Hu Yan (Right) with supporters outside UN New York Headquarters
“This is the China hidden behind the great firewall of Chinese censorship and media control.” Initiatives for China President, Yang Jianli
Washington, D.C. April 27, 2010. Hu Yan, a determined, young Chinese mother of an infant daughter, takes her five-year battle against forced eviction to the United Nations in New York. She will camp out across the street from the UN in a tent called “The Hidden Shanghai Expo.” Mrs. Hu also sent a letter detailing her ordeal to UN Secretary General. (See complete text of letter following this release)
Hu Yan’s struggle against the Chinese bureaucracy began five years ago when her home was demolished to make way for the 2010 Shanghai Expo, which will open on May 1st. City authorities offered no compensation or relocation assistance to her or the tens of thousands of other displaced citizens.
Her five-year battle has been a series of legal dead ends. One official from the Shanghai Expo Bureau told her to take her grievance to Beijing with a flippant note that said “Beijing is the capital of China. Beijing welcomes you.” In another note the official, Mr. Zhang, said,”You can get a passport and petition your case to the UN.” So earlier this month she came to New York, seeking justice at the UN headquarters. Last week she visited Washington D.C. With the help of the pro-democracy movement, Initiatives for China, Mrs. Hu was able to organize a protest in front of the White House.
According to Dr. Yang Jianli, Harvard Fellow and President of Initiatives for China, Mrs. Hu’s case highlights the difficulties that Chinese citizens face in the absence of the rule of law in China. “While Chinese law forbids forced evictions, the reality is that the courts in China report into the ruling communist party,” he said.
“Party officials make the rules as they see fit,” Dr. Yang said. “The ordinary citizen has no recourse. Hu Yan wants the world to know that the Shanghai Expo is built on the crushed homes of thousands of innocent families discarded as so much garbage. This is the China hidden behind the great firewall of Chinese censorship and media control.”
Hu Yan seeks reasonable compensation for the demolition of her house and the destruction of her private possessions. She will be camping out across the street from the UN building everyday between 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Hu Yan will inform the public of her schedule change ahead of time via her Twitter feed (@shanghaihuyan) and blog. Those living in the NYC area are asked to visit Hu Yan there. For those visiting New York, please show your support for Hu Yan by making the UN Square one of your destinations.
Initiatives for China asks supporters of Hu Yan to get involved as concerned citizens. Chinese citizens are urged to write letters of support to Yiabo, chinaeweekly@inbox.com
International citizens are urged to write letters of support to their preferred media and to use Facebook and Twitter to spread the word. The contacts below can be used for further information.
Chinese media, please contact Hu Yan at (646) 522-8122 or huyanexpo@gmail.com
U.S. media, contact Jim Geheran at 202.290.1423 or jgeheran@initiativesforchina.org
New York based media, please contact Mr. Cao Jintao at (917) 292-7348 or cao1102@gmail.com.
French media, please contact Mr. Wang Longmeng at +33 (0)6 3087 8405 or wanglongmeng@hotmail.com.
Japanese media, please contact Mr. Liu Yanxin at +81 9063475138 or nogawa181@hotmail.co.jp.
German media please contact Mr. Fei Liangyong at +49-911-223820 or fei@fdc64.de.
For interviews to be conducted in other languages, please contact Hu Yan and kindly provide your own interpreters.
Complete Text of Hu Yan’s Letter to the UN Secretary General