China evicts families in Beijing

[dArKeR]

A woman was injured as at least 100 police officers began forcefully evicting families from a neighborhood in east Beijing yesterday despite new laws in China protecting private property.

Police surrounded three one-story old brick homes in the Nanyingfang neighborhood of Chaoyang district yesterday morning as moving crews piled the belongings of the unwilling home-owners onto vans.

One middle-aged woman was brought out of her home covered in blood, the cause of her injuries was unclear. Several residents from another home were pulled out and shoved into a police van.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/11/16/2003211284

[bobbieinok]

1. that is some story...combine communism and capitalism and get

the worst of both

[troubleinwinter]

2. I was in Beijing a year ago.

I know these neighborhoods, and what is happening there. It is heartbreaking. These are tiny 1-2 room homes that have been occupied for many, many generations, hundreds of years old. It is not only about the small family homes, but neighbors and neighborhoods.

It is a horrid dilemma. The homes that are demo'ed are truly substandard, without water or bathrooms. They are to be replaced with housing for many more people (high rise apts.), with modern conveniences.

This is a very big argument between the city residents and the government. History and tradition vs. modernization.

These are beautiful historical buildings. And a lovely historical culture of close neighbors. We would regard them as very poor housing, but the people regard them as THEIRS, and they are perfectly clean, despite the lack of modern conveniences.

I would prefer that the Gov't build their new highrise housing further towards the edge of town and leave the ancient historical neighborhoods. So would the residents.