Washington, DC, June 1, 2010.
Initiatives for China announced today that Ms. Xu Xiaoqi, daughter of one of the founding generals of the CCP, General Xu ZhiZhong, has joined the burgeoning “Sparrow Initiative” protest against the Chinese government’s policy of forced evictions.
In an email sent to Initiatives for China president, Yang Jianli, Ms. Xu expressed her frustration with the government’s policy of forcibly evicting residents without due process or compensation (see email below). Like Ms. Xu, many citizens spend years petitioning the government only to face ridicule and further harassment, even jail. Often forced evictions are engineered in collusion with local developers who bribe officials to clear land for projects.
Citizen frustration with this practice erupted to new levels with the open of the world largest international trade exhibition in Shanghai on May 1. The New York Times reported on April 30 that the Expo was a “monumental undertaking” that “involved moving 18,000 families and 270 factories, including the hulking Jiang Nan Shipyard, which employs 10,000 workers.” “What the Times didn’t explain was the fact that “moving” 18000 families was essentially a process of forced eviction and demolition,” said Jim Geheran, Director of Initiatives for China. “When Secretary Clinton handed out teddy bears at the Expo’s U.S. Pavilion she was standing on the remains of the homes of these victims.” continued Mr. Geheran.
Last month, after years of fruitlessly petitioning the Chinese government, one of the Shanghai evictees, Hu Yan, a young mother, left China to take her case to the United Nations. Working closely with Initiatives for China under the moniker of “The Sparrow Initiative,” Ms. Hu has been hold daily vigils outside UN headquarters in New York. Two other victims of forced evictions have joined Ms. Xu in her protest.
Ms. Hu will speak at the open mic event at Busboys & Poets on Wednesday evening between 6-8 pm. “The Sparrow Initiative is widely recognized and closely watched in China. The inclusion of Ms. Xu will inspire many more people to join in this peaceful effort to change this corrupt policy of the CCP.” said Yang Jianli
BELOW IS THE EMAIL FROM XU XIAOQI, DAUGHTER OF COMMUNIST PARTY GENERAL, XU ZHIZHONG
Date: 2010/6/1
Subject: Re: Fwd: 请转美国哈佛大学高级研究员杨建利博士
To: Jianli Yang <yangjianli(at)initiativesforchina.org>
Dr. Yang Jianli:
Hello! I am Xu Xiaoqi the author who recently published online in the Boxun “The daughter of a founding Communist Party General and her mother’s tragic situation”.
I have never dreamed in my entire life that my mother and I would be reduced to a Fangmin (petition -traveler) in China and driven down the endless and hopeless petition road. I had been “the party’s mouthpiece” as a news reporter. Now we have been bullied to feel so hopeless, one can imagine how those at the bottom of society are affected by such kind of bullying! I am now pressed into desperation. I must join with you to protest the government and protect our rights. I have learned about your petition at the United Nations, the Chinese “Sparrow Initiative.” Please tell me how to participate in this Action? Who can I contact domestically and how to contact them? What materials need to be prepared? I have been unable to email you at your published E-mail address. I can now only try to reach you via the Boxunnetwork . Please tell me how to contact you.
Yours sincerely, deeply grateful! Eagerly awaiting the reply!
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