners. Five days later, rescue workers detected survivors 251 meters underground. They were found due to the knocking sounds of drills. The whereabouts of 39 miners still remains unclear.

Tian Xi and Xin Yi of SOH Radio Network.

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

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

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Former PLA hero turned poor vagrant

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

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

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

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

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

Fu Ming and Ai Xin of the SOH Radio Network.

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Dissidents speak out over CCP conference security

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

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

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

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

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

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

Han Fei and He Wen of the SOH Radio Network

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Hainan farmlands seized, 13 arrested

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lu Fang and Yu Liang of the SOH Radio Network

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Many women in rural areas of China can be forced into having abortions or sterilisations if they're caught breaching the one-child policy (flickr/ccyber3).

- Dire one-child policy enforced by criminals
- Dissidents unhappy with police presence around Party conferences
- Official embezzles 800 thousand Yuan from farmers

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Dire one-child policy enforced by criminals

Criminal gangs are enforcing the one-child policy, according to a villager from Wancang Village of Zhejiang Province. Crime gangs along with public security and village-level officials have united in threatening and forcing women to undergo abortions. This has caused major damage and death to victims. The local government has admitted this kind of treatment is widespread throughout China.

Mr. Ma from Yazhuang Village claimed his sister-in-law died from an abortion. She was forced to have the abortion by a local family-planning official. Mr Ma’s wife has been ill since undergoing similar surgery. She’s had stomach pains, a sore waist and bouts of dizziness. The doctor told them the surgery may have damaged her nerves, and misplaced the inner membrane of her womb. She’s also developed cysts in her ovaries. Mr Ma says she now needs to take regular medicine, and her womb will have to be removed.

Mr. Ma spoke to SOH (recording):
“At the time, my sister-in-law indeed died from an abortion. Whatever happens, there is no place for you to complain. I heard four women underwent surgery, and afterwards, many had poor health and the membranes in their wombs were damaged. My wife’s condition is very obvious. They force them and at the time we were very angry. Some of our friends wanted to fight them. No one can deal with the illegal process. It isn’t just one department, they’re in a group.”

In mid-2009, the family-planning department hired criminals to take Mr Ma and lock him up in the police station. Local government personnel were sent to threaten and beat his wife and mother. They then forced his wife into an abortion.

Mr. Ma said (recording):
“I was locked up in a police station; they didn’t give me a reason. They just wanted to threaten my wife. Ninety-nine percent of women can’t do anything but get taken away for an abortion. Our friend’s girlfriend was pregnant eight months. She was still taken away to the family planning clinic for the abortion.”

Mr. Ma also said authorities were using the high birth rate as an excuse to control and bully people.

Mr. Ma told SOH (recording):
“Whatever happens, you can do whatever you want if you have money. Even if you want to have more children, just give them more money, you don’t have to go through surgery. They won’t force you. If you have another child, they’ll just fine you a few thousand Yuan. If you don’t have this relationship however, they will punish you. It’s a common situation in our area. Whoever has more children has higher status.”

Mr Ma says forced abortions are against human nature and human rights. Due to the high number of complaints, authorities are trying to block any news on the situation. They’re also suggestions authorities stand to gain if they carry out these abortions (recording):
“Why do they keep arresting people? It’s because the abortion rate will be assessed and will count as an achievement to the official. If they accomplish this, they can be promoted and rewarded. This is a national policy. If you try post news of this online, there won’t be much success, less than one percent will succeed. Who would dare say anything? Unless you’re wealthy. Otherwise if you want to earn a living, you cannot escape from their plan.”

A local government official spoke to us briefly saying (recording):
“The birth control policies are very strict; it is same all over the country now.”

Mr. Ma has two daughters. His family made several guarantees they wouldn’t exceed the child limit and also paid some money to officials. The family-planning officials however continued to harass them. They’ve now since relocated to avoid authorities.

Craig Richter, Lin Li and Yu Liang of the SOH Radio Network.

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Dissidents unhappy with police presence around Party conferences

On the 1st of March, just three days before the Chinese Communist Party’s conferences, police had already started monitoring dissidents such as Qi Zhiyong and others. They were met with strong protest.
At 7am on the 1st of March, National Security personnel from Xuan Wu District showed up at Qi Zhiyong’s house. Despite being an annual event, this year’s harassment came one day earlier then expected. Qi was enraged at the illegal house arrest he is put under whenever there is a conference held in Beijing.

According to an witness; fearing foreign media exposure, the number plates on the police vehicles were removed before arriving at Qi’s house. Qi refused to enter the police car without signed legal documents. The witness said (recording):
“They came in an unmarked car. He refused to go, and asked, ‘On what grounds do you take me away? Isn’t this a land of the law? Which part of the law are you following?”

It is reported that other dissidents were also monitored (recording):
“A dozen people such as Li Hai, Jiang Qisheng; all refused to go this time.”

Hu Jia’s wife, Zeng Jinyan, was also subjected to harassment. Even before the Chinese New Year on February 14th, the regime had forbidden her from seeing the jailed Hu Jia (recording):
“Zeng Jinyan keeps a low profile, for her child. But she does not give up. She calls Hu Jia once a month.”

Gao Hongming received a phone call from police in the evening of the 28th of February, asking whether he wanted to go on a “trip” outside of Beijing with them. Gao was annoyed, “I’m staying here. I have to look after my elderly mother,” he said.

The wife of incarcerated dissident He Depu has been monitored since the 1st of March as well. She said, (recording):
“From today onwards, I have to travel in police cars. Some were also taken to the South, to Hainan or to Shanghai, such as Gao Hongming, Cha Jianguo and Xu Ronghai.”

The witness also said that Beijing human rights activist Li Jinping was detained in a bathing centre in Chaoyang District since he was arrested on the 13th of January. His alledged crime was applying to have a parade in honour of former Communist Party General Secretary, Zhao Ziyang (recording):

“Li Jinping has not been released since he was taken from home. He has been detained at a bath centre in Chaoyang District. He went to the Zhongnanhai leadership compound and shouted “Long-live Zhao Ziyang.”

According to dissidents, the escalation of monitoring this year could be the result of infighting within the Communist Party leadership.

Chris Thomas and Tian Xi of the SOH Radio Network.

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Official embezzles 800 thousand Yuan from farmers

Two brothers from Taiyi Village, Shanxi Province have published an open letter condemning communist authorities and the village head Qin Zhigang of embezzlement. Nearly 800 thousand Yuan was taken from Fan Guangfu and Fan Guanghong, which was intended as compensation for their family’s loss of land.

The letter contained details of a contract signed in March, 1984, between their father, Fan He’rang, and the Party committee. The contract allowed a large forestation project to take place in their village. Since then, Fan He’rang led his family to plow the land, cultivate saplings and plant trees. Despite over 20 years of continuous effort, and having nearly 200 thousand trees planted, they never received the reward mentioned in the contract.

In Autumn 2003, the state Government made plans to construct Changjin Highway. They demanded forest land of over ten acres from Fan’s family and removed over 10,000 trees. Compensation for the government’s land seizure, the trees and resettlement totalled nearly 800 thousand yuan. Accordingly, laws hold that the contracted worker of the forest is entitled to compensation by way of trees and resettlement. Fan He’rang inquired about the compensation funds to the village head, Qin Zhigang, many times. Qin continued to elude the topic; sometimes telling Fan the funds had not arrived yet, or the funds had arrived but the Communist authorities of the village had spent part of the fund.

In an interview with Sound of Hope, Fan Guangfu said (recording):
“My father assumed responsibility of the forestation project in 1984. On the contract, it was written that we would receive payments in three year’s time. Our wages were paid according to the type of tree that had survived. Locust trees are 10 cents each and pine and poplar are 30 cents each. We have not received any wages as of now. The state government started to construct a highway here in 2003. As a matter of fact, the compensation for the land seizure was given to the village committee in October 2002. We peasants simply did not know about it. The highway construction project took over 12 acres of our land and removed 10,230 trees on this piece of land.”

Fan He’rang tried many times with no success to claim his rightful compensation. He was outraged and suddenly fell ill. In order to take him to hospital, his wife had to visit Qin again to ask for the compensation. Qin, however, continued to say the money had not arrived yet. Fan’s family had to loan money from others and their financial burden worsened. Fan He’rang was very worried and his illness was deteriorating daily. He died in October 2006, with much grief.
Fan’s family went to seek money from Qin multiple times thereafter, but Qin always made excuses, and often flared up saying he would not be afraid if the villagers sue him.

Fan Guanghong said (recording):
“The funds issued by the state government to compensate our loss were all embezzled by the secretary of the CCP committee in our village: Qin Zhigang. He embezzled all our money. Now he wants to repudiate the debt. He is unwilling to give it back to us. He said, ‘the money has been spent, there is no way I could give any money to you. If you sue me, you won’t be able to win the lawsuit’.”

When an SOH reporter interviewed Qin, he denied the fact that Fan’s family did not get any compensation. He also believed that Fan’s family should not get compensation from the government requisition of the land for the construction of the highway being on their land.

Fan’s family had tried to seek help from countless people. The Fans toiled for many years, suffering unfair treatment, but they still could not get the reward for their forestation efforts, or the promised compensation for the land. As a result, when the forest was trampled, or damaged by thieves and fire, Fan’s family had no money to restore the damaged or stolen trees. They are having great difficulty continuing to cultivate and managing the forest.

Perry Luo, Lu Fang and Yu Yin of SOH Radio Network

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Tropical Hainan has become a popular tourist destination, but at the cost of skyrocketing property prices and a dangerously inflated housing bubble (flickr/Jakob Montrasio).

- China’s property market stagnates
- Huge loans for swine flu treatment
- Shanghai petitioners spend unhappy New Year in Beijing

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China’s property market stagnates

Housing prices in China skyrocketed last year. The five cities with the most risky real estate bubbles were Sanya of Hainan Province, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou. Trade experts say around the Chinese New Year period sales plateaued, and the future direction of housing prices is uncertain.

In the past five years, property prices in Haikou of Hainan rose by 20 times. Prices increased in Sanya by 50 times. According to Chinese official statistics, over the same period last year, the price of apartments in 70 major cities nationwide saw an increase of 11%. In addition, Sanya’s increase is at a staggering 31%, which topped the list.

Mr. Jiang is from Zhongtang Real Estate of Sanya. He spoke of the situation on the tropical island province of Hainan (recording):
“Last month the city was declared an international tourist hotspot, which caused a stir in real estate prices. But now that image has faded, housing prices have stabilized and the sales volume is declining. In Sanya, which is dozens of kilometres away, houses in mountainous areas were selling for 7000-8000 Yuan per square metre and new houses were starting at 20,000. This is because of the hype surrounding the ‘International Tourist Island’ designation.”

According to Mr. Jiang, only high end luxury homes or cheap subsidised homes could be built on the island. He said (recording)”
“Those who bought houses in Sanya are all rich people, with extra money they can buy for their retirements. This is not an entrepreneurial city like Shenzhen or Canton, where people start their own businesses or can seek opportunities. In future we will build hotels, high end resorts, commercial properties, golf courses and let the wealthy people come to enjoy in Sanya. High end properties cost over 10 million Yuan and villas costing 20-30 million Yuan will be built here. This is what the government of Sanya hopes people will purchase.”

Mr. Jiang told reporters that, after Sanya’s government adjusted its land policy, the era of high priced housing arrived. For regular people, their only option is to live in subsidised housing.

He said (recording):
The locals can’t afford high end housing. The government has to build welfare housing, but they aren’t of good quality or in good locations. You’re lucky if you can get one. The government will spend some money and build a road for you, put in a supermarket, a hospital, and a school and that’s it.”

In Shanghai and Beijing during New Year, the housing market had stagnated to an even greater extent. Chen Wangsheng from Shanghai’s Tianxin Real Estate Agency told reporters (recording):
“Housing prices in January were worth 12,000 Yuan a square meter. It’s still at that price at present, not much has changed. The volume is also low. Now that it’s Chinese New Year, movement in the housing market won’t be seen again until April. Of course there’s also the issue of location. When there are more buyers out there, the price will increase.”

Mr. Tian of Beijing’s Zhongtian Real Estate agreed saying (recording):
“There is no decline in price, nor is there any increase in price. The sales volume is low as well.”

Experts in the field say the central government’s policy towards the property market may cause major upheavals in the market at an earlier than expected date.

Craig Richter, Xi Wen and Lu Fang of SOH Radio Network.

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Huge loans for swine flu treatment

Swine flu victims in Jilin Province are struggling to cope with the costs of treatment. Some victims have been forced to take out high interest loans to pay expenses. Some have missed out on treatment altogether and have died in their homes. Authorities have blocked all information.

Ms. Lin is a farmer in Jilin Province. Her son is three years old. During the swine flu outbreak in November last year, her son was hospitalized for one month. She can’t afford the medical expenses and has been seeking support from government and media.

Ms. Lin told SOH (recording):
“For regular farmers, including those who grow crops or work as contractors, where can we earn so much money? (It costs me) over 100,000 Yuan. The medicine is very expensive. I tried to get help by talking to radio, to media. When I called a newspaper, they said they weren’t allowed to report such things. It’s restricted. As for government officials, each one I came across told me to speak to someone else. What can I do if they refuse to help? There’s a type of loan where if you borrow ten thousand, you must repay three thousand in interest each year. I have to take out this type of loan.”

Ms Lin’s son had respiratory failure after catching the fever for two days. He was sent to hospital. He’s currently recuperating at home.

Ms Lin said (recording):
“My child developed swine flu symptoms very quickly, in just two days. Even before a definite diagnosis was made, his illness developed to such an extent where he had to use a ventilator. When he was released from hospital, he had use in only a quarter of his lungs; the other three quarters weren’t functional. Later, when he went back for a re-examination, half his lungs had regained function.”

Many patients’ lungs were shown completely white in x-rays. Many suffered respiratory failure in the end. The more serious patients usually passed away. Some people contracted swine flu when they visited hospitals for other reasons.

Ms. Lin told us (recording):
“When a child’s lungs turn all white, it’s called white lungs. He was really scared. That child had leukaemia, and he stayed in hospital for chemo therapy, which killed both his cancer cells and immune cells. His immunity became very weak, and he contracted swine flu in that environment. It’s really difficult for his parents, indeed.”

Chris Thomas, Wang Qian and Xi Wen of SOH Radio Network

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Shanghai petitioners spend unhappy New Year in Beijing

February 14th was for some, Valentine’s Day, for others, the Chinese New Year. But for a dozen appellants from Shanghai, it was a day of bereavement. These dozen appellants braved chilly weather and went to Tiananmen Square. Using homemade videos the appellants shared their messages. They demanded democracy, freedom, and condemned persecution and torture.

When interviewed on February 18th, Ms. Mao Hengfeng said on behalf of the appellants (recording):
“On New Year’s Day we went to Tiananmen Square. There were about twenty of us. By the grace of God, I realized one of my dreams. We petitioned there for democracy, freedom, and human rights. Some of us are homeless, and others cannot go back home. With tears in our eyes, we condemned torture, which we suffered plenty of in prison. And we demanded justice.”

Mao recounted her bitter experience (recording):
“My mother was poisoned by the [Chinese Communist] regime in 2000. I sought justice to no avail. To this day, [her body] is still kept at a funeral parlour in Shanghai. It has been ten years. My heart is broken, especially during the Chinese New Year. So I did not return. I didn’t want to bring my three children down. The government expelled them from school in 2000. A thirteen-year-old young girl has grown into a 23-year-old. They are sad enough. I brought them such harm because of my fights. I feel too ashamed to face my family.”

“I’m scared of being taken to illegal jails if I return, because of the upcoming International Expo. What would happen to us? I know the torture in jail. All those imprisoned may face ill treatment or drug injections at mental hospitals. The totalitarian tyranny brought a lot of trauma to ordinary people. We long for freedom, democracy and human rights.”

Another petitioner, Shen Peilan, also dared not return for fear of imprisonment (recording):
“All petitioners in Shanghai have been locked up, or put under watch at home. During sensitive periods, they would arrest people like us. I came here last month. If I go home I would be locked up, so I dare not return.”

On February 17th, those Shanghai appellants who were forced to spend the New Year in Beijing held a party. The scene was terribly sad. Thinking about their families thousands of miles away and talking about the plight of appellants in Beijing. They condemned local corrupt officials and recounted their personal experiences of persecution. The party ended in tears.

Perry Luo, Fu Ming and Yu Liang of the SOH Radio Network.

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Liaoning authorities search for organizers of ‘Petitioners New Year’

Over 60 homeless petitioners held the Inaugural Petitioners’ Chinese New Year Gala on February 5th. The gala was held at a simple location in Beijing and was broadcast over the internet. During the 90 minute performance, petitioners from different provinces poured their grievances and heart-felt feelings through singing. The gala was uploaded online soon after. Chinese Communist authorities have begun a massive search for the organizers and participants.

Liu Chunbao was an organiser of the Chinese New Year Gala. On February 14th, Liaoning police came to arrest him at his Shoubao Village home in Beijing at around 11am. Fortunately, Liu was not home.

Petitioner Jiang Jiawen was kidnapped by the police. Another organiser named Luan Qinyang, a 22-year-old petitioner from Liaoning province, continues to elude police.
Reporters from Sound of Hope were able to phone Luan Qinyang on February 14th. He confirmed Jiang Jiawen was kidnapped by Liaoning police.

He said (recording):
“I do not dare go home. They’re trying to arrest me. I’ve done nothing wrong. People from our Municipal government and from the provincial levels have come looking for me, on New Year’s Eve, and on New Year’s Day. They monitored the place we used to live for a whole night yesterday. They started searching our apartment at around 11am in the morning today. I wasn’t home. So they arrested Jiang Jiawen instead.”
Song Yujie, a petitioner from Liaoning, had earlier been searching for Luan Qinyang since he went into hiding on New Years Eve. He later found Mr. Luan under a bridge. He was very ill when he found him.

Mr. Song told reporters (recording):
“They sent out police to search for him and planned to charge him with ‘threatening the government.’ They’ve been looking for him everywhere since Chinese New Year’s Eve. I have been looking for him. Through someone’s help, I finally found him. When I met him, he had a high fever and was very ill. He doesn’t dare to go to a public hospital; instead, he goes to a private clinic for injections. Tell me, what is this? This lad can’t even celebrate the New Year. That is the situation we petitioners face. We planned to hold an informal concert (to celebrate the New Year). We simply wanted to get together and alleviate the pain we petitioners suffer. What is wrong with us getting together and singing a few songs?”

He went on to state the Chinese authorities weren’t trying to resolve social issues. On the contrary, the authorities make the problems worse.

He said (recording):
“I simply don’t understand it. (They claim and advocate) harmony. Can this be called harmony? Petitioners don’t carry weapons. Do we pose any threat to the government? Why do you send out the police to deal with us? Why do you fear petitioners to such an extent? If you haven’t done anything that makes you feel guilty, what is it you’re afraid of, to the extent where you would send out police to arrest unarmed petitioners?”

Liu Qingzhen, a petitioner from Zhengzhou, Henan Province, said Liaoning authorities dispatched several police cars and over ten policemen to the concert.

Huang Guangyu, a petitioner from Hunan province who hid under a bridge with Mr. Luan said (recording):
“Where are the human rights in our country? There isn’t even a mention of basic humanity. They won’t even let him go and keep searching for him! We aren’t just disappointed at the state government, we’re in total despair.”

Fu Ming and Mi Lan of the SOH Radio Network.

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Regime blocking the rights of lawyers

In 2009 the Chinese Communist Regime began targeting human rights lawyers in China in an effort to silence their efforts. A range of tactics are used including threats, kidnappings and the denial of licenses to practice law. Lawyer Tong Chaoping from the Anhui Law Firm in Beijing claims his firm has also faced persecution from authorities, especially for taking up politically sensitive cases involving human rights or religious freedom.

Tong Chaoping spoke to SOH (recording):
“The government usually interferes when we fight for the rights of farmers. Do you have the courage to uphold China’s laws and human rights? Our difficulty isn’t related to our work but is because we can’t get a license to practice. Our lawyers are met with various restrictions. At the end of last year, we submitted an application to renew our license with judicial departments. For no reason, they withheld the license. If you accuse them of violating the law, they will turn a deaf ear. This is a major issue for us.”

He continued (recording):
“Disadvantaged people desperately need legal representation. Take farmers as an example. After a farmer is deprived of his land illegally and ruthlessly, it is very difficult for him to maintain his livelihood. For example, ten thousand farmers from Yanjia Street in Taoshou District, Chongqing, need to fight for their rights. When you take care of them, one farmer pays you 100 Yuan and ten thousand can pay you a million.”

And finally he said (recording):
“All we ask for is they follow the law and give us the license. If they allowed us to follow China’s laws, we wouldn’t face any financial difficulties when representing the under-privileged. We have more cases than we can handle – countless victims need to see us about forced relocations and land rights.”

The targeting of human rights lawyers by the regime has been widespread. Renowned lawyer Gao Zhisheng was taken by police on February 4th 2009, his whereabouts has largely been unknown. Recent reports suggest he may now be residing in Urumqi of Xinjiang Province. Wang Yonghang from Dalian, Liaoning was taken by Public Security officers on July 4th 2009; he was interrogated secretly and sentenced to seven years prison. Many lawyers face kidnappings, beatings, and even torture by officials, when they take on human rights cases. Experts believe these lawyers should be praised for upholding the rights of citizens under Chinese law. Ironically, the rights of these lawyers are often compromised.

Li Yifei and Yu Liang of the SOH Radio Network.

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Chinese Communist Party sues victims of toxic milk

Authorities are charging a man for allegedly ‘interfering with social order’ in China for his continued investigation into 2008’s melamine toxic milk powder scandal. Zhao Lianhai is the founder of the Chinese non-profit group, “Home for Kidney Stone Babies.” Parents of babies who suffered as a result of the toxic milk powder say it is part of a suppression and persecution of the victims parents, whom Zhao represents.

Zhao met with his attorney, Peng Jian, on February 10. According to Jian, Zhao maintains his innocence. Peng said,
“Zhao believes he is innocent, and he wants to be defended as such, and that is exactly what I intend to do.”

Zhao was arrested for allegedly organising parents of the baby milk powder victims to go to Shijiazhuang and Beijing to protest in front of the court house. He was also alleged to have told media outlets about Li Ruirui, a young woman from Anhui province allegedly raped by police while in prison. Also for subsequently organising a protest outside of Beijing’s Public Security Bureau in an effort to rescue Li Ruirui.

Liu Dejun was present with Zhao outside the Public Security Bureau. Liu says everything he did was within the law and his arrest was groundless.

Liu said, “It’s very normal to protest for the parents of the baby [milk] powder victims in front of the court house for their babies were the ones being hurt. Zhao was not even present. Li Ruirui’s rape case is also very well known; the whole world knows. Li was raped while in prison and many [people] reported the case to the police. Appellants then thought they might not be able to do it, because if they went to the police station to report the rape, they could be arrested and sent back home. Therefore they asked reporters to alert the public. They did so out of fear of the justice system. There was nothing like “interference with social order”. Back then [during the protest], we were on the sidewalk, to the east of the Public Security building. Not in front of the entrance, so there was no “interference with social order”.

Liu believes the suit against Zhao is a suppression of civil rights, for the parents of babies poisoned by the toxic milk powder in 2008.

Liu said,
“I think he is being charged because of his investigation into the poisonous baby milk powder. There are rumours of strong backing behind the milk powder manufacturer, Sanlu. I think it is because he kept going on with his investigation and never stopped, and this was against the interests of the supporters.”

Zhou Jin, whose baby was poisoned by the Sanlu milk powder shares Liu’s opinion. Zhou said, “They tried everything, used all means to stop us from seeking justice for the children.” Zhou Jin emphasized that the charges against Zhao Lianhai were also like charges against all the victimised children and their parents. Zhou Jin said if Zhao Lianhai is found guilty many parents will go to Beijing to turn themselves in with their children.

Zhou said,
“Everything he did was rational, and he never went beyond the boundary of the law. I can’t imagine this *** government would treat him like this. Bringing charges against him, bringing charges against the parents of the baby milk powder victims. Whatever Zhao did is something those parents are doing as well. If he is guilty, then we are all guilty, even the children are guilty.”

Zhao’s case will be heard in the second half of February. The Ministry of Public Health has recently published a notice that three kinds of poisonous baby powder are now on sale in Canton. Senior analyst of the dairy industry, Wang Dingmian, estimated that there is about 100,000 tonnes of poisonous baby milk powder that has not been destroyed. The Ministry of Public Health of Liaoning province also revealed that poisonous ice cream bars with excessive amounts of melamine has been found in Liaoyang, a city in the province.

Caden Pearson, Fu Ming and Yu Xin of SOH Radio Network.

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Tan Zuoren has recently been sentenced to five years imprisonment for his opinions on the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. There are suspicions however the arrests are designed to silence his call for an investigation into the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake.

- Investigator into ‘tofu – buildings’ convicted
- Thousands of bird flu patients left undiagnosed in Daqing
- Workers protest in Suizhou, Hubei over wages

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Investigator into ‘tofu – buildings’ convicted

Tan Zuoren, author and famous environmentalist of Sichuan Province, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment. He was convicted of inciting subversion of state power, allegedly for criticizing the Chinese Communist Party over it’s handling of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. Tan Zuoren’s wife and lawyer said they would appeal the decision.

The sentence was handed down at the Chengdu Intermediate People’s Court, after just five minutes deliberation. Tan’s wife and two daughters weren’t allowed in the court. Police dispersed a crowd of 200 supporters outside. Tan’s lawyer, Pu Zhiqiang said he was ‘heart broken and shattered’ about the trial.

Pu told SOH (recording):
“The sentence is for subversion of the state, he was sentenced to five years prison, three of those years without any political rights. This is an extreme case of punishing people for their speech. The conviction was handed down due to an article he wrote commemorating the June 4th Tiananmen Square incident, titled ‘Witnessing the Last Beauty’, which was published overseas online. He also started a blood donation drive for the (Sichuan) earthquake in Tiananmen Square on the eve of the 20th anniversary. To commemorate the spirit of the demonstrations, he accepted an interview with Sound of Hope Radio. The authorities believe these acts posed a threat to the government of the People’s Republic of China, and sentenced him to prison just for his words. Five years for some words, this is sad and heart-breaking.”

Pu Zhiqiang told the Financial Times that none of them imagined the court would avoid mentioning the Tan’s involvement with the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake and ended up convicting him based on his Tiananmen Square involvement.

Ran Yunfei, an author from Chengdu, and Chen Yunfei, a pro-democracy activist, both planned to sit in court on the day. They’re both however under house arrest. When interviewed Ran Yunfei said (recording):
“This is absurd; it’s shameless, and completely illegal. Tan Zuoren is not guilty of anything; he didn’t commit any crime, and is the country’s best citizen. This is an absurd conviction by the court.”

Chen Yunfei said (recording):
“I used to think the government was ignorant of the law, but now, after sentencing of Tan Zuoren, I think they’re completely shameless. They’ve actually done a favor for Tan Zuoren, by letting the whole world know how much Tan sacrificed for Chinese people, and for its democracy and freedom. This sentence acknowledges the government’s attack on him.”

Tan, 55, is a well known writer and environmentalist in China. After the May 12th 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, he went to the disaster area to visit the parents of student victims. He also collected data on the deaths of the students. Last February, Tan wrote a proposal titled the ‘Profiles on the May 12th Students’ calling for an investigation into the quality of the construction of school buildings, which collapsed during the quake. He wanted ‘to ensure accurate and detailed information on every student, every class, every school, every township, and every county and city involved.’ Following that, on March 28th 2009, the police arrested Tan on charges of ‘inciting subversion of state power’. It’s believed his recent conviction may be a means to silence him about this issue, according to Roseann Rife, Asia-Pacific deputy director at Amnesty International.

Chris Thomas of the SOH Radio Network.

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Thousands of bird flu patients left undiagnosed in Daqing

Hospitals in Daqing of Heilongjiang province are prohibited from giving bird flu diagnoses. Patients with bird flu are instead diagnosed with unknown pneumonia. Doctors say cases peaked with nearly ten thousand patients with bird flu symptoms. The death toll remains unknown.

Bird flu-like cases first appeared locally in May 2009. These cases spiked during September and October. But the Health Department circulated a document that forbade hospitals from diagnosing bird flu.

A doctor from Daqing General Hospital said (recording),
“We have no authority to confirm this. The Health Department files specified that only the city government can confirm suspects. There are too many patients; we have nearly ten thousand. After they are hospitalized, we send all samples to the Provincial Disease Control Center for tests. We do not have facilities to conduct any of the tests.”

Another doctor at the same Hospital said (recording),
“Patients come in based on suspicion. They are identified with an unknown pneumonia and kept for in-patient treatment. There were two to three hundred a day during peak time.”

One doctor from the Fever Clinic at the Daqing General Hospital told reporters, (recording),
“Initially, we sent all fever patients to the Hospital for Infectious Diseases. Later on the hospital became full. A document was circulated and now we take them all. Patients are taken in at A&E. Those with severe symptoms are taken in at ICU. There have been cases of death. I don’t know whether they were eventually reported as unknown pneumonia or bird flu, because patients went to different wards. I am unclear on exactly how many were reported.”

A doctor from the Second Hospital in Daqing agreed and said, (recording),
“We identify the cases as bird flu but can not give the diagnosis. Only the Disease Control Center can diagnose bird flu. We don’t have the information. We have taken patients in the past, when the Disease Control Center confirmed the diagnosis and sent them over. I don’t know exactly how many cases of bird flu have been diagnosed.”

Perry Luo, Yu Shan and Zhang Lina of the SOH Radio Network.

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Workers protest in Suizhou, Hubei over wages

Hundreds of migrant workers protested in Suizhou, Hubei Province on February 8th. They blocked roads in front of the city hall demanding basic wages.

Disgruntled workers began arriving at the city hall at nine a.m. and held banners. They blocked a main highway and motorbikes were used to block the exits of the Suizhou City Hall. Despite police already being at the scene, unhappy workers continued to arrive. This was the second day of protests and road blockades over wage issues.

Prominent civil rights activist Mr. Liu Feiyue was available to shed light on the situation, he said (recording):
“The financial situation of the proprietor and company isn’t clear. But the wages for several hundred migrant workers are overdue, it’s possible there are overdue payments of several thousand dollars or even greater. It’s the end of year and everyone wants to go home and celebrate a peaceful and auspicious year. They want to buy presents for their families. Their wages haven’t been paid however, so they have no choice but to do this”

Liu Feiyue believes employment contracts often leave migrant workers in a vulnerable position. These problems can’t be addressed due to collusion between government officials and businesspeople.

He said (recording):
“Because they’re migrant workers, they’re in a vulnerable position. Also, some business owners or directors collude with officials to do money deals. This is why the migrant workers have their interests sacrificed, and wages easily go unpaid.”
Liu Feiyue also said since the Chinese Communist Party came to power, the morality of Chinese people has been sliding. The authorities are greater than the law, and that’s why violations of the law continue.

He said (recording):
“Under these conditions, it becomes a common practice in modern Chinese society, with a bad moral system, violations of the law and no respect for the law, the law will be regarded as nothing but sheets of paper.”

Craig Richter, Fu Ming and Yu Ning of the SOH Radio Network.

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

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

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Canton train tickets run sparse, ID ticketing ineffective

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Craig Richter; Lu Fang of the SOH Radio Network.

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Beijing Judicial Bureau monitors Falun Gong lawyers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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New property regulations widely condemned

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Guangdong villagers afraid to speak out on land robbery

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chris Thomas and Tian Xi SOH Radio Network.

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Authorities give in to Guangdong land protests

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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New train ticketing policy slammed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Former Canadian statesman David Kilgour says the landmark court decision in Spain against five CCP members signals that the world will not accept genocide or crimes against humanity.

- Spanish Court makes crucial ruling on Falun Gong persecutors

- Police protest against unfair dismissal

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Spanish Court makes crucial ruling on Falun Gong persecutors

The Spanish State Court made an unprecedented ruling recently, indicting top five former Chinese Communist leaders responsible for the persecution of the Falun Gong spiritual practice. The five indicted, Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Bo Xilai, Jia Qinglin, and Wu Guanzheng, are facing charges of genocide and torture.

According to the ruling, the defendants have 4-6 weeks to respond. If there is no objection to the indictment, the court would then issue an international arrest warrant. David Kilgour, a world renowned Canadian statesman, is interviewed on this case. According to Mr Kilgour, this is a very significant step forward in establishing rule of law worldwide and eventually, in China.

Mr Kilgour states (recording):
“I think it’s a very significant step, it shows that a country that has an excellent rule of law tradition. Has ruled that the five officials in the party should be shown the documents and possibly arrested, including Jiang Zemin the former President, and Bo Xilai. And a number of very senior people. I think that’s an excellent step forward in terms of establishing the rule of law in the world, and hopefully eventually in China.”

Mr Kilgour also talked about the impact this will have on the Chinese Communist regime, he says (recording):
“Well what I think it will do is it will send a signal to those five individuals that they better not travel anyway outside of China, or perhaps Burma, or maybe Sudan, or possibly North Korea. But more than that, it will send a signal to the senior members of the party that this terrible crime against humanity that they’re doing to the Falun Gong in China is going to see them brought to justice”

He also makes strong recommendations to the current Chinese regime to cease any connections with those indicted, and to stop the persecution of Falun Gong and the acts of organ harvesting immediately.

As for the impact on the international community from the court’s ruling, Mr Kilgour has this to say, (recording):
“Well I think it will get noticed around the world, it will certainly be noticed in China, and it will certainly be noticed in Europe. And I would hope in North America, Latin America, Africa and Asia. And hope that around the world people will begin to see that a Court of law has ruled that what’s happened to Falun Gong community in China is unacceptable and it must be stopped and the people involved with it will be brought to justice. And that’s the most important message, that the world can no longer accept this kind of crime against humanity or genocide or whatever you want to call it.”

David Kilgour was formally a Canadian cabinet member, a member of the parliament, an official of the Asian Pacific affairs in the Canadian government, and a prosecutor in human rights affairs. In July of 2006, Mr Kilgour and David Matas, a well known Canadian human rights lawyer, published an investigative report titled, “REPORT INTO ALLEGATIONS OF ORGAN HARVESTING OF FALUN GONG PRACTITIONERS IN CHINA”, which shocked the world after its publication. According to the report, “large scale organ harvesting that is against the will of Falun Gong practitioners is still in existence, and is still on going.”

Perry Luo; Qin Yue; and Li Yuhan of the SOH Radio Network.

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Police protest against unfair dismissal

On November 16th over 100 police officers protested in Qianjiang City of Hubei Province. They braved the snow and rain to gather in front of the municipal government building. The protest was over the unfair dismissal of these officers in 1995 leaving them with no pension, medical insurance or any other source of income. They’re demanding their positions be reinstated and proper compensation granted. Officials from the Complaints Bureau promised to respond to their demands in one month’s time.

The police officers carried banners reading, ‘Strong condemnation of the government’s non-action. Destroy the protection of corrupt power.’ On November 20th, a former police officer Wei Qunhua spoke to SOH.

He said (Recording):
“The Deputy Commissioner of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, Mei Jinghan, came to the site with a dozen others. Arguments broke out during the negotiations. Finally the government promised a written answer in one month’s time.”

All officers were employed in 1987. They were chosen based on personnel files and test results. Eighteen years was the longest tenure. According to government regulations, they should have been considered permanent employees. However 86 officers had their positions given away by the former Qianjiang Municipal Party Secretary. Wei claims to have evidence of this.

He said (Recording):
“After their dismissals, these police never received any compensation. Due to their age and lack of skills, they’re forced look for casual jobs everywhere.”

Dismissed police officer Huang Xinqiang sustained himself as an unskilled laborer. He contracted pneumonia but had no money for treatment. His condition got worse daily and he eventually died at home.

His daughter-in-law spoke to SOH saying many former police officers had appealed many times to various levels of the government with no success. After October 1st this year, six officers visited Beijing to appeal. When the government got wind of this, the Deputy Political Commissar of the Public Security Bureau flew to Beijing with a team and rounded up the six, escorting them back home.

The protesters say they’re determined to fight for their right to live.

Chris Thomas, and Tian Xi of the SOH Radio Network.

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

- Land seizure concerns over Shanghai’s Disneyland project

- Toxic milk scandal hearing cancelled, plaintiff detained

- Longing for the collapse of China’s Berlin Wall

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Perry Luo and Liang Zhen of the SOH Radio Network.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

- Beijing activists apply to protest during Obama’s visit

- Fujian residents deny relocations with gas canisters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Caden Pearson; Tian Xi of the SOH Radio Network.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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