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

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

- Yunnan aid relief from regular people

- Victims protest Shanghai Mayor’s Taiwan visit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tang Yin and Yu Hang of SOH Radio Network.

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Yunnan aid relief from regular people

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lu Fang and He Wen of the SOH Radio Network.

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

Victims protest Shanghai Mayor’s Taiwan visit

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

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

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

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

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

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

Li Jingyu and Yu Han of the SOH Radio Network.

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The drought in southwestern China has devasted countryside and farmland. It's the most severe drought in 40 years.

- South-west drought worsens, farmers fuming
- Chinese judicial independence a pipedream
- Human rights lawyers speak about US Resolution 605

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South-west drought worsens, farmers fuming

The continuing drought in south-western China has affected over 50 million people in the Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guizhou Provinces. Resentment is mounting amongst farmers over many issues, including rising inflation, the loss of fertile top soil due to overdevelopment; the lack of government aid; and biased media coverage glorifying the regime.

Mr Mo of Wuzhou in Guangxi Province believes the severity of the drought is due to the loss of top soil in forests and the environment, especially when mining companies conduct large scale digging operations.

Mr Mo told reporters (recording):
“There’s a gold mining company that has control of the whole mountain, and has dug the mountain hollow from inside. The mountain is completely void of any trees and vegetation. Without trees there’s no place to hold water. Natural factors are one aspect and may account for 30% of the problem, but manmade factors account for the remaining 70%. That’s the problem with the social system. The environment is damaged so badly, therefore there is no water. The government is corrupt and colludes with businesses who give money to the government. The resentment and rebellious nature of the peasants is rampant and drastic, the farmers are very angry now.”

The drought is so bad water supplies delivered by the government haven’t been able to meet demands. People are struggling to make use of what little water there is. They can’t bathe, wash their clothes and farmers can’t water their farms.

Mr Mo told reporters (recording):
“There’s a severe problem with the drinking water, the government can’t solve the problem and the trucks only come once every few days. People have to wait in long lines to get a small amount of water. They deliver the water from the waterworks factory in the city, but that’s not enough to maintain routine lifestyles. There’s no water for farm production, and we only got two square meters of water after pumping an underground source for one hour. We have never seen a drought this bad.”

According to reports, the drought has caused food prices in Yunnan province to rise. The vegetable market saw an increase of 39%. Earlier this year, Kunming City had the third highest consumer price index nationwide. Mr Xiao of Yunnan says the whole province has suffered but the government has been slow in its relief efforts. The media continues to glorify the officials causing resentment amongst farmers.

Mr Xiao told reporters (recording):
“There is a state emergency due to problems with the water supply. There are places where the situation is desperate and some places have run out of water completely. Since the drought started, government propaganda has done nothing but put on a show. Some reports even contradict each other. One village was reported to have had no water for ten whole days, but this wasn’t reported. As soon as PLA soldiers began delivering water supplies, the media reports started coming in. They pretend to be good Samaritans after the farmers suffer so much.”

According to experts, they’ll be no rainfall in the next ten days or in south-west China, and forest fire alerts remain very high. Based on statistics from the Yunnan Forest Fire Control Department, there’s been over 390 forest fires in the past three months, covering 20.47 square kilometres of forest. About 20% of forests are affected. According to Mr Mu of Chonqing, over the past few years the climate has been unusual and he suspects it is due to the Three Gorges Dam.

Mr Mu told reporters (recording):
“There are droughts every year. I live in the city and I’ve never seen any prevention methods carried out. There are places in the countryside where drinking water has become an issue. Delivering water can’t solve the water needs of farmers. Buying water from merchants would be too expensive. Affected farmers are the underdogs of society and have to pay for the natural and manmade disaster as well. Life is really tough for them.”

According to Chinese media, since autumn 2009, there has been less rainfall in south-west China but temperatures have remained high. Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Chongqing and Guizhou have all suffered severe drought and huge economic losses. As of March 17th, a total of 43,000 square kilometres have been affected by the drought in some way. 9400 square kilometres of land have yielded zero harvests and total economic losses are estimated at 19.02 billion Yuan, a staggering 2.8 billion US dollars.

Lin Li and Feng Ming of SOH Radio Network

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Chinese judicial independence a pipedream

The former Vice-President of the Supreme People’s Court has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Huang Songyou was sentenced on March 17th for accepting bribes of up to 3.9 million Yuan (570,000 US dollars). Huang is the most senior judicial officer to be removed for corruption over the CCP’s 60 year history. Chinese democracy activists believe it’s very difficult to find an official who isn’t corrupt under the communist system. Also, political power carries more weight than the law does in China. They claim judicial independence is impossible.

Gao Weibang, a Doctor of Chemical Engineering in the United States, and Director of the ‘Victims of Investment in China Association’ (VICA) claimed there wasn’t a single upright official in China’s judicial system. The secretaries of the various Political and Legislative Affairs Committees have the final say over judicial matters.

Dr Gao told interviewers (recording):
“The judges in mainland China have done many bad things that violate the rule of law and different regulations. I think it’s impossible to find an upright person in the judicial system. If a person is upright, he won’t survive the system. I’m guessing Huang didn’t just commit embezzlement, but most likely offended someone. That’s why he’s being punished. These things are often the result of political struggles. A (functional) judicial system just doesn’t exist. It’s the secretary of each Political and Legislative Committee who really has authority. They can supervise local courts, the procuratorate, and police departments. These three organizations should be independent to begin with, but the secretary has complete control over them. Tell me, how can the judicial system be independent?”

Democratic activist Cai Lujun has been incarcerated for three years on the charge of ‘inciting subversion of state power.’ This was in response to him publishing online articles exposing heavy taxation on farmers, and calling for democracy and human rights in China. He said corruption in the CCP is a major problem. Officials wield immense power and avoid accountability.

Cai Lujun told reporters (recording):
“Corruption is a result of the system. It’s different from democratic nations. Be it a governor or court officer, their authority is unsupervised and uncontrolled. Therefore, it’s very difficult to find a communist official who isn’t corrupt. It’s a result of the political system. For example, I’m from Hebei Province, and I had discovered certain senior officials were corrupt. When I exposed their crimes, the media didn’t take notice. No one dared or was willing to publish the facts I had found. I was imprisoned because I published articles online. It was because of the Chinese political system. In mainland China, the persecution of political dissidents is countless, and it goes on like this all the time.”

Dr Gao Weibang went to mainland China in 1997 and invested funds into constructing a factory. In 1999 his investment was embezzled. When he applied to the judicial system, through officials at China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, he received no recourse.

Zhong Yuan and Yu Xin of the SOH Radio Network

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Human rights lawyers speak about US Resolution 605

The US House of Representatives passed Resolution 605 calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. On March 18th, Chinese human rights lawyers Tang Jitian and Jiang Tianyong gave their views on this resolution and spoke about the injustices they suffered speaking up for Falun Gong practitioners.

Mr Tang said (recording):
“In making such a decision, the US legislature is fulfilling its international duty and expressing concern and support for global human rights issues. In mainland China, some people cannot and will not follow international conventions or national laws. This is a criticism of their criminal acts, which is worth praising and looking forward to.”

Mr Jiang said Falun Gong is legal and protected by laws all around the world. Only the communist regime in China persecutes Falun Gong. He told reporters (recording):
“The law should punish improper behaviour rather than people’s thoughts. The Constitution clearly allows for religious freedom, which needs to be followed. Therefore I feel the Chinese government should not regard it as hostile but rather as an opportunity for reflection.”

Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng wrote to the head of the Communist Party, Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, calling for the end to the persecution of Falun Gong. The regime’s response was to shut down his practice and cancel his practicing license. The Public Security Bureau is suspected of kidnapping Gao on February 4th 2009. This was incident was mentioned in the Resolution 605. Mr. Tang said the illegal detention of Gao was unbelievable and detrimental to China’s international image. He said (recording):
“There was no news for a long time. Friends and family were all concerned. Officials had to come up with all kinds of excuses. I feel this is a waste of public resources, which is unfair to Gao and to his family and detrimental to the government’s reputation and its international image.”

Mr Jiang said China hasn’t become a law-abiding society. By looking at Falun Gong legal cases, one can see the political and legal systems have deviated from the law. Many lawyers including Gao have been jailed and persecuted for taking on Falun Gong-related cases. Mr Jiang told reporters said (recording):
“Some lawyers who argue for Falun Gong cases have lost their licenses. This shows the international community that the communist regime has failed to follow through on its promise to govern by rule of law. I believe the government needs to change this practice.”

Luo Ya and Xi Yen of 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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Water conservation expert Wang Weiluo says the over-construction of dams presents massive environmental risks to China.

- Millions of university graduates face unemployment

- No rule of law in China, says Chinese lawyer

- Shanghai petitioners send open letter to Obama

- Dams in China source of strife

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Millions of university graduates face unemployment
(1:02)

In recent years, the employment rate among Chinese university graduates has remained at 72%. Up until the end of 2008, over a million graduates could not find jobs.

According to mainland Chinese media, the Educational Sciences College of East China Normal University conducted a study into the ‘living conditions of job-seeking university graduates’, targeting students in Shanghai. The result showed 68.1% of the group believed finding a job was the most important task every day. 43.3% used the free time to study on their own or attend various training courses for self-improvement.

During the course of job search, many felt tired and depressed. 57.1% felt exhausted, 40.1% felt lost, 22.6% were disappointed with life. “Eating from the old” is a label despised by this group as they’re forced to rely on their families for support. Rather than intentionally ‘eating the old’ however, most feel guilty about being supported financially. This guilt puts them under tremendous psychological pressure.

According to the study, many graduates have made accurate assessments of themselves. The current employment environment and industry structure has something to do with the group not finding jobs easily. In other words, the plight of these graduates is due to a combination of there being too many graduates and inadequate social structures.

Daniel Teng of the SOH Radio Network.

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No rule of law in China, says Chinese lawyer
(2:40)

“There is absolutely no rule of law in China,” says Chinese lawyer. Li Renbing is defending Wei Cheng, a Falun Gong practitioner accused of being, well, a practitioner of Falun Gong. This spiritual practice of mind and body teaches the tenants of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. It was outlawed in China in 1999. Since then reports have come out of China daily, about the brutal persecution suffered by these people, under the Communist regime.

This strong statement by Wei’s attorney comes after seven Falun Gong practitioners were dealt hefty prison terms by the Changchun City Intermediate Court. One of the accused, Wei, was first sentenced to 8 years in his initial trial. His case then went through a second trial and Wei was sentenced to an additional 10 years. The sentences were combined to 18 years incarceration, with deprivation of political rights for four years. A total of 22 years of punishment / all because / of his beliefs.

Wei’s attorney told SOH he had never seen any court violating the law to such an extent. Saying it is “simply irrational”.

He said, “This case has gone through investigation by the Changchun City Procuratorate, the Changchun City Intermediate Court, the Changchun City Politics and Law Committee, Jilin Province Politics and Law Committee, Jilin Province Procuratorate and the Jilin Province Supreme Court. It has gone through so many levels of investigation, but still, the final result is to keep the original judgment. It is very unfair to sentence Wei Cheng in the manner of combining different kinds of punishments. The first trial sentenced him to eight years; the second trial, ten years. When combined, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison, far exceeding the highest punishment of 15 years stipulated in [China's] Criminal Law. This judgment itself is an unabashed violation of the law. It is the first time I have ever encountered this situation in my career as a lawyer. That is to say, there is absolutely no rules of law in China. The law is not even a decoration in today’s China.”

The attorneys for the accused, 14 of them in total, were informed of the trial with just two days notice. They rushed to Nong’an County to participate, but in the end were denied access to their clients, and to the trial. Officials from the Politics and Law Committee even told the attorneys frankly that they care only about politics and ignore the rules of law. The attorneys felt the court procedure had seriously violated the law, which they now believe doesn’t even exist in Communist China.

Tang Jitian was employed to represent one of the accused, Han Xixiang.

Tang told SOH, “The first trial was a violation of the law to begin with. It is illegal from all aspects including the procedure and the nature of the judgment. The second trial was a public trial. The detention center tried all means to prevent me from seeing my client. In the end, two of my colleagues went to the Politics and Law Committee. The way the receptionist behaved, basically, was as the saying goes – ‘I am a ruffian and who would I be afraid of’? They did not care about the law or basic rules at all. In the end, he said, ‘do not talk about laws with us. You may try to look for whoever you want to see, but you definitely cannot get to see them’.”

These seven practitioners filed an appeal in March. It took nearly seven months for the judgment to finalize despite the nation’s Criminal Law Procedure saying the court must handle the appeal within one and a half months.

Another of the accused, Zhang Wanjun, was sentenced to nine years in prison, with his political rights being deprived for three years. Zhang’s attorney believed the judgment lacks factual evidence.

The Clearwisdom website published an article on the situation at 1 p.m. on October 23. According to the article Han Xixiang and Li Fengming were sentenced to 14 years in prison. Wang Xiuping and Zhao Yushu to 10 years in prison; Wei Cheng to 18 years in prison. Qi Yunchao and Zhang Wanjun to nine years in prison. The court was surrounded by military police dressed in bullet-proof clothing during the illegal trial.

Caden Pearson; Li Yifei and Wang Zhen of the SOH Radio Network

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Shanghai petitioners send open letter to Obama
(7:34)

On the night of November 15th, US President Barack Obama arrived in Shanghai on Air Force One to begin his four day state visit to China. Over 200 Shanghai petitioners have sent an open letter to Obama; hoping the Nobel Peace Prize winner will push forward the progress of democracy in China.

Whilst the petitioners welcomed Obama in their open letter, numerous civil rights activists have been captured or placed under house arrest due to his visit.

The petitioners state in their letter their hope that Obama will do what he promised during his election campaign to support international democracy and a system valuing human rights. They ask the president to speak up on the major issues of human rights and not to use diplomacy solely for economic profit.
The letter also reminds Obama not to be ‘confused or vain on the superficiality of Shanghai, for behind every superficial building lies an abyss of suffering and misery.’

A Shanghai petitioner, Mao Hengfeng, spoke to SOH on the 15th. She told us the aim of the letter was to encourage Mr Obama to show concern for Chinese human rights.

She said (recording):
“When the US President or any other leader comes to China, regardless of whether they’re just looking around or here on business. It’s best they demand our Chinese leaders don’t take away our personal freedom. We ask for the freedom to welcome heads of state and to petition just like the citizens of other free nations. Even when our country’s leaders go abroad, they see a different scene. Why don’t the Chinese people have the same freedom? Why can’t we express our wishes? Furthermore, the World Expo will be held in Shanghai. Because he is a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, he should push forward democracy, freedom and human rights for Chinese citizens. This way, we, the Shanghai civil right activists, or other persecuted peoples can reveal to the world the state of our economy and human rights whilst improving the state of human rights in this country. We hope President Obama can propose such a discussion with President Hu Jintao.”

Many Shanghai petitioners were apprehensive regarding Obama’s visit. His arrival may bring hope to petitioners, but at the same time the Communist regime is keeping a close watch over them. However, for those already apprehended, they will not even have a chance to make their wishes heard.

Perry Luo; Wen Fang; and Yu Liang of the SOH Radio Network.

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Dams in China source of strife
(10:19)

On November 14, water conservation expert Wang Weiluo spoke at the 2009 Future Science and Culture Forum. He said that the Chinese Communist regime’s approach for water conservancy directly betrayed the traditional Chinese ideologies of respect for nature. Wang said that over 80 000 dams had been built within the 60 years of communist rule, causing strife, hardship, and the deaths of Thousands.

Wang has carried out in depth studies into China’s waterworks infrastructures. He recently published a book “36 calculations on the Yangtze River’s three gorges dam”. Wang believes that the Chinese Communist regimes political ideal of “fighting against heaven and earth”, resulted in the construction of 87 000 dams. At present, one half of the world’s dams are located in mainland China. One third of these dams are considered to be extremely unsafe, and vulnerable to collapse. During the construction of these dams, more than 20 million Chinese people were forced to relocate, with one third of them already being poverty stricken.

Wang Weiluo gave two examples of dam project disasters that had been censored by the Chinese Communist regime: In 1975 the collapse of The Banqiao Dam of upper Huaihe River, lead to the subsequent collapse of 52 downstream dams killing 240 000 people. This catastrophe was censored from 1975 until 1995, and to date the regime stills admits a death toll of only 20 000, far from actual figures.

Another event took place in 1963 on the prairies of Huabei, when significant flooding of Haihe River destroyed more than 200 dams. Casualty figures have not been made public, and the truth has also been censored by authorities.

Wang Weiluo said (recording):
“This information was sourced from a letter to a minister in the Department of Water. The letter was written by Huang Wanli, and revealed his own blunders in the event. However it did not reveal the death toll and China has never announced this figure.”

Dr Wang explained how the degradation of China’s Water works resulted from the regimes political ideals. He said they fought against heaven and earth, meeting constant defeat. This created even more battles, and the damage this has caused the natural environment will seriously affect future generations. He also fears that inadequacies in national water management will bring more disasters, and cripple China as a result.

Mr Wang said (Recording):
“It isn’t wrong to establish a nation in many hardships. People can stand up after one or two disasters, and human beings also learn experiences from disasters. Yet the fault is in the word ‘many’. Many disasters and tribulations can render one unable to stand. The book “Guo Yu” said “landslides and dry rivers imply governance leading to the nation’s demise!””

Chris Thomas; Zheng Fan; and Xi Wen of the SOH Radio Network.

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H1N1 Swine Flu is spreading rapidly, yet officials are trying to coverup it's spread. Many sick students have flooded local hospitals in places like Tianjin.

- Prosecution changes indictment during trial

- Health department bans H1N1 diagnosis after heavy outbreak

- Millions affected by continued drought in southern China

- Chemical pollution destroying lives in Hubei

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Prosecution changes indictment during trial

Six months ago, Xu Shujie, a Falun Gong practitioner from Heilongjiang Province, went to the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong with her husband Yin Xuzhen, to visit their eldest daughter Yin Qi. All three of them were abducted from Yin Qi’s home. Members of the National Security Bureau of Zhuhai then ransacked her home. Their trial was held on October 20th at a local court, three attorneys defended them. During the trial, the prosecution modified the indictment twice.

During the trial, defense attorneys Yin Xunzhen, Han Qingfang, questioned the actual arrest date written in the indictment which literally stated the offence took place on ‘a certain day of a certain month of a certain year’, with no actual, real date. The defense attorney argued the prosecution should withdraw the case. Attorney Han said (recording): “The indictment says the arrest was made on x year x month x day, without the actual date. They took it back and changed it, and submitted it again. According to procedural rules, the case should have been withdrawn by the prosecution.”

Yin Xunzhen’s youngest daughter told the court, the accusations against her mother and sister are not backed by evidence. The authorities instead used her father to testify against them.

The youngest daughter said (recording) “The evidence they used had more holes in it than Swiss cheese, the indictment was modified twice, and court went into recess twice because of that. The only eye witness was found during a subsequent investigation following the first. The witness never came to court, and wasn’t identified. The defense concluded the so called eye witness did not exist; the prosecution couldn’t refute this claim. When they started the case, they cheated my father, telling him his wife and daughter had confessed, and upon hearing this, my father said they didn’t do anything, and said I had done it. That’s it, that’s what happened.”

Zhang Chuanli, an attorney from Beijing, was the defense lawyer of Yin Qi, the eldest daughter. He said he saw Yin Qi in the detention center and found out she was being tortured. Zhang said there is no evidence to indict her and she didn’t violate the law.

Zhang told SOH (recording): “The torture method is called ‘driving a train’; they connect the hands with the feet so the person is bent and can’t stand straight. The crooked person has to then move, like a train. Yin Qi says she had difficulty eating, undressing, and going to bathroom during the ten days she was tortured. When the police were interrogating her, they pinched her neck, this is what she said in court. They should have launched an investigation to verify if my client was tortured for confessions. We asked this question, but the court didn’t respond.”

According to a Minghui.net report, Yin Xunzhen, Xu Shujie went to Zhuhai of Guangzhou to visit their daughter Yin Qi. On the night of April 10, 2009, local National Security police went to their house in plain cloth, abducted them and ransacked the house. Yin Qi’s three year old daughter was also present when all these took place. The police searched and interrogated them for a whole night, and arrested all three of them in the wee hours of next morning. They also took personal items such as PCs and other things.

Daniel Teng; Li Yifei; and Yu Lian of the SOH Radio Network.

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Health department bans H1N1 diagnosis after heavy outbreak

There has been a nationwide break out of the type A H1N1 influenza in China. There are continuous internet reports from different areas announcing the spreading in primary schools. Facing this severe situation, China’s mainland health department has ordered not to investigate nor make any definite diagnosis of the flu.

On November 1st, staff from the Tianjin Children’s Hospital revealed that the type A flu was breaking out in Tianjian University, High Schools and Primary Schools. The Primary school students cases are notably much more severe. The Children’s Hospital receives thousands of children with high temperatures; furthermore, higher authorities are instructing the hospital to not examine the flu.

(Recording): No diagnosis. The authorities have instructed to report it as acute throat inflammation for medical testing. If the region breaks out with the flu again, they will make up a few more stories. (Which authorities?) That is the health department, and it is also coming from above. They cannot make it all up. Making it up is very expensive, and 80 to 90% of the children coming to the Hospital every day are in fever.

The staff suggested that the sick children seek treatment nearby as the hospital will not diagnose the H1N1 flu.

(Recording): After this shift is done there is another shift. There were 30 cases in the first day, and 8 went back to school the next day. There are many like that. (Is it mainly primary or secondary?) Both, even University students. Many patients in the Children hospital, came and waited. Apparently the chance of cross infection is high, and last week we were very nervous as the waiting time was very long.

Another staff: Our outpatients are about several thousand a day, and they definitely need to queue up.

The students’ parents chose not to inject the type A flue vaccine because they believe the quality is unreliable.

(Recording): A parent asked another parent; “It is free, why don’t you have the vaccine?” To which they replied; “The free vaccine is not a good thing. In any event, we will die even without the vaccine. The children that did not vaccinate, do not have fever, the children the with vaccine have the fever.”

Parents are scared of taking there primary Students to the hospital due to the risk of the quickly spreading flu. The type A flu is spreading very fast and extensively, after a primary student outbreak in Xuanwu district in Beijing, a relative’s visit had spread the flu to Shandong hometown upon her return.

(Recording): My wife’s sister was in Shenyang and her nephew was infected. She then went back to Shandong, and infected her daughter. She was in fever, transfered fluids, coughed, cried, and was feeling very ill.

Parents believe that the non diagnosis of the H1N1 virus will increase the cases of infection. There will be no isolation, and no guarding against a cross infection.

Chris Thomas; and Tian Qi of the SOH Radio Network.

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Chemical pollution destroying lives in Hubei

Four chemical factories in China’s mid-east Hubei Province have been poisoning the surrounding villages for over a decade. Residents from Ganghe Shuanglong Village say four factories dump their waste into a nearby river. They also emit a horrible stench all year round. No crops will grow in the area and the residents suffer from severe ailments which they claim is a result of the environmental pollution. For years they have appealed to the authorities in vain.

Villagers identified four local chemical factories as the offenders. They are Zhongchu, Lantian, Hongyang, and Yinhe. These factories produce all kinds of chemical products and output waste into the Tongshun River. Nothing grows along that river. A resident said the water in the river is so toxic it causes skin to blister on contact.

Mr. Huang, a villager, told SOH, “The pollution is severe and has been going on for over a decade. I’ll bet it is number one in the country. Four [people] have been diagnosed with cancer. Each nearby villager suffers from nausea, dizziness and aches. The farm land does not yield any crop. As soon as you get into the water, blisters break out on your feet. How can the water be drinkable?”

Mr. Huang added that local official’s side with the factories. “There are many disputes but no evaluation from the Environmental Bureau. The head of the village phoned the Bureau and they said that they would deal with it. That was the year before last but it is not yet dealt with. What procrastination!”

A manager at the local Environmental Bureau told SOH, “We follow the laws for sure. But the law does not give us the right to shut down the production whenever.”
Another villager Mr. Dai said, “It is air and water pollution. The smell is terrible. Of course there is impact. Nearby trees have withered. Even fish can hardly survive in that river… We insist that they move. We have a thousand villagers. If they do not move, we will all appeal.”

Two families of farmers who lived outside the factory walls had died of illness. At present a few more cases of cancer and deformed babies were discovered among nearby residents.

Caden Pearson; Wen Fang; and Yu Yin of the SOH Radio Network.

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Millions affected by continued drought in southern China

Since the beginning of autumn, numerous regions in southern China have been affected by severe drought conditions. As a result, many rivers and reservoirs are experiencing their lowest water-levels in years. A large number of reservoirs are nearly depleted with local farmlands unable to access enough water for irrigation.

Since October this year, the water-level of the Xiang River in Hunan Province has dropped to its lowest level in history. According to the Xiang River Hydrometric Station, on October 6th, the water-level dropped four times to 24.95 meters, experts are predicting that the water-level will continue to drop in the near future. Over 1 million local residents will have difficulties accessing drinking water for the foreseeable future.

On September 16th the drought indicator showed that 87 counties and cities over the entire province are suffering severe drought conditions. Currently, 1.04 million acres of agricultural crops in fourteen cities are affected. Over 110 thousand acres of farmland will not produce any harvest this year. At least 1120 reservoirs, 380 thousand ponds and over 2100 rivers and creeks are depleted.

In nearby Guangdong province, average rain levels have decreased by over 14% this year. According to statistics from the Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, the affected farmland has increased from 139 thousand acres estimated on October 14th to the present 300 thousand acres, with the number of local population who are experiencing drinking water shortage also increasing to 230 thousand during this time.

In Anhui province, virtually no rain has fallen since September. According to local weather forecasts, the dry weather is set to continue for the following weeks. Local soil tests have shown that soil dehydration in the province has continued to escalate.

In the southern regions of Fujian Province, the dry season came during mid- August. As of October 20th, 5.85 million acres of farmland are experiencing severe drought, with over one million people affected, over 30 main reservoirs are also depleted.

At this current point in time, as much as 1.5 million acres of land across multiple provinces in southern China are affected by the drought. In addition, over 1.3 million people and hundreds of thousands of livestock cannot access enough drinking water.

Perry Luo of the SOH Radio Network

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Falun Gong practitioner, Zhang Ying was detained and tortured at a local police station for a 'confession'.

- Shanghai Falun Gong practitioner tortured and force-fed;

- Concerned netizens mapping pollution in China;

- 1,000 sacked bank protest in Beijing;

- Made in China segment.

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Shanghai Falun Gong practitioner tortured and force-fed
(0:58)

In Shanghai, 39 year old Falun Gong practitioner Zhang Ying has been kidnapped by the Public Security Bureau of Changning District. She was taken to the Xianxia Street Police Station where she was tortured, and was later force-fed in hospital after going on hunger strike.

Zhang Ying’s lawyer, Zhang Chuanli visited her last September and found her weak and unable to walk properly. Chuanli had applied to Court for bail so Ms. Zhang could receive medical treatment, his application was denied.

Zhang Chuanli told SOH:
(Recording) “On September 22nd, when I saw Zhang Ying in the prison hospital in Shanghai, she had to be supported when walking towards me. She’s unable to walk by herself and her health is very weak. According to Chinese law, the Public Security Bureau is still carrying out its investigation. Zhang Ying said she was tortured for a confession, which is why I have brought an action against the police on her behalf. Further, on September 30th, the security bureau told me Zhang Ying was formally under arrest. After that, as her lawyer, I made an application for bail, but it was refused.”

Zhang Ying’s mother, Ms Chu told SOH that Ms. Zhang was arrested by local police last month. Ms Chu and her husband have asked the security bureau’s Petitions Office about Zhang Ying.

Ms Chu told SOH:
(Recording) “The police illegally beat and arrest people. Zhang Ying was suspended and beaten by three officers. She lost consciousness soon after and her blood pressure was over 200 degrees. She was sent to hospital and we were told we couldn’t visit her for at least a month. It is now close to two months. The police told us to sue them. We only went to ask about her situation and instead they quarrelled with us, elderly people. You see how bad we feel, we can’t even sleep at night.”

According to Minghui.net, the officer in charge was Wei Liguang who had ordered three officers: Chen Ying, Zhu Fengming and Qian Jun to carry out the act.

Zhang Ying’s grandmother, Ms Zhou said after Zhang Ying was kidnapped and tortured, she went on hunger strike and was sent to hospital.

Ms Zhou said:
(Recording) “On September 8th, Zhang Ying came back from shopping when she was kidnapped by plainclothes police in front of our house. They didn’t show identification. She was sent to a detention centre where she was shackled and hung. She lost consciousness. After that she didn’t eat anything for many days and they sent her to the hospital to force-feed her. Now, we don’t know what her situation is and it has nearly been two months.”

Ms Zhou also said Zhang Ying had benefitted from Falun Gong. She told SOH:
(Recording) “She should have freedom of belief shouldn’t she? Actually, we better not talk about this here…After she started practicing, she became very healthy and kind to others. She respected the elderly. The police arrested her many times, and this is the fourth time. We call upon the international community to help rescue her.”

Chris Thomas; Lin Li; and Wang Zhen of the SOH Radio Network.

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Concerned netizens mapping pollution in China
(5:12)

Pictures taken by award-winning Chinese photographer Lu Guang entitled “Pollution in China” has helped inspire Chinese netizen Guo Baofeng of Fujian. Mr Guo, who has always been concerned about the environment, recently initiated a plan to map the pollution levels within China and the resulting map included dozens of severely polluted sites, which has since caught the attention of the outside world.

According to a report by Radio Free Asia, Mr Guo told reporters (recording):
“When I saw the pictures by Lu Guang, I was shocked; those pictures earned him the Oxford Smith Humanitarian Photography award. I was so impressed by that and had the idea of mapping those polluted sites on map, according to what he photographed. Another Internet friend of mine, Shuang Ye, also did something similar, in mapping cancer villages of China on a map. In fact, what I then did was to superimpose the two maps, and the geographic locations of the cancer villages and that of pollution seem to be very close to each other. It looks like that there are some connections between the two in China, in those most polluted areas.”

Rapid economic development has led to heavy environmental pollution in many parts of China, and environmentalists are unsatisfied with the official explanation that environment is the necessary cost of economic development. There have been several attempts by citizens of China to promote environmental protection, but their actions were suppressed by the authority. Last May, about 200 people staged a protest march against a large petrochemical project in Chengdu, Sichuan province, because of the severe, potential air and water pollutions by the plant. The authorities however, cracked down on the protestors and Mr. Chen Yunfei, a leading organiser, was arrested and tortured during his detention.

Since traditional ways of protecting citizens’ rights may lead to crackdown by the authority, Guo Baofeng and his friends initiated the idea of pollution mapping, in hope of getting more attentions from the outside world. Their map include investment projects in industrial parks in Wuhai City, Inner Mongolia; chemical waste in Taixing industrial park in Jiangsu province; Fanjiazhuang steel mill in Henan province, where “iron rain” falls everyday on the villagers; industrial waste water from Xiaoshan, Zhejiang province; petrochemical waste from Ma Anshan, Anhui province; industrial waste water from Zeng Miao, Inner Mongolia, and petrochemical waste water from Haimen, Jiangsu province.

Perry Luo; and He Wen of the SOH Radio Network.

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1,000 sacked bank protest in Beijing
(8:32)

On October 26th, at approximately 8am, 1,000 former bank employees gathered for a protest in Beijing. The protesters were staff members who were made redundant with very little financial compensation, from four major banks in China, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and the China Construction Bank. The gathering took place, in Beijing’s Xicheng county, at the International Convention Center Square.

According to witnesses, approximately 1,000 workers held banners, while they sang songs and shouted slogans. They protest attracted crowds of onlookers, who took photos. A witness told SOH, “There were about 1,000 people on the square, they sang international songs and so forth. Those people were from Shanghai, Liaoning, and Jilin, from everywhere. The onlookers all crowded up and many people photographed the scene”

Another witness said, “The banners read, ‘redundant workers strongly demand the government provides financial compensation’”.

Hundreds of officers from the General Security Division of the Beijing Police Department rushed to the scene, with a number of passenger buses, as well as Iveco police cars. Officers kidnapped and brutally beat the protesters, in attempt to disperse the crowd by force.

A witness said, “It was the police department and public security officers, on the first wave they took away six bus loads of protesters. At around 10am, they began to push people into the vehicles by brute force. They had two Iveco police vehicles, and two other police vehicles of another brand, that drove around the scene. After the first wave of people were taken away, the officers dispersed the crowd by force. ”

A witness also reported, “There were 7 or 8 officers, pulling and dragging people to the vehicles. They did not allow the people to speak, and those who refused to get in were pushed in before they suffered further beatings. It was open kidnapping, if they refused to get on the vehicle, they were just dragged and beaten. I say what kind of police is this? I think they act like thugs. Six of those big vehicles were completely filled. Some people fled, while the police chased them down like dogs.”

SOH reporters telephoned the General Security Division of the Beijing Police Department to inquire about the situation, but the officer on duty refused to make any adequate response. SOH recorded the telephone conversation with him, “I cannot answer your questions about this issue with the people.”

These workers were mostly 40 to 50 years of age. Made redundant after long service terms without medical insurance, pensioner’s funds and some were dismissed by force without any compensation. Dismissed bank staff from around the country have had numerous gatherings in Beijing in recent years, to request for their issues to be dealt with. However to date, they have received no reply from government departments or officials.

Caden Pearson; and Tian Xi of the SOH Radio Network.

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Freegate software continues improving to counter CCP efforts at censoring it.

- Shanghai family torn apart by eviction;

- New release of Free Gate allows unimpeded Internet access;

- Condemned for 10 years for their innocent belief.

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Shanghai family torn apart by eviction

(0:48)

In the Nanhui District, Shanghai government officials demolished Cao Xinren’s house and confiscated 180 square meters of land which was handed down from his ancestors. The officials further extorted thousands of Yuan and forced Cao and his family to live in government subsidized housing.

The demolition of Cao’s home was the catalyst for further hardships. Cao’s wife (a hospitality hostess) subsequently suffered a nervous breakdown and due to the financial difficulties their only son was forced to quit school at Tongji University.

Allegedly due to the nervous breakdown, Cao wife disappeared shortly thereafter. Cao states:
[Recording]“Now my son is looking for my wife together with me. There is no way to do any job. I’m having an extremely hard time right now. When he quit school, my son told them that my house was torn down, there is no place to live, I can’t find my mother, we have no money at all, and we can’t afford the tuition any more. My son was devastated.”

Cao tried to solve the problem through legal means. He has written more than 10 letters to the Shanghai government, but nobody paid any attention. Lawyers told Cao frankly that, the government and the courts collude with each other. There is no way to win the suit. Cao goes on to say:

[Recording]“I found a lawyer. He said you can not win in the lower court and intermediate court. The ‘Property Law’ doesn’t work. The court doesn’t accept cases about forced house demolition. They told me that this forced house demolition issue was colluded with government. You have no way to win the suit. You can only appeal to the government. If government wants to give you an answer, they will give one. If they don’t, you can wait till death. No solutions. The lawyers said my case was extremely legitimate, but there is no way to win the suit. Don’t waste your money. There are no words for such corruption.”

Cao stated angrily, that he has a government that doesn’t care about their people’s survival at all. Cao states:
[Recording]“Now what we can do? We have no solutions, no one to appeal to, and no one to help. Now what kind of government is that? I wrote more than ten letters to the mayor. They don’t pay attention at all. They have colluded with each other. The higher authorities transferred the responsibility to lower authorities. And the lower authorities transferred the responsibility to higher authorities. They won’t give me a reply. Who can uproot common people with total indifference like this?”

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New release of Free Gate allows unimpeded Internet access

(4:14)

Recently Wujie and Dynamic Internet Technology Inc. published their latest software, with enhanced anti-censorship functionality. Feedback from mainland Chinese Internet users indicates the software updates now allow unimpeded access to overseas websites.

SOH interviewed a number of mainland Chinese Internet user who have adopted the technology.

According to Mr Huang from Guizhou Province, the new Free Gate software allows reliable and fast Internet access. He said, “I have use the latest version 6.89 for three days, there is no hindrance, I feel it is very easy to use, particularly easy to use. I found this newest release from the 15th [of October], in Guiyang. I found it to be very good, and there’s no blockage. It opens instantly with nice speed. It feels like we have recovered the way we used to have Free Gate in the past. I feel it is very good to use.”

Mr Wong from Hebei said the new Free Gate software is very easy to use. He has found that it enables him to surf the Internet freely in Shijiazhuang as well as Beijing; at Internet cafes as well as his home. He said, “I have used just one, that new 89 version. It’s quite good to use, I have tried in Shijiazhuang, as well as Beijing city. Also at Internet cafes, and on personal computers. From what we see now, we feel the speed is quite good, quite fast.”

In an interview with SOH, a spokeperson of the Dynamic Internet Technology Inc, said that the company would continue to research and develop new technology. He said the company will continue to break through the Internet censorship under the Chinese Communist regime, and provide a free, reliable and safe channel of Internet access for the great Internet population in mainland China.

He said, “What we do is to try our best to integrate the various high end technologies we have, into this software, let everybody use it, and make its impact. For a period of time the censorship became more severe, so we quickly released some of the technology which we have continued to work on in the past, and various beta versions to collect feedback from our users. This also helped us to complete some of the technological development, and we were able to publish a more stable program. We are still continuing to work on this. The Chinese Communist regime has not let loose, it is continuing its censorship endeavors. While continuing to improve on our current technologies, will also continue to develop and provide new technology.”

Caden Pearson, Bo Ming, and Yu Yin of the SOH Radio Network.

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Condemned for 10 years for their innocent belief

(7:38)
In Weifang City, 100 Falun Gong practitioners were abducted in one day. Cao Junfeng was among them. She was illegally abducted from her home one week before the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) held the Olympic Games.

Due to lack of any evidence, the Procuratorate returned the case files twice to the public security office. On July 31, 2009, the court of Kuiwen district commenced proceedings. The defence attorney was not allowed to cross-examine the 45 copies of so-called evidence that was used to sue. He was also not allowed to finish statements made in her defense. The lawyer, Wen Haibo, said, the concerned party didn’t break any laws, but that the sentence applied wrong laws.

Wen Haibo [Recording]:”From the perspective of law, we think doing these things don’t go against the current Chinese laws or other related regulations. So we prepared a defence of innocence for the court. Viewing the result of this sentence, the attorney’s defence was not adopted by the court. Actually it is a wrong conclusion based on a wrong premise.”

On October 18, Cao Junping was illegally sentenced to 10 years in prison by Kuiwen district in the city of Weifang. Her defense attorney has appealed to a higher court. Cao Junping’s daughter, Pang Jin, who lives in America, is calling for international organizations to pay attention to the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Pang Jin told a SOH reporter that, at the beginning of October, the court told her relatives that the evidence is inadequate and that there is no way to pronounce a sentence. However, after several days, they handed down a serious sentence without regard for what they told her family. On the same day, Cao Junping’s sister Cao Junfeng was also sentenced to 9 years by Hanting district court.

Daughter Pang Jin [Recording]:”My elderly grandparents have not heard this news. Family members dare not tell them. We don’t know what their response will be if they hear that their two daughters were sentenced to 9 and 10 years respectively on the same day. It’s so cruel and bloody. I don’t know if such old people can bear this huge blow or not.”

According to Pang Jin, another Falun Gong practitioner who appeared in the same court as her aunt was sentenced for 4 years. Ms. Pang will call on American President Obama who is going to visit China, to urge CCP authorities to return Falun Gong practitioners’ freedom.

Pang Jin [Recording]:”When Obama visits China, I hope he can help to have my innocent mother and aunt released. For the past year, my heart is struggling in pain every day. Nobody should be persecuted due to their beliefs. The foundation of America… to establish this state… is the freedom of belief and human rights. Obama should convey this message to China.”

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

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Zhang Zanning (left) and Mo Shaoping (right) have spoken out against Guo Quan's ten-year prison sentence.

-         Falun Gong framed for Sichuan needle attacks

-         Guo Quan sentence against Chinese Constitution

-         Massacre at Baijia village over coal mine.

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Falun Gong framed for Sichuan needle attacks

Authorities in the cities of Nanchong and Guangan within the Sichuan Province have blamed Falun Gong practitioners for the recent spate of needle attacks in the region. Due to the public panic surrounding these incidents, a number of local Falun Gong practitioners have been detained without proof by local police.

A Mr. Wu from Nangchong City told reporters, during the evening of October 6th, an elderly lady in her seventies was arrested as a suspect to the attacks. Consequently a crowd gathered to protest, smashing police cars. He describes the show of force by police as “over the top” and did not believe the authorities had correctly handled the situation. He also believes that the police had been trying to smear the reputation of Falun Gong.

According to Mr. Wu, about a dozen locals had been arrested in connection to the attacks. He recalls (recording), “Previously there were also attacks in Pengan. Evidence is very important in any police matter. Now Falun Gong is blamed without evidence. There must be a scapegoat, right? The government can fabricate any crime they wish to. Nothing can get posted onto the internet with censorship. The entire internet has been censored. Common citizens have a long list of complaints over a whole host of issues. They now have no place to vent their grievances.”

An activist in Sichuan who wished to remain anonymous said that by framing Falun Gong, the Communist regime are aiming at inciting the public’s hatred towards Falun Gong, thus facilitating its crackdown.

He states (recording), “Falun Gong won’t do such a thing. Basically they are all under surveillance. Their every move is closely monitored. You can’t even leave your own home, or go alone onto the streets. What can you accomplish? But the government’s propaganda towards Falun Gong has helped facilitate its crackdown”

Perry Luo; Lin Li; and Dong Hai of the SOH Radio Network.

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Guo Quan sentence against Chinese Constitution

Mr. Guo Quan was sentenced to ten years in prison, and was charged with “subverting state power.” Law Professor Zhang Zanning believes that the judgement and charge against Guo Quan is against the constitution. The renowned law attorney Mo Shaoping also said there are intense disputes in the legal circle. Some attorneys believe the charge “subversion of state power” into legislations conflicts with the constitution and should be abolished.

When accepting an interview with Sound of Hope on October 17th, Professor Zhang Zanning said: “Guo Quan is innocent from a legal perspective. This is a contemporary version of convicting someone for being outspoken. From the perspective of law, it does not hold water. Doesn’t China’s constitution grant citizens the right of speech and the right of association? Therefore, this judgment is against the constitution.”

Professor Zhang Zanning further pointed out that it is untenable to say opposing the communist party is equal to opposing the state. When the Kuomintang government tried one of the early communist leaders Chen Duxiu more than seventy years ago, the Chinese communist party itself denounced this statement. Presently, the communist party uses the same statement to punish those dissidents who oppose the communist party.

Zhang Zanning said: “In actuality, they use a double standard. It is very unfair to use double standards and there is no sensible reasoning to speak of. As of now, I haven’t seen any well-defined and rational explanation for the crime of subverting state power, be it from the Supreme Court, or from related legal textbooks. I haven’t seen any definition or explanation so far.”

The renowned criminal law attorney Mo Shaoping says there are always disputes amongst lawyers over the incorporation of this charge into the legislation. The focus of the dispute is whether these two charges are against the constitutional rights of freedom of association and freedom of speech.

Mo Shaoping said: “Article 165 of the criminal law of the People’s Republic of China defines the so-called crime of subverting state power. Then how do you define the constitutional rights of freedom of speech? Those who take it seriously point out that the legislation of the crime “inciting subversion of state power” is against the constitution and should be abolished. Then with regard to his founding of a political party, how do you define the freedom of association as stipulated in the constitution? The argument which takes it one step further is that the crime of subverting state power with current criminal law is contradictory to the freedom of association as constitutional rights for citizens, and thus should be abolished as well.”

Professor Zhang Zanning said, Guo Lianhu and Si Weijiang, the attorneys for Guo Quan, in their defense statements, explained why the statement of “subverting state power” does not hold water, and their reasoning is simple and straightforward.

Zhang Zanning said: “What is a state? A state is the people, the land. Actually, a state cannot be subverted. Then who is a state? It can be compared to a real estate owner. Then who is a ruling party? It can be compared to a real estate management company. As the owner, he has the right to select the management company. If you do not do a good job in management, as the owner, I have the right to fire you. So the conviction of subverting state power in the case of Guo Quan does not hold at all.”

In the past decade, there has grown a long list of Chinese citizens accused of inciting subversion of state power by the Chinese communist regime. However, there have always been scholars who write joint open letters, requesting the authorities to abolish these two criminal charges.

Chris Thomas; Li Yifei; and Li Yang of the SOH Radio Network.

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Massacre at Baijia village over coal mine
On the 12th of October, death visited Baijia village. It hacked several villagers apart. A bloody massacre in China’s North East Shanxi Province. News of the incident has been blocked by the Communist authorities.

The Epoch Times newspaper exclusively obtained pictures of the bloody aftermath.

Warning: the following image is graphic.

The Epoch Times reported that some 100 thugs attacked the villagers with sticks, knives and petrol on the west side of the local mine. Four people died, 17 are in hospital, and two are in a critical condition.

The village once shared ownership of the local coal mine. According to residents, the mine was sold privately in a deal made by local officials without the approval of other villagers. For six months villagers camped out in front of the mine, effectively stopping any resources being extracted.

Eyewitnesses say they saw one victim, Hao Tuzhao, get run down by a car, breaking his skull and spilling his blood instantly. Hao’s wife and children are angered and aggrieved.

Hao Tuzhao’s wife told the Epoch Times, “My husband is still lying on the road, even now. He was hacked to death. It is a tragic sight.”

On the 15th another villager told Epoch Times that local police had already cleaned up the murder site. Residents say they do not feel safe and are afraid and insecure.

Caden Pearson; Yang Lin; Gu Qinger of the SOH Radio Network.

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Democracy activist Guo Quan has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment.

- CCP sentences Guo Quan to ten years;

- Human rights lawyer determined with their cause.

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CCP sentences Guo Quan to ten years

On October 16th at 2pm, Suqian Court secretly sentenced Guo Quan to ten years for inciting the overthrow of the state. Quan was an associate professor at the College of Arts in Nanjing Normal University. In 2007, he wrote open letters to the leaders of the CCP, Chairman Hu Jintao, and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, calling for reform of the constitutional government. In 2008, he established China New Democracy Party. Guo also wrote articles to criticize the gerry-rigged construction of the schools in Sichuan earthquake-stricken areas.

Guo Quan’s mother, Ms. Gu Xiao got a call from Guo’s defense attorney after the sentencing. She immediately contacted the Nanjing Police Station, demanding the release of the judgment report to Guo’s relatives. She also demanded to visit Guo after the judgment becomes effective. Guo was originally detained in November 2008. It has been one year since Gu Xiao has been allowed to see her son.

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Human rights lawyer determined with their cause

The Chinese Communist judicial administration used its annual audit to strip the licenses of Chinese human rights lawyers who represent minorities. Most were lawyers handling cases concerning the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. SOH reporters interviewed several of these lawyers on October 13th, after they had been forced to stop work for four months. The lawyers told SOH reporters that their qualifications still hold, and that they are not about to give up their rights to the profession.

These lawyers have pointed out that the Chinese Communist Political Bureau has directly intervened with the judicial administration, and participated in the persecution of lawyers representing Falun Gong practitioners.

Lawyer Liu Wei, former co-owner of the Shunhe Legal Firm in Beijing, was asked to leave the firm during an audit in order for the firm to obtain its operational license.

Liu, who refused the request and questioned the intentions of the judicial administration had this to say (recording)

“The judicial administration does not discuss the actual issue. Whether it be the judicial office, or my partners at the firm, none of them want to take on the responsibility. We are now in a “cold war” state, but I cannot continue my work, neither can the other lawyers. The judicial administration has asked for myself and Wen Haibo to resign, and, if we did not leave, there will be conflict that would still originate from the judicial administration.”

Lawyer Wei Liangyue from Heilongjiang Province also accepted a Falun Gong case. In March 2009, he was illegally arrested and detained at Harbin’s Nangang District Police Department. The provincial judicial administration subsequently withheld his professional license through the annual audit, and claimed that the 6.10 office in Harbin directly intervened in his case. The 6.10 office even intended to cancel his lawyer’s qualifications. Wei recently requested the return of his license, in order to take on a drug-related case, but was again refused.

Wei had this to say (recording)

“He said to me, ‘…because the judicial administration also knows about your defense of the innocence of Falun Gong, your matter is not something under our control. After your awaited trial is complete, I will give you the license immediately, without delay.’ So you can see, it is the bad conduct of the 6.10 office, which operates completely outside of the law. Yet legally, they really have no place to stand. The matters including Nangang branch office’s handling of the case, as well as the inability for lawyers to acquire normal operational licenses, this has all been caused by the 6.10 office.”

Lawyer Cheng Hau, former staff at the Anhui Legal Firm in Beijing, saw that each of the recommendation papers he had received from the judicial administration, involved the cases he had accepted for Falun Gong practitioners. He once assisted Anhui Firm in submitting 14 papers with recommendations for administrative reconsiderations to various government departments, and asked to correct the illegal conduct of the judical administration. Currently, in order to obtain the lawyer’s license, Cheng has left Anhui Legal Firm in hopes of starting his own legal firm.
Cheng said (recording)

“Human rights is something one must fight for, and the law will not enforce itself automatically. Many lawyers have this illusion, as if others automatically behave according to the law. I would pursue any conduct that violates the law. Without learning the punishments, it would develop, and eventually turn this illegal conduct toward other people.”

The list of persecuted human rights lawyers includes internationally renowned human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who has endured severe persecution and tortures and is still missing; lawyer Wang Yongchang – detained for 70 days; Lawyer Li Heping – who suffered inhumane tortures and lost his personal freedom; and Liu Shihui -who was forced to stop work for six months.

Keith Ware; Li Yifei; and Ai Xin of the SOH Radio Network.

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Chinese people await the vaccination for H1N1 influenza.

-  Price of H1N1 vaccine leaps after first death;

-  Locals dismayed at imminent war in northern Burma;

-  Unlawful prosecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

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Price of H1N1 vaccine leaps after first death

On Tuesday the Tibetan Autonomous Region’s Health Ministry reported that a patient with H1N1 flu died on October 4^th. It was the first reported swine flu death in China. In Sichuan Province, it’s been reported that a number of hospitals have raised the cost of the H1N1 vaccine in the wake of the outbreak.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention verified on Tuesday the first H1N1 flu death in mainland China. It follows a spike in reported cases around the country. Pharmacy owner Mr Li from Sichuan says there are many H1N1 cases in Mianyang city. While vaccine shortages have pushed the price up, it’s still cheaper to get the vaccine from a pharmacy than from a hospital.

Mr Li said there were over 100 cases in Mianyang. Basically each vaccine shot costs 50 Yuan, three shots is 150 Yuan. It can boost people’s immunity, that’s why it’s popular. If you get the shots in hospital, each shot is over 100 Yuan. The vaccine supplies ran out a few days ago. Now the prices go up every month. Ten days ago it was 45 Yuan, now it is 50.

In Sichuan province, there have been reports of widespread H1N1 outbreaks in local schools. Many colleges have begun quarantining school and the traditional October vacation has been cancelled. Some middle schools which suspended classes in September have since resumed. Parents are complaining about the information blockade by authorities.

A teacher from Mianyang said there was one case in the school and the school has now been closed for people’s safety. Students are prohibited from going out. The middle schools have also gone on break. First was Mianyang Cultural Middle School, now Mianyang School has resumed classes. Also, there are rumours of needle attacks in Nanchong. Currently students are not allowed to discuss these matters; all school gates are guarded by teachers and security guards.

A parent of a Beichuan Middle School student, Mr Yang said the Mianyang Canghong Training Centre, Beichuan Middle School and High School all apparently have bad conditions. The students all say there are no cases of fever, but there are actually many cases. Last month a few students were taken to the hospital. The school would not let them go, the students are only allowed out on October 15. To pay the school fees we need to make a phone call and wait for the teachers to notify us before the students can come to the gate. The school has banned the use of telephones.

One Mianyang resident commented on the situation:
“I feel that this rate of transmission is rather fast. The students in Beichuan Middle school, because it’s closed off, it’s not so serious. However the school in Leigu, the teachers have organised to purchase at thermometer for each student. The schools are closed off, and there are not really anyone going in and out.”

So far 76 schools in Sichuan province have reported a total of 500 cases. The tally for the province stands at 706. 71% of those affected are found in schools.

Daniel Teng; Wang Qian; and Xi Wen of the SOH Radio Network.

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Locals dismayed at imminent war in northern Burma

Combat in Northern Burma is imminent following Burmese Army occupation of Guogan at the end of August, and movement of its 33rd Division elite troops to the front lines. Local Chinese are anxious, especially those who live far from the border between Burma and China, who will have nowhere to flee once fighting starts.

Mr. Zhou is a Chinese from Laxu, a traffic hub and goods distributing center in Northern Burma where Dian Mian Public Road and China India Public Road share a common boundary, closely connecting China, Yunnan, and India.

Mr. Zhou had this to say:

Mr. Zhou [Recording]: “In districts such as Guogan on this side of the border, Qingshui River, and Nandeng that are near the old street in Guogan, once the war breaks out, people still can escape to China to keep them away from the war. But people in Laxu have a long way to go. Chaos caused by war will also happen. Chinese’s psychological status is panic. We don’t want to stay here with such a high likelihood of war.”

Mr. Zhou said that, since the Burmese Army occupied Guogan, the situation in Northern Burma has become frightening.

Mr. Zhou [Recording]: “After the war chaos at Guogan, people’s mental state has been unstable. Around 7pm every evening, it’s quite difficult to see an ordinary person walking on the streets. Two thirds of the local Chinese residents are people from Yunnan Province. Now they can’t leave even though they want to. All of them were born and grew up here. Basically we’ve never been given rights to citizenship. So these Chinese have basically been suppressed by the government due to their lack of citizenship status.”

Qi Lin, a Chinese from Guogan, told a reporter that she has seen many indications that war is iminant.

Qi Lin [Recording]: “Relatives of members of the Burmese military are all secretly emigrating or being taken to safe places. Tanks have been mobilized to Dangyang and Jingdong. Laxu is an airbase in first-class combat readiness. Before, the one fighting for Guogan was the 33rd division which used to suppress Burmese protesters. Now this division has all been transferred to the front line.”

Qi Lin also stated, before October 1 Burma Army has already finished disposition of their troops. If two sides can’t reach an agreement, attacking Wabang would be imperative.

Qi Lin [Recording]:”They seemed to finish troop disposition early. Then, this time, Burma asked Wabang and Guogan to accept reorganization. In other words, 30 Burmese military officers will be assigned to each camp. Wabang couldn’t accept this. The Burmese government has already given up negotiations with Wabang.”

Donna Ware; Lin Li; and Wang Zhen of the SOH Radio Network

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Unlawful prosecution of Falun Gong practitioners

Two Falun Gong practitioners Li Yaohua and daughter, Zhang Yibo, were unlawfully taken from their home in Shanghai by the Public Security sub-bureau and are facing illegal prosecution. At present, they are still detained in Xuhui District Detention Centre.

Her son, Zhang Ziyuan who teaches at the University of California, appealed for bail but was rejected without reason by the authorities. He called for a stop to the evil dictatorship of the Chinese communist regime.

Mr Ziyuan cannot understand why authorities illegally arrested and detained Falun Gong practitioners.

He said [Recording]“They arrested those people, who are better than good people; firstly they cannot justify the reason, secondly, according to its own Constitution in mainland China, it is impossible to justify, because the Constitution provides the rights to its people so that people can have freedom of belief and religions. Then why can we not believe in Falun Gong? Thus from now on we will start to demand the release of my mother and sister, without guilt, immediately.”

He had been demanding the release of his mother and sister from the Xuhui District government; however there was no outcome regardless of the avenue he went through.

[Record] He said, “At present, regardless of how many phone calls we make, the only response is the phone being hung-up as soon as I mentioned my mother’s and sister’s name. Sometimes they even said some malicious words to me after I had called many times. Furthermore we wanted to go for bail. As soon as our case was passed to the prosecutor’s office, we immediately put forward the request for bail. Xu Zhenghui is the prosecutor who undertook the case. After about ten days, he rejected our application. He did not even detail any legal reason for the rejection; furthermore we felt that it is unfair as it did not accord with the law. We had one more right to appeal, however they directly denied that right.”

According to Mr Ziyuan the Chinese Communist Authorities did not look at the people’s standpoint and did not work for the people but stand in opposition, even persecuting the people.

[Record] “All my family is in Shanghai; they are Chinese citizens and should be treated with rationality and legitimacy. Another thing is that we felt our basic human rights have been seriously infringed upon. During the arrest, they just break into people’s houses as they wish; they take away anything that they want. Our basic rights have been violated and we feel that our personal freedom has been violated. I hope that they can return our personal freedom and protect our safety,” he said.

Lawyer Zhang Zhuanli said, that in accordance with China’s constitution, the evidence of the prosecutor’s office should be examined before being passed to the court, if there is not enough evidence, it should be dismissed. However until now the prosecutor’s office has given no clear decision.

Matthew Ytsma; Lin Li; and Zhao Ziyun of the SOH Radio Network.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(To know more please listen to our podcast)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Residents now mostly get their water from wells.

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

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

Caden Pearson, SOH, Brisbane

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Daughter fights for murdered fathers rights

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Threat of civil war escalating in Burma

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Dissidents under surveillance during China’s National Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By SOH reporter Tian Xi.

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Relatives of FLG practitioners send open letter for help

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Hackers attack Chinese rights website

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Linfen Christians were attacked and had their property damaged and stolen (Provided by Fushan Church).

- Christians in Linfen attacked by police and thugs;
- Local officials sell public school, residents can’t afford tuition;
- Home satellite receivers banned in China.

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Christians in Linfen, Shanxi attacked by police and thugs

About 100 Christian family members were confronted on the night of September 13th by over 400 Chinese police and hired thugs. They were attacked, with more than ten members of the so-called ‘Fushan County Church Families’, being injured, and ten houses destroyed. The attack took place in Fushan County of Linfen City.

Yang Hongzhen, a Christians from Fushan, witnessed the whole scene. She recalled what happened, and while still shaken up, spoke to our SOH reporter. She said the construction of the ‘Gospel Shoes Factory’ in Fushan province is being managed by a Christian. Originally it was intended to make shoes at normal times, but during Christmas, Easter and other large festivities, members of the Church could use it for prayer and worship.

However, in the past month the local Bureau of Education and the Trade and Industry Bureau ordered construction on the factory be halted. On September 13th, authorities turned off the factory’s communications and water and power supplies. They sent 400 police and hired thugs to suppress over 100 unarmed church members. Many members of the Church were injured, while many homes and household items were damaged. Bibles, clothing, mobile phones and money were also stolen.

The ‘Shanxi Church Families’ group, believe the beatings, smashing, and lootings were all organised single-handedly by Shanxi authorities. Yang Hongzhen says she witnessed police officers instruct villagers to beat Church family members. After the incident, authorities have maintained a presence. In the past two days, a number of road junctions have been closed, to prevent access to Church members.

Fushan County Christian members have filmed the aftermath of the incident. They captured footage of thousands of Christians weeping and praying in heavy rain for four to five hours. This footage has been uploaded onto the internet as evidence of the crackdown by the Communist regime.

There are more than 30 towns and townships in Linfen City, with over 50 to 60 thousand church members. Locals have previously suffered two incidents involving local authorities suppressing church members. Several members were injured in those earlier encounters.

Fu Qiuxi, the President of the China Aid Association strongly condemned the Communist regimes so-called ‘bloody suppression; and labeled their acts as atrocities.

The above was brought to you by SOH reporters Fu Ming and Si Ming for
Inside China.

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Local officials sell public school, residents can’t afford tuition

Residents from several villages in Chengdu city, in earthquake-affected Sichuan Province, are upset that their local public schools have become private. Now many people cannot afford to send their children to school.

Rights activist Chen Yunfei said in Tongji Town say the local Party branch sold the Peng Zhou First Middle School. The school now charges tuition which violates the 9-year compulsory education regulation.

Chen Yunfei said [Recording]: “Children in stricken regions need to go to school. They were accepted into the First Middle School in Peng Zhou. According to their [the Communist Party's] claim that they implement nine years of compulsory education, they shouldn’t charge us. However they sold the school out and divided it into private shares. Those officials in the Education Department all have shares in this school. Then they charge those kids. One kid pays ten thousand yuan. Whoever has grades under the admission grade pay 17 or 18 thousand yuan. Nine-year compulsory education means they shouldn’t charge money, but they do. From 2003, they… ask ordinary people to pay continuously.”

This is a further blow to residents who were adversely affected by the May 2008, earthquake in Sichuan Province. Residents in the area have been waiting for construction to be completed on housing. However the construction has been continuously delayed. First promised to be completed after 100 days, but it has now been over 400 days.

Rights activist Chen Yunfei said, Recording]: “The previous construction boss told people 100 days when bidding for this project. The result is, he didn’t finish building after 300 or even 400 days. Now he has postponed again until next January. Besides this, he promised to give us 300 yuan every month which he didn’t fulfil either. This shows that he speaks in bad faith. It’s probable that he can’t finish it next January either. I feel very angry. Besides he doesn’t even have contracts for the houses he is in charge of. No construction start date. No construction completion date. This is totally fooling people.”

Chen Yunfei also claimed the houses built were of such poor quality that no one could live in them.

Chen Yunfei [Recording]: “That construction company is a large company… They built dilapidated houses before people can move in. Then they built for the second time. But the houses became dilapidated buildings again which are cracking. People can’t accept it. But those builders stopped. Now the houses have been left there.”

By SOH reporter Wang Qian and Yi Fan and Caden Pearson.

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Home satellite receivers banned in China

A press spokesman of the National General Bureau of Radio, Film and Television has recently emphasized again at a press conference that individuals are not allowed to install and use satellite earth receiving facilities. In order to strictly control the receiving of satellite programs, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party)has published the”Satellite Television and Radio Earth Receiving Facility Administration and Regulation” and the “Satellite Television and Radio Earth Receiving Facility Installation Service Temporal Methods.” Many people have complained about this. On September 16, some people from Shandong told our reporter that, before October 1, the CCP published this “Regulation”, which essentially disobeys constitutional law by depriving people of their right to know and freedom to watch and hear.

In the early 90’s, CCP authorities started to limit individuals installing satellite television and radio receiving facilities. If violators are found, not only are their facilities are dismantled, they recieve punishment.

The Economics Weekly’s former vice chief editor Ms. Gao Yu said [Recording]: “Ordinary people are not able to do that. If your home installs that “pan”(receiving facility), police will come at once, confiscate it, and fine you. The fine may be as high as 5000 yuan or so.”

The regime monopolizes the right of relay broadcasting to block overseas news coming into China. In order to learn more truth, people in Mainland China use satellite television and radio receiving facilities for overseas video, which makes the CCP panic. Whenever sensitive issues arise, the Chinese regime works harder on blocking the information, and conducts “Pan Breaking” action.

Sun Wenguang, a retired professor from Shandong University, pointed out that the reason the government makes so many “regulations” is because they are afraid of people knowing the real news and information. [Recording]: “The CCP blocks news. Now they take any measures to cut these channels. They don’t allow you to install receiving facilities. Then you are forced to listen and watch domestic, strictly CCP controlled television broadcasting information. After along time this results in people having a one sided listening environment.”

Professor Sun thinks that what the CCP has done violates constitutional law and the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And that people should have the right to know and to receive information. However the authorities block news and don’t let people come into contact with overseas information, which is depriving them of their right to know.

By SOH reporter Guo Liang and Yu Lian

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

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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’.

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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.

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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!”

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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.”

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