Clothes stolen from homeless in Beijing
Source: Xinhua |
January 10, 2013, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
The theft of homeless people's belongings in downtown Beijing has prompted an outcry over the need to protect their rights.
A group of more than 50 uniformed, but so far unidentified, individuals took the possessions of the homeless people who were staying on a street near the Yongdingmen long-distance bus station last Saturday, witnesses confirmed yesterday.
"They forcibly took away quilts, winter clothing and packs of instant noodles that were donated by volunteers," said a bus driver who witnessed the incident.
The driver said the "thieves" were brought to the scene in vehicles bearing insignia indicating they were "chengguan," a term for Chinese urban management officers whose primary job is to clear the streets of illegal vendors.
Some of the victims voiced their grievances to Yu Jianrong, a Beijing-based social researcher who launched an online campaign last month calling on citizens to donate quilts and winter clothing to help the homeless survive the bitter winter.
Beijing is experiencing its coldest winter in decades, with temperatures dropping to minus 15 degrees Celsius.
"An elderly man called me on Sunday and asked for help. He gave his name as Dong Jiangai," said Yu. "He said he was freezing and asked me to save him."
Dong, 70, said his bedding had been taken by the chengguan, adding that he was warned by the officers to leave the area.
A Dongcheng District government official denied the accusations, saying the officers took only "waste and garbage," and not any coats or quilts.
The official said they often received reports from residents complaining that vagrants blocked sidewalks with their bedding.
"We launched a 'clean-up and aid' campaign on Saturday along with the civil affairs department, public security bureau and the environmental protection agency," the official said.
Officers found more than 20 homeless people in the area and tried to persuade them to move away. "Most people left. One of them said he wanted to go home, so we bought him a train ticket."
However, most homeless say they have no choice but to sleep on the streets.
"I don't know where to go. I can only find another street corner to avoid being thrown into an asylum and eventually sent back home. I prefer it here because I have no family left in my hometown," said Li Zhen.
Similar thefts have been reported in other cities. In 2010, about 200 migrant workers had their bedding forcibly taken away in central China's Zhengzhou.
A similar incident occurred in Changsha, also in central China, on Monday.
"No one has the right to take away a law-abiding citizen's personal belongings, nor urban management officers or other officials," Yu said.
The government has a duty to provide real help for the homeless, he said.
Shenzhen University professor Wang Yongcheng said: "Cities should be more tolerant of vagrants and beggars. Disadvantaged people are found in every city around the world. Local governments need to step up efforts to help them instead of turning them away."
A group of more than 50 uniformed, but so far unidentified, individuals took the possessions of the homeless people who were staying on a street near the Yongdingmen long-distance bus station last Saturday, witnesses confirmed yesterday.
"They forcibly took away quilts, winter clothing and packs of instant noodles that were donated by volunteers," said a bus driver who witnessed the incident.
The driver said the "thieves" were brought to the scene in vehicles bearing insignia indicating they were "chengguan," a term for Chinese urban management officers whose primary job is to clear the streets of illegal vendors.
Some of the victims voiced their grievances to Yu Jianrong, a Beijing-based social researcher who launched an online campaign last month calling on citizens to donate quilts and winter clothing to help the homeless survive the bitter winter.
Beijing is experiencing its coldest winter in decades, with temperatures dropping to minus 15 degrees Celsius.
"An elderly man called me on Sunday and asked for help. He gave his name as Dong Jiangai," said Yu. "He said he was freezing and asked me to save him."
Dong, 70, said his bedding had been taken by the chengguan, adding that he was warned by the officers to leave the area.
A Dongcheng District government official denied the accusations, saying the officers took only "waste and garbage," and not any coats or quilts.
The official said they often received reports from residents complaining that vagrants blocked sidewalks with their bedding.
"We launched a 'clean-up and aid' campaign on Saturday along with the civil affairs department, public security bureau and the environmental protection agency," the official said.
Officers found more than 20 homeless people in the area and tried to persuade them to move away. "Most people left. One of them said he wanted to go home, so we bought him a train ticket."
However, most homeless say they have no choice but to sleep on the streets.
"I don't know where to go. I can only find another street corner to avoid being thrown into an asylum and eventually sent back home. I prefer it here because I have no family left in my hometown," said Li Zhen.
Similar thefts have been reported in other cities. In 2010, about 200 migrant workers had their bedding forcibly taken away in central China's Zhengzhou.
A similar incident occurred in Changsha, also in central China, on Monday.
"No one has the right to take away a law-abiding citizen's personal belongings, nor urban management officers or other officials," Yu said.
The government has a duty to provide real help for the homeless, he said.
Shenzhen University professor Wang Yongcheng said: "Cities should be more tolerant of vagrants and beggars. Disadvantaged people are found in every city around the world. Local governments need to step up efforts to help them instead of turning them away."
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