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Behind the tragic self-immolation
Source: Xinhua |
December 8, 2009, Tuesday
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THE death of a woman who set herself on fire to protest the demolition of her home has aroused public concern over the actions of law enforcement authorities.
Tang Fuzhen, 47, died on November 29 in a hospital in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, 16 days after she doused herself in petrol and set herself alight on the roof of her three-story house in Jinniu District.
Her relatives and neighbors who witnessed the event said Tang intended to scare away thee people who broke into to her home at 5am on November 13.
"There were dozens of them, some were dressed in camouflage utility shirts and others were holding clubs or shields, striking everyone who was in the way," said Tang's niece, Wei Jiao, who was staying with her.
The house, built in 1996 by Tang and her husband, Hu Changming, a private business owner, was an "illegal building," according to the Chengguan, the security and urban administration arm of the local government, in Jinniu District.
"Tang mobilized more than 10 relatives to violently resist the demolition work, which was done in accordance with law," Ma Xu, a top official of Jinniu District, told a press conference last Thursday. "They threw Molotov cocktails, bricks and stones at the law enforcement officers and poured petrol in their way."
Ma said the Chengguan officers had tried to stop Tang from setting herself on fire, but were stopped from approaching her. Tang's relatives rebutted Ma's claims. "The confrontation lasted almost three hours before she set herself alight. Fire-fighters were at the site and they had the equipment to prevent her from starting the fire in the first place," said Wei Jiao.
Ma Xu said Tang's house in Jinhua Village was illegal because Tang and her husband never obtained a deed or a permit for land use.
Hu Changming and his wife were said to have built the house as the base of their family's garment factory at the request of the village committee.
In an agreement with the couple in 1996, the village committee promised to obtain a title deed for the couple within six months, but never did.
The local government decided to dismantle the house to make way for a new road in 2005, and offered 900,000 yuan in compensation, which the couple refused. Last year, authorities increased the offer to 2.17 million yuan, but still no agreement was reached.
Professor Zhou Wei of Sichuan University law school said the tragedy revealed a lack of respect for life. "In such cases, authorities must respect lives and consider the consequences, instead of testing other people's limits."
Beijing-based lawyer Liu Yajun said the local government had broken the law with the forced demolition. "If the government thinks the house is illegal and its owners refuse to move out, it should take legal action and let the court decide who is right.
China passed a property law in 2007 with a new emphasis on the protection of private property. But disputes over home demolition for development projects are still common in many cities. Some even escalate into massive sit-ins and conflicts.
Tang Fuzhen, 47, died on November 29 in a hospital in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, 16 days after she doused herself in petrol and set herself alight on the roof of her three-story house in Jinniu District.
Her relatives and neighbors who witnessed the event said Tang intended to scare away thee people who broke into to her home at 5am on November 13.
"There were dozens of them, some were dressed in camouflage utility shirts and others were holding clubs or shields, striking everyone who was in the way," said Tang's niece, Wei Jiao, who was staying with her.
The house, built in 1996 by Tang and her husband, Hu Changming, a private business owner, was an "illegal building," according to the Chengguan, the security and urban administration arm of the local government, in Jinniu District.
"Tang mobilized more than 10 relatives to violently resist the demolition work, which was done in accordance with law," Ma Xu, a top official of Jinniu District, told a press conference last Thursday. "They threw Molotov cocktails, bricks and stones at the law enforcement officers and poured petrol in their way."
Ma said the Chengguan officers had tried to stop Tang from setting herself on fire, but were stopped from approaching her. Tang's relatives rebutted Ma's claims. "The confrontation lasted almost three hours before she set herself alight. Fire-fighters were at the site and they had the equipment to prevent her from starting the fire in the first place," said Wei Jiao.
Ma Xu said Tang's house in Jinhua Village was illegal because Tang and her husband never obtained a deed or a permit for land use.
Hu Changming and his wife were said to have built the house as the base of their family's garment factory at the request of the village committee.
In an agreement with the couple in 1996, the village committee promised to obtain a title deed for the couple within six months, but never did.
The local government decided to dismantle the house to make way for a new road in 2005, and offered 900,000 yuan in compensation, which the couple refused. Last year, authorities increased the offer to 2.17 million yuan, but still no agreement was reached.
Professor Zhou Wei of Sichuan University law school said the tragedy revealed a lack of respect for life. "In such cases, authorities must respect lives and consider the consequences, instead of testing other people's limits."
Beijing-based lawyer Liu Yajun said the local government had broken the law with the forced demolition. "If the government thinks the house is illegal and its owners refuse to move out, it should take legal action and let the court decide who is right.
China passed a property law in 2007 with a new emphasis on the protection of private property. But disputes over home demolition for development projects are still common in many cities. Some even escalate into massive sit-ins and conflicts.
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