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Severe Fire Breaks out in Shijiazhuang Prior to the Arrival of the Olympic Torch

On July 28, one day before the Olympic torch arrived at Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province, a fire broke out in a textile factory. It was reported as the largest fire in the city’s history and took six hours to put out. The estimated damage is reported as high as 10 million yuan.

the Hong Kong based Information Center for Human Rights & Democracy disclosed that there are over 200 workers who were either laid off or had retired from this factory. There have been past conflicts between them and the local government. As such, there is the possibilty that the incident was arson. The press office of the Shijiazhuang Municipal government blamed the fire on short circuits and said no one was injured.

Source: Ming Pao News, July 30, 2008
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080730/caa2.htm

Security at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Elevated to Anti-Terrorist Status

Yangcheng Evening News reports that since July 26, 2008, the police bureau at Baiyun airport (in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province) hand entered into an “anti-terrorist” alert and ready-to-fight status. It will elevate the level of air security, public security, fire fighting and prevention, and transportation safety within the area of control to ensure Olympic security. Currently, there are more than 200 police, armed police, and armed security guards patrolling around the clock around the terminal buildings.

Source: Yangcheng Evening News, July 26, 2008
http://www.ycwb.com/news/2008-07/26/content_1940334.htm

Olympics Security Driving People Out of Beijing – Example

As the Olympics is approaching, Beijing authorities has set up schemes that trap those who come to appeal in Beijing, reported Ming Pao on July 24, 2008 of the story from a reader, Mr. Fan Dingxian. 

Fan, a 68 year old retiree from Chongqing, Sichuan, waited for 4 hours before he was interviewed by a staff at the State Petition Bureau in Beijing. He complained about insufficient pension. He was then escorted into an enclosed area in the back of the government building, where armed police surrounded four to five hundreds of people like Fan. An officer announced that all must be on board the government chartered buses heading out of Beijing. Fan refused to go on board and was beaten black and blue.  In the end police carried him on board the bus. It was only after he attempted suicide that he was finally released outside Beijing.

Source: Ming Pao, July 24, 2008
http://www.mingpaosf.com/htm/News/20080724/st1a.htm

Beijing Opens Showcase Democracy Zones during Olympics

On July 23, Beijing Olympic Organization Committee announced that Beijing will designate three parks for free expression and demonstration. But demonstrators have to get government permission.

World Park in Fengtai District, Zizhuyuan Park in Haidian District and Ritan Park in Chaoyang District are selected to showcase China’s freedom.

Citizens are skepitcal of the government intention. Some said after the real dissidents were locked up, the demonstrators are probably arranged actors to boost China’s human right record.

Source: English Epoch Times, July 24, 2008
http://news.epochtimes.com/gb/8/7/24/n2203117.htm

Men’s Suicide in Tiananmen Linked to Forced Land Seizure by Government

On July 13, a man jumped off from Tiananmen Building and injured himself. Per eye witness, it happened at 4 p.m.. The man was later sent to a hospital for treatment and police investigation.

On June 28, Mr. Zhang from Changying Town, A suburb of Beijing’s Chaoyang District, set himself on fire in Tiananmen Square. The police put off the fire and arrested him. He was said to have suffered 3rd degree burn. Per source close to the case, Mr. Zhang and his family are under house arrest for security of Olympics.

Both cases are linked to injustice in forced land/housing seizure by the government.

Source: Boxun, July 24, 2008
http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2008/07/200807241033.shtml

China to Impose Internet Shutdown Policy During Beijing Olympic

Chinese authorities have issued an order to impose “Internet shut down policy” on any websites that are deemed to have “information security violations” from July 25 to August 25. Subsequently, Internet hosting companies issued notices to their clients notifying them of the tightened measures. Some even gave monetary reward to those sites who chose to temporarily shutdown during Beijing Olympic.

Source: Radio Free Asia, July 23, 2008 http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/fengwang-07232008131744.html

Shanghai Prominent Rights Lawyer’s House Searched

Zhen Enchong, Shanghai prominent Rights lawyer’s house was searched by five Public Security Bureau personnel from Zhabei district at 1:10pm on July 23. The bureau personnel presented the search warrant but the reason of the search was unknown. Zhen recently returned from a seven-hour-detention on July 20.

Source: The Epoch Times, July 23,2008
http://news.epochtimes.com/gb/8/7/23/n2201589.htm

Beijing Bond Highway Passengers Checked One-by-One

Per Hebei Province Traffic Police, starting July 20, all 26 Highway check points surrounding Beijing will check all passengers’ ID. Every passenger is required to scan his/her ID card on a card reader. Even if one passenger fails to show a valid ID, everyone on the vehicle, including car, truck and bus, will be denied passage.

Source: Xinjing Bao (New Beijing News), July 11, 2008
http://military.people.com.cn/GB/8221/72028/76059/78907/7542217.html