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| Chinese woman sets herself alight in 'land grab' protest | Chinese woman sets herself alight in 'land grab' protest |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| By Michael Bristow BBC News, Beijing | By Michael Bristow BBC News, Beijing |
| Zhang Shulan's scarred and deformed face is shocking to look at. | Zhang Shulan's scarred and deformed face is shocking to look at. |
| She was once a fit and healthy woman but now, with her hair gone and facial features distorted, she looks nothing like her former self. | She was once a fit and healthy woman but now, with her hair gone and facial features distorted, she looks nothing like her former self. |
| The 64-year-old's visual change came about in a single act. | The 64-year-old's visual change came about in a single act. |
| When "hired thugs" came to evict her earlier this year she poured petrol over herself and set it alight. | When "hired thugs" came to evict her earlier this year she poured petrol over herself and set it alight. |
| "I did it because they tore down my house without my permission. I set fire to myself because I didn't want to live - they forced me - I had no choice," said a tearful Mrs Zhang. | "I did it because they tore down my house without my permission. I set fire to myself because I didn't want to live - they forced me - I had no choice," said a tearful Mrs Zhang. |
| "Ordinary people don't have any rights at all. I feel so upset." | "Ordinary people don't have any rights at all. I feel so upset." |
| She is still fighting for what she believes is her right to proper compensation for her former home, now demolished. | She is still fighting for what she believes is her right to proper compensation for her former home, now demolished. |
| She is not alone. Dozens of people in her district have similar claims, as have thousands of others across China. | She is not alone. Dozens of people in her district have similar claims, as have thousands of others across China. |
| 'Hired thugs' | 'Hired thugs' |
| As the country races to develop, the government has not been able to stop hundreds of conflicts over land use. | As the country races to develop, the government has not been able to stop hundreds of conflicts over land use. |
| The state council, China's highest government body, recently issued guidelines to prevent forced demolitions like that of Mrs Zhang's home. | The state council, China's highest government body, recently issued guidelines to prevent forced demolitions like that of Mrs Zhang's home. |
| But cases of people taking extreme action because they believe they have been treated unfairly continue - suggesting the government has a major problem on its hands. | But cases of people taking extreme action because they believe they have been treated unfairly continue - suggesting the government has a major problem on its hands. |
| Mrs Zhang is one of a handful of residents who have refused to move from their shabby, single-storey homes in Tongzhou, a suburb of Beijing, to make way for redevelopment. | Mrs Zhang is one of a handful of residents who have refused to move from their shabby, single-storey homes in Tongzhou, a suburb of Beijing, to make way for redevelopment. |
| The local government appears to have great hopes for the district, which has good transport links to central Beijing. | The local government appears to have great hopes for the district, which has good transport links to central Beijing. |
| Some developers are suggesting Tongzhou could become the "Manhattan of China". | Some developers are suggesting Tongzhou could become the "Manhattan of China". |
| The centre of this suburb has been transformed with fancy shops and restaurants. New apartment blocks have sprung up and large areas have been cleared for future projects. | The centre of this suburb has been transformed with fancy shops and restaurants. New apartment blocks have sprung up and large areas have been cleared for future projects. |
| Selling off land to developers earns Chinese local governments billions of dollars every year - about 30% of their budgets on average. | Selling off land to developers earns Chinese local governments billions of dollars every year - about 30% of their budgets on average. |
| But redevelopment means people have to move - and some do not want to go. | But redevelopment means people have to move - and some do not want to go. |
| Forced demolitions | Forced demolitions |
| The basic complaint of all those refusing to leave the Shangying neighbourhood where Mrs Zhang lives is essentially the same - they feel they are being offered too little compensation, certainly not enough to buy a new home. | The basic complaint of all those refusing to leave the Shangying neighbourhood where Mrs Zhang lives is essentially the same - they feel they are being offered too little compensation, certainly not enough to buy a new home. |
| "The amount they are offering and the value of our homes is not the same. It's far lower," said Jin Xicheng, another resident reluctant to leave. | "The amount they are offering and the value of our homes is not the same. It's far lower," said Jin Xicheng, another resident reluctant to leave. |
| "We're very honest people. If our homes are worth a set amount, they ought to give us that amount. But it's not like that - it's plunder." | "We're very honest people. If our homes are worth a set amount, they ought to give us that amount. But it's not like that - it's plunder." |
| The residents are furious - as Mrs Zhang's desperate act testifies. | The residents are furious - as Mrs Zhang's desperate act testifies. |
| When the BBC went to speak to them, they gathered round, eager to tell their stories. Clutching dog-eared documents detailing their cases, a few of them cried. | When the BBC went to speak to them, they gathered round, eager to tell their stories. Clutching dog-eared documents detailing their cases, a few of them cried. |
| Many have painted slogans on the walls of their homes expressing their desire to continue their campaign. "Fight to the end!" exhorts one. | Many have painted slogans on the walls of their homes expressing their desire to continue their campaign. "Fight to the end!" exhorts one. |
| Most of the buildings stand alone as others around them have been demolished - "nail houses", as they are known in China, a term reserved for people who refuse to budge from their homes. | Most of the buildings stand alone as others around them have been demolished - "nail houses", as they are known in China, a term reserved for people who refuse to budge from their homes. |
| Some households make sure there is always a family member at home just in case the authorities come to tear down their property. | |
| Wu Yaxi, of the propaganda department at Tongzhou district government, said the local authority had done nothing wrong. | Wu Yaxi, of the propaganda department at Tongzhou district government, said the local authority had done nothing wrong. |
| "The decision to demolish is made by the courts, which also enforce that decision. The government doesn't have a major role to play," he said. | "The decision to demolish is made by the courts, which also enforce that decision. The government doesn't have a major role to play," he said. |
| That is only partially true. Court documents show it is local government officials who have decided to redevelop - they want the residents out. | That is only partially true. Court documents show it is local government officials who have decided to redevelop - they want the residents out. |
| Whatever the rights and wrongs of this particular case, the central government is certainly worried about the high number of land disputes. | Whatever the rights and wrongs of this particular case, the central government is certainly worried about the high number of land disputes. |
| The state council said last month all evictions should be carried out in a "legal, civilised and harmonious manner", with fair compensation offered to those required to move. | The state council said last month all evictions should be carried out in a "legal, civilised and harmonious manner", with fair compensation offered to those required to move. |
| It wants to put an end to forced demolitions - and the violence that often goes with it. | It wants to put an end to forced demolitions - and the violence that often goes with it. |
| The on-going battled in Tongzhou suggests that is a long way off. | The on-going battled in Tongzhou suggests that is a long way off. |