The Shenzhen Experiment by Juan Du

Author:Juan Du
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harvard University Press

On September 15, 2006, with the majority of the villagers in support of relocation but without a final agreement on exact terms, the developer’s bulldozers started demolition. Soon, the redevelopment site was reduced to bare reddish earth and the few nail houses were left standing alone in a desolate field. Eventually, the developer increased the compensation to twelve thousand yuan per square meter for the ground floor area of each house and offered immediate partial cash compensation. By October 2006, 370 village households had signed the relocation agreement.10 Zhang and Cai, along with sixteen other “hold-out” families, did not agree to the terms. The Caiwuwei nail houses soon became regarded as “nails” against progress, delaying the entire project. Intensified negotiations continued into early 2007. By March 2007, there were only six nail houses left. Zhang Lianhao experienced coercion and, at times, threats:

During this time, land developers, district government, subdistrict office, village committee, and task forces were calling upon us nonstop. Even the requisition office under the land bureau had summoned me twice to answer to a ruling, threatening to proceed with forced demolition once the ruling took effect! When they saw I did not give up, they proceeded to harass me: cutting off water and power supply for seven months, blocking traffic passages, disconnecting the telephone line and cable TV. After the developers had put up a wall around the demolition site and placed guards at the gate, they would repeatedly send someone to defecate in the front and back of our house. I called the local police seven times to no avail. Given I am in my sixties with a weak heart, these hurtful acts lead to my frequent loss of consciousness and the need for resuscitation. I am a Chinese citizen protecting my legal rights and trying to lead a peaceful life. Am I wrong in choosing to do so? Do they mean to hound me to death?11

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