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

- Spoiled rice: Greenpeace vs. Wal-Mart

- New law firm to fight injustice

- CCP Secretary selling off village properties

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

*********

Spoiled rice: Greenpeace vs. Wal-Mart

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wang Qian and Xiao Tong of the SOH Radio Network

*********

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

New law firm to fight injustice

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

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

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

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

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

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

Li Yifei and Yu Liang of the SOH Radio Network.

*********

CCP Secretary selling off village properties

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chen Yilian of the SOH Radio Network

*********

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tian Ling and Meng Mei of the SOH Radio Network.

************

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Vaccinations for H1N1 influenza are underway as the disease spreads rapidly through colleges.

- Colleges closed due to H1N1 influenza

- Low income earners in China cannot afford medical treatment

- Chinese people voice support for the ‘Quit CCP’ movement

********************

Colleges closed due to H1N1 influenza

There’s been a rapid increase in the spread of ‘Type A’ H1N1 influenza in Chinese schools. Online reports reveal many colleges have closed. Student bodies are dissatisfied with the lack of protective measures. Especially in Xian Technical College, the Kunming Institute of Technology, Jinqiao College and Dezhou College.

Online reports reveal a student at the Xian Technical College in Shanxi died without receiving proper treatment for the flu. A fellow student named Wang criticized the college saying they took no preventive measures and didn’t care for the students.

Wang told SOH (Recording):

“A while ago, many students had high temperatures, about 38 to 39 degrees Celsius. The college told them to go home, just like that without dealing with it. When you’re sick you see a doctor. There is only one person in the college clinic, sometimes he works and sometimes he doesn’t. The facilities in the college are very bad, students are very dissatisfied. They have complained, but the college hasn’t dealt with it.”

There are hundreds of unconfirmed cases at the Kunming Institute of Technology, and only 22 confirmed cases. Since November 11th, the college closed the school but did not cancel classes.

A student told SOH (Recording):

“From the start the college has taken no protective measures. I feel they should’ve cancelled classes and evacuated immediately. But they closed the college, and kept the classes running. In the last two days they’ve kept strict attendance rolls. Many students were fine but now they’re infected.”

Dezhou College in Shandong reports 29 confirmed cases. Many students have been transferred to a warehouse. A student named Lin from the college said due to the breakout, students who don’t have the flu are being isolated.

Lin told SOH (Recording):

“In Shandong, the temperature dropped suddenly and it also began snowing. The temperature changes drastically between day and night. Many have caught a cold and have high fevers. But no one has said it is Type A influenza. There’s now a makeshift hospital in the college. A building in the south zone is now an isolation area.”

A student named Bai, from Shanxi Province, said the situation there is very severe.

Bai told SOH (Recording):
“Basically all colleges have closed, including Taiyuan Science and Engineering, and Shanxi University. Many students have taken early holidays, I hear they’ll return in the New Year.”

Keith Ware; Lin Li; and Si Ming of the SOH Radio Network.

*************

Low income earners in China cannot afford medical treatment

In China many citizens fear getting ill. For those living in poverty, sickness only adds more trouble to their already difficult lives. On November 9th, our Chinese SOH branch carried out an investigation into the state of healthcare in parts of China. All the interviewees said they wouldn’t go to hospital, as it’s difficult and expensive to receive treatment.

Ms Mei, from Chongqing, suffers an eye affliction preventing her from seeing clearly, yet she doesn’t seek treatment.

She told SOH (Recording):
“We don’t have enough money for treatment. Even when we fall sick, we don’t have money to pay for treatment. We never see the doctor.”

Mr Wang, from rural Hubei Province, notes the high medical expenses stop people from getting treatment.

Mr Wang said (Recording):
“My hand hurts badly, but I still don’t dare visit the hospital. I’ve checked in at a small health clinic twice, but I dare not go to a hospital after going there. I don’t want to go to a hospital as I have no money.”

Most people cannot afford to go to hospital. Often they suffer the illness at home and take cheap medicines or herbal medicine. They’ll do this until the illness becomes more serious.

Ms Mei said there were no alternatives. She also told us (Recording):
“We’ll buy medicine to treat a cold and let it drag on, nothing can be done. If we have time, or we have a very serious illness, we’ll go to sleep and take some cold or herbal medicine.”

Ms Liu who was laid-off from a silk factory in Chongqing told SOH (Recording):
“Some people suffer cancer and don’t have money for treatment. They let it drag on until they die, and pass away like that. There’s nothing that can be done, who will care for you, no one cares for you.”

Currently in all parts of China, the coverage of medical insurance is narrow, the standard of reimbursement is low, and the requirements for getting insurance are difficult and complicated. These factors have prevented people from getting treatment or insurance. Further, the local government has shown little interest in healthcare for poorer communities. This has made it difficult for many people to receive medical care.

Mr Ping who lives in one of Shaanxi Province’s Economic Development Zones, said three years ago his land was appropriated for nine thousand Yuan. Mr Ping has no land for farming and a small source of income.

He said to SOH (Recording):
“Our village has no medical insurance. The village cadre reimburses us with less than twenty Yuan annually, and less than twenty Yuan for medical expenses.”

Mr. Wang from Hubei said everyone in their village needs to pay 30 Yuan for medical insurance but receives almost no reimbursement for treatment procedures.

He said (Recording):
“If you’re very ill and the clinics can’t treat it. Local authorities will only reimburse two thousand Yuan for a treatment costing ten thousand Yuan. You even need to have a relationship with the health director; you need to give him a gift.”

On November 9th, Xinlang.Net featured a survey carried out by the ‘Economy Consultation’ magazine. The survey revealed many low income communities throughout China’s cities are poorer due to health problems. This problem has become widespread, and the current level of government support and insurance is very inadequate.

Chris Thomas; Tian Ling; and Wang Zhen of the SOH Radio Network.

******************

Chinese people voice support for the ‘Quit CCP’ movement

According to information from the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP, a teacher in mainland China revealed that most Chinese civilians are very unhappy with the communist regime.

The past 20 years has demonstrated to the Chinese people that the demolition of the Berlin Wall was the right choice for the people. So many Chinese people support the ”Quitting the CCP” movement, hoping it will soon end the CCP’s reign and in a peaceful manner.

Teacher Mu, who used his real name to renounce the CCP said when The Berlin Wall was demolished 20 years ago, media in Mainland China tried to educate people into believing that it was a mistake. However, no matter how the media attempted to influence public opinion, even the Chinese communist leaders knew in their heart that the dictatorial regime would collapse sooner or later.

Teacher Mu said (Recording): “The complaining mood among Chinese civilians is quite strong. Psychologically, we resent the present political system. For those who have independent thinking, the authorities put you in prison, or use other means to suppress you. It is an oppression of those in power. That is to say, there is something like a Berlin Wall that is suppressing people but that Wall is bound to collapse. It is not that we are overly and blindly optimistic but it could fall at any time, probably within five years, possibly even tomorrow. So I ask people, please help me to quit the CCP on the Epoch Times website.”

He said, twenty years ago, the former Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries abandoned communism and moved towards freedom and democracy, as well as prosperity.

Teacher Mu (Recording): “When the Berlin Wall was demolished, I was very excited. I thought it was huge progress for the society. It is a historical milestone, symbolizing the transition from authoritarianism to freedom, from being backward to a more advanced system for the society.

Teacher Zhang quit the CCP using the anonymous “Zheng Yi,” which means “righteousness” in Chinese. Zhang said, under the suppressive rule of the Chinese communist party, Chinese civilians are having a very difficult life. He therefore supports the Quitting the CCP movement and hopes the CCP will collapse as soon as possible

Teacher Zhang said (Recording): “The National Day celebration is a huge waste of money. It is all tax-payers’ money, right? It is a huge waste. It is not easy to browse overseas websites, as the authorities always threaten us. There is nothing we can do. We Chinese civilians are leading a difficult life. Many people are looking for jobs, and life is difficult for them. For us civilians, we only aim at having enough food to assuage hunger. When I was little, I joined the young pioneers, please help me to publish a statement to quit.”

Matthew Ytsma; Lin Li; and Yu Liang of the SOH Radio Network.

**************************

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

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

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

********************

Quitting the CCP has become a massive trend

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

****************

Fear of war in Kokang, Chinese businesses in panic

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

**************

Appeals pointless in Beijing; time for public protest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By SOH reporters Wen Fang and Yu Shan

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

10,000 protestors in Quanzhou, Fujian Province confronted police in front of a wastewater plant. They turned over a vehicle when the official (pictured) struck a woman.

- Jiang Xiqing’s family abducted for appealing over his suspicious death;
- Victims of forced evictions renounce the Communist Party;
- Coercive and violent demolition in Nanning;
- When ‘China rules the world’.

*************************

Jiang Xiqing’s family abducted for appealing over his suspicious death
(5:44)

A 66 year old man Jiang Xiqing from Jiangjin district, Chongqing Province, was persecuted to death by authorities at Xishanping Labor Re-education Center more than six months ago.

Since his death, in order to silence Jiang’s family members from appealing for justice over his death, authorities have beaten their lawyer, and even taken measures to monitor, threaten, and raid their home. Around noon on August 28, Jiang Xiqing’s daughter Jiang Hong was kidnapped by police officers from the National Security Brigade from Jiangjin district’s National Security branch, and currently her whereabouts remains unknown.

On the 28th, Jiang Hong and 2 other family members went to shop for clothes at the New Century Shopping Center on Buxing Road, Yangjiaping of Chongqing city. At 12 noon just as the group exited from the shopping center, a police vehicle suddenly blocked their way, as 6 to 7 officers rushed up and abducted her to a vehicle which then sped off. A witness revealed to SOH that the number plate of the police vehicle appeared to be “Jiu Long Po 5606”

To date, Jiang Hong has been abducted for more than 24 hours, but police have not provided her family with any documentation or notice of detention on paper. On the afternoon of the 29th, Jiang Hong’s husband, daughter and sister visited the Jiangjin District National Security Brigade to request for her release. They knocked on every office door, including the head of the National Security Brigade Mao Chaoheng, yet not one dared to respond to their inquiry. When the family told the local committee member for Political and Legislative Affairs Wan Fenghua, of their intentions to hire a lawyer, Wan replied that the matter had already become escalated, so they [the authorities] would not fear any lawyer.

SOH reporters had telephoned Wan Fenghua to enquire about the sudden death of Mr Jiang Xiqing, as well as Jiang Hong’s abduction, but he claimed they had called the wrong number before disconnecting the phone. Further calls from the reporter to the same number yielded no answer. Subsequent calls to head of National Security Brigade Mao Chaoheng were also unanswered.

On May 13th 2008, Jiang Hong’s mother Luo Zehui was kidnapped by police officers from the Youxi Police Station in Jiangjin district. She was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment, and is still being held at Chongqing Women’s Prison. On January 28, 2009, Jiang Hong’s father Jiang Xiqing was tortured to death by authorities at the Xishanping Labor Re-education Center. His organs were removed for exhibition purposes, and his remains cremated to destroy any evidence. In order to call for justice on their father’s case, Jiang Hong’s brothers and sisters submitted written statements to the government and judicial administrations at various levels. They have filed lawsuits against Jiangjin district’s Political and Legislative Affairs Committee, the 6.10 office and other related departments over this matter. For this reason, Jiang Hong’s former workplace received threats from authorities, forcing her dismissal. She was also subject to the authorities’ surveillance, house raids, and even arrest.

This report was brought to you by SOH reporters Zhou Ya and Yu Liang of the SOH Radio Network.

************

Victims of forced evictions renounce the Communist Party
(11:00)

A Hebei farmer from China’s north east has resigned his membership with the Communist Party after his daughter-in-law was awarded his ancestral home in a divorce lawsuit. Jiang Zhaoxi is 68-years-old. He had been a Part member for 40 years and a Party Secretary for many of those years.

Jiang Zhaoxi said (Recording): “The court did not handle matters impartially. The house, which I rebuilt, was handed down by our ancestors…The court has definitely taken bribes, handing down a judgment to give the daughter-in-law two and a half of the four rooms in this house. I have been a Party member for 40 years. In my outrage, I resigned from the CCP. I have no hope for the CCP. To be honest, what is the Communist Party nowadays – power is bigger than the law, corruption. Therefore I quit, which is a kind of protest to the CCP, a protest to the corrupt officials.”

In 2008 the local court issued a judgement leaving Jiang Zhaoxi one and a half rooms to share with his wife, son and grand-daughter. His son also quit the Communist Youth League to protest the injustice.

In a similar story, Shanghai resident Cao Tianfeng’s 240-square-meter, three-story garden villa was illegally demolished by the Shanghai Municipal government. Cao’s family was forced into destitution. On the 8th of July she renounced the CCP.

Cao said [Recording]: “I went to work at 7am on the 2nd of July. At 8:30 my neighbour informed me that three or four hundred people showed up, knocked the house down with axes and took everything inside. I am now homeless, without a shirt on my back. I am in the trade of calligraphy, painting and antiques. My collection includes calligraphy and painting from Song Dynasty with estimated value of nearly a hundred million. I have collected for several decades. This is not about money. These are now priceless treasure!”

**************

Coercive and violent demolition in Nanning
(14:12)

On August the 18th and 24th residents at The No. 23 complex of North Erli, of Xingning District, in Nanning City suffered two coercive demolitions. On the 24th, a 400-men “demolition team” attacked local residents and injured more than ten people. On August 31, victims were still taking medical treatment in hospital.

According to Radio Free Asia, the demolition on August 24 was turned into a bloody violent attack. The residents posted a petition on a well-known internet forum to seek help. The petition letter read as follows:

“At 8:30 in the morning, authorities of the China Tobacco Guangxi Industrial Corporation and The Guangxi Road & Bridge Engineering Corporation dispatched nearly 400 men, all of them wearing black uniforms, wooden clubs and police batons, to raid the No. 23 residential complex. Under the guise of performing official duties, they drove off the residents who were taking a walk inside the complex. When other residents arrived to defend their rights, they were physically assaulted. An internet user revealed that nine retired workers were seriously injured. One of them had his head broken, another had an arm fractured, and still another had his nose broken.

The residential owners revealed on internet blogs that The China Tobacco Guangxi Industrial Corporation colluded with corrupt officials using the excuse of “technological renovation and infrastructure expansion” to appropriate the land illegally. As early as in mid-2003, the corporation conspired with The Guangxi Road & Bridge Engineering Corporation to deceive the government, and sold a 3.79 acre piece of land at an extremely low price. This land was originally used for warehouses belonging to a subsidiary company of The Guangxi Road & Bridge Engineering Corporation. Now erected on this piece land are the “Royal Dragon” luxury condo towers selling at high prices, which is a blatant violation of the land zoning. In 2007, these two companies bought the 1.8 acres of residential land of the No. 23 complex and 5 acres of industrial land from a Teaching Instruments Factory at a price as low as 10,000 Yuan per Chinese acre (60,000 Yuan per acre), while keeping all the 303 households who are homeowners on the No. 23 complex in the dark.

As of today, sixty households have refused to sign on the “tear-down” agreement. The residents say these two corporations have bought in some leaders of the municipal government. These leaders pressure the lower levels, and force them into changing the land zoning according to their will, and have increased the density of dwelling units on the land. They also forcefully shortened the lease period for the No. 23 complex, and set up the compensation rate for residents at 3000 Yuan per square meter, which is the rate for older districts. At this low rate, there is no way the residents can buy a similar house in the same neighborhood.

A resident in the neighborhood said: “It is close to where I live. The developer is trying to buy the land, but they have failed to reach an agreement. The market price is now over 4000 yuan per square meter.”

******************

Please leave feedback in the comments section at the bottom, or send an email to www.insidechinatoday.net

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

By Lin Xiuyi of the SOH Radio Network

Arson and sabotage, involving a gangster related to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), took place in a busy district of Hong Kong on June 29th, targeting a Quit the CCP service center.

A mainland Chinese man, self-claimed to have the name of Mao Jiedong (one Chinese character away from former Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong) and a Maoist follower, set fire to an overpass in Waichai, a busy district of Hong Kong. He attempted to burn the flags and posters of the service centre and then continued to attack staff. The man was later arrested by police.

According to eyewitnesses, at about 3:30 pm on June 29, a middle aged, mainland Chinese man, suddenly approached the service center, which was set up on the overpass in front of the government Immigration building, and started making trouble. Chen Mintai, a volunteer at the service center, saw that as soon as the man appeared, seven to eight local media reporters also arrived. It was later discovered the media had been notified of the incident beforehand, that the man would burn himself, and that he had invited the media to take pictures.

The attacker first threatened the volunteers, demanding them to take down the banners and posters that were hanging on the guardrails of the overpass. He then sprayed flammable liquid onto the banners and posters, and set them on fire.

Volunteers at the service center called the police. Firefighters then came to scene and extinguished the fire. The man was arrested by police on charges of arson, and he was taken back to the precinct for further questioning.

It was later confirmed that the man’s real name is Shan Jieyao. He is infamous among Chinese netizens for his outrageous speech on the internet, but how and why he was recruited to cause this trouble in Hong Kong is still unknown.

By Lin Xiuyi of the SOH Radio Network.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Lu Qiu Shuiying, a 75-year-old issued an open letter to Hu Jintao, the CCP’s Central Committee General Secretary, declaring she is quitting the party. Her son stated his mother has lost confidence in the Communist Party. He said,
“From Public Security to the courts, the law is not complied with. My mother is very disappointed, and I am also not satisfied. Therefore my mother has requested to quit the party.”

Lu Qiu Shuiying had been in the party for forty years before her retirement; she was a section chief of a military workshop in fertiliser plant at Nanhui County. Her letter stated,
“In view that our party has degenerated from the ‘Working Class Party’ to the ‘Rich and Powerful who Defraud People Party’, I therefore authorise my son, Yeping, to issue a statement to the CCP general secretary of my quitting the party.”

It is understood that the number of petitioners regarding demolished homes in Shanghai is much higher than the number of petitioners in Beijing. A petitioner, Shi Lin, said,
“The Letters and Complaints Bureau in Shanghai and Shanghai’s municipal government reported to Beijing that they had resolved 94% of petitioners’ problem, but actually 6% of petitioners’ problems had failed to be resolve.”

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Zheng Enchong, a Human Rights Lawyer living in Shanghai recently shared his ongoing ordeal at the hands of the local police. Mr Zheng has been summonsed 48 times by the Shanghai Zhabei District Public Security office, each time being a deliberate method of intimidation and sessions of physical abuse so as to silence and persecute him.  Mr Zheng shared with SOH that he understands Yang Jia’s situation even more closely now that he has fallen victim to the this new tactic that the communist regime is using in order to persecute those who stand up for the basic human rights of the Chinese people.

Mr Zheng stated he feels that Yang Jia, a man that was executed for killing Zhabei policemen after years of torment, was hoping to awaken the hearts and minds of the public through his actions. Mr Zheng goes through 5 to 12 hours of torment and abuse each time he is summonsed. His interrogations normally finished around 1am, he then makes his way home exhausted. He explained to SOH that now they are beginning to summons him at night time to intensify the suffering of his ordeal.

Mr Zheng said that the authorities are also now putting pressure on him by harassing his wife Jiang Meili, and are pushing him to plead guilty to false charges that they are trying to pin on him. This is apparently a common tactic used by Chinese police to jail those who they have been instructed to incarcerate or whom they want to silence.  Mr Zheng told SOH that he is at a loss of words to describe the evil nature of the regime and its affiliated organs and can only imagine the horrific state of the other cities and towns.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Mr. Huang from Hebei Province whose father was detained and intimidated due to appeals to authorities, had also quit the Communists’ Pioneer Group. [Recording]: “(the authorities) resort to mental intimidation, and the prison cell chief scolded and abused my father. In order to retain my father at home during the Olympics, the policemen stood on guard at our door and wouldn’t go.” Mr. Huang said that due to his father’s appeals, his family was raided and confiscated in 2003 with all valuables robbed. [Recording]: “They confiscated, robbed and destroyed our home, a loss of over 200,000 yuan. They came with two trucks and hired thugs of the triad society. We reported to the police station where more police were deployed to safeguard the villains removing all our valuables at home.”

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

For many years, the complaints have gone nowhere. Mr. Wang said furiously, “The CCP has lost our trust. It is too corrupt. The regime is like the current Chinese economy. On the surface, it seems developing. In fact, it is a bubble. Soon, the bubble will break and disappear. We all want to break away from the CCP. Only then will we stay away from this hell-like life.”

Mr. Wang explained that the regime took away their forest land. People suffer and have no where to turn to. The officials are corrupt and covering for each other. He said, “For example, they took away our land that was worth 1000 yuan, and reimbursed 50 yuan. I went to Beijing four times to file complaints. But each department and division shirked the responsibility, including the committee for discipline investigation, the courts, the prosecutors, and so forth. The regime is totally dysfunctional. For example, I complained to the Forestry Department. What they did was issue a supervisory letter which was transferred from the province to the city, from the city to the county. Are they suggesting the county magistrate would supervise and sue himself? It’s impossible! The regime is simply corrupt, and trying to fool us!”

Mr. Wang indicated that over 300,000 farmers were victims of the buyout. The officials care about no one. He said, “The high officials are hiding in the back. They let the local cadres in the village decide how much the land is worth, and the ownership of the land. They could buy anything worth 100 yuan with just one yuan and you’ll find no justice. If you intend to complain to Beijing, they’ll cut you back before you reach the Letter and Petition Office in Beijing. No one will resolve it for you. At least 30 people have tried to visit Beijing during the two conferences (the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference).”

Mr. Wang has visited Beijing many times over the past several years. He has seen many cases of injustice. He mentioned, “There was a woman around 40 years of age. She lost her 500,000 Yuan (US$73,035) house, and was compensated 100,000 Yuan (US$14,607) because of mandatory relocation by the regime. She was forced to move. She complained to Beijing and spent quite a lot on travel. Her family life is a disaster.”

Mr. Wang’s petition has got him nowhere. However, he insists on continuing his pursuit of justice. He said that people are furious but too cowardly to say anything. One time he was requesting directions from an 80-year-old woman. She asked if he intended to sue. She trembled as she whispered, “The regime is very corrupt. The lawsuit won’t be easy. I wish you luck.” He was discouraged.

Mr. Wang said, “I have been to quite some places and seen many things. I know these are all bubbles. The bubbles will break and be gone.” He believes that all the people want is a secure job and living. The farmers need the forest and the land to survive. The CCP is only smooth talking and cares not. People just want to break away from the CCP. He said, “The CCP is for itself wholeheartedly. The forest is gone. The land will be gone too. The CCP is sacrificing the people!”

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Unlike the CCP’s forced land nationalization in mainland China, the KMT took a peaceful yet progressive approach, implementing constitutional democracy in Taiwan. The KMT’s  policies successfully liberated the productive forces and improved the people’s standard of living. Ninety-nine percent of farmers in Taiwan joined the Farmers Association, the real estate market eventually opened to free trade, and 3.7 million farmers migrated to the cities, as Taiwan has become the 4th largest economy in Asia.

Farmers in Mainland China Exploited Twice by CCP

Unlike their counterparts in Taiwan, farmers in mainland China have been doubly exploited  in the 60 years since the CCP took power. During the first 30 years of the planned economy, the  regime bought grain at low prices from farmers awhile selling industrial products at high prices to them. In the  next 30 years of era of the supposed “Reform and Opening Up,” the  regime exploited farmers even more by forcing them to sell their land at extremely low prices so that the  authorities at all levels could make a huge profit by reselling the land at high prices.

Zheng spoke of Shanghai as an example. Xu Kuangdi, the former Mayor of Shanghai, on Dec. 20, 2008, wrote in an article  that he forced 3.5 million urban dwellers to move to the much cheaper suburbs where the price of land is only US$ 50-60 per square meter, so that he could then sell the vacated urban land for US$ 8,000 per square meter. Xu then used the profits to develop Shanghai. The then communist party leader, Deng Xiaoping, promoted this approach, and the former premier, Zhu Rongji, also twice promoted Xu.

In light of the report from the Department of Agriculture that the water conservancy facilities on the nearly 200 million acres were built before 1978 and in bad maintenance, Zheng questioned whether the severe drought that had hit northern China recently was a natural disaster, or, rather, a product of neglect or human error in planning and management or operation.

Quitting the CCP Symbolic of the Awakening of the General Public

Zheng said that China has instituted a 4,000 Billion Yuan stimulus plan. In addition, a plan to issue 20 trillion Yuan of local government securities will be presented to the National People’s Congress for approval in March. On the average, each person will be required to “lend” 15,000 Yuan to the  regime, with no proper supervision or systematic verification of any kind. Zheng warned of great danger to the stability of China’s future economy.

Farmers are the largest social class in China, and Zheng believes that, with their deep disappointment in the regime, they will become the leaders in the movement to quit the CCP. “Quitting the CCP is the symbol of the awakening of the general  public,” said Zheng.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

According to Wu Fan, the book “Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party” awoke many people. During the conference, Mr Wu stated, “The Chinese Communist Party is too devious. Even today, the CCP has not dared to publish one word of critique on the ‘Nine Commentaries’. They do not dare to agree or criticize, or make any comments, but can only stand in silence whilst this movement takes place.”

In his speech, Mr Wu Fan, made mention of the Soviet Union as a historical example in which a communist dictatorship was dissolved through mass withdrawals. He also called for Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, to recognize the true nature of the CCP and withdraw from the party.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Zhou said, “The CCP harms, bullies, and extorts people. As a victim, I firmly declare my withdrawal of the Communist Youth League and the Young Pioneers.”

Zhou started a business in 1985. He utilized his knowledge of metals and made his fortune by converting waste into useful materials. He became the richest man in Chongqing for several years.

However, on Sept. 24, 1991, the People’s court of the district of Beipei sentenced Zhou to 12 years of prison for plotting against the government and selling outlawed materials. All of his assets totaling a net worth of 1,180,743 yuan were confiscated.

Zhou was transferred to seven prisons prior to his arrival at Xinjiang Prison in Aksu, in the region known as Xinjiang. This is where he spent most of his term. There, he was forced to do endless slave labor. At times, he would be forced to stand bent over at a 90-degree angle and remain in a corner. Other times, he was stripped naked and lashed by guards with a wicker, and sexually abused. In an interview with The Epoch Times, Zhou shared his chilling account of his horrible treatment by the Chinese authorities.

He said, “They forced me to sit on a stool with my legs extended outward and ordered another inmate to step on my legs for a couple of hours. They beat me if I moved.”

Zhou recalled, “Our dinner was cold corn porridge with maize bread, and tiny pieces of salted pickle at 10 p.m. I had to find cotton fruit, frogs or grassroots to eat to ease my hunger without being seen while working. Finding a piece of watermelon skin tossed by the guards became a luxury.”

At one time, he witnessed the guards forcing another inmate to kneel down in the snow, naked. They were constantly applying hot steam to his face. Two hours later, the chill entered his bones and the inmate became permanently disabled. However no visible signs of injury could be seen on him.

According to Zhou, guards frequently sexually abused the inmates by pricking their genitalia with a toothpick or shocking them with an electric baton. Moreover, one day, after his wife (at the time) visited him, the guards followed her back to the hotel. She was able to evade them. In normal cases, if the family member did not obey the guards’ wishes, the inmate would then either be tortured or killed.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Sun Yanjun has a wide influence in academic circles in China and formerly taught at Jilin University,

Sun Yanjun said in an interview:
“Because of the Chinese authorities’ media censorship, I did not read the Nine Commentaries in mainland China. Only when I got to the United States, did I read it on the Epoch Times website. The Nine Commentaries were brilliantly written with deep thoughts, large amounts of evidence and strong arguments. Most importantly, the Nine Commentaries series of articles promotes justice in the world. Because the publication of the Nine Commentaries has triggered millions to quit the CCP, I believe it has already created history. The Nine Commentaries will definitely be crowned with eternal glory.”

Sun hoped his family, friends, colleagues and students in mainland China would awaken to quit the CCP as soon as possible.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The above news is brought to you by Tianling and Donghai and hosted by Chris Thomas for In side China Today on SOH Radio Network.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Mr Yang from Ningbo in Zhejiang told a reporter that he was very pleased he had finally quit. He said “I had thought about this for a long time, I had asked around and finally find a way.”

Mr. Yang said that his homeland is rich in coal and salt but people are still very poor, because a lot of money had been stolen by corrupt officials. He had witnessed a party branch secretary embezzling the property of others and stated publicly that he was the ‘King of the local people.’

“I was there at the time; I saw it with my own eyes. They suppress the farmers and forcibly assault people”. Mr. Yang also said he will be happy to persuade more fellow citizens to quit the Chinese Communist Party.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites