In Nov. 2006, Duan was severely beaten when he traveled from Shanghai to Beijing to appeal the forced demolition of his home. Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported, “The photos of this man before his death would’ve been censored by major news outlets: his belly grossly ballooned up; blood running out of his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose; hemorrhages in the brain and kidneys.” Duan was never hospitalized and died on Jan. 2, 2007, two days after receiving notification that he had been sentenced to one year of forced labor.
Police did not arrest the petitioners this year, as they had during previous memorials for Duan. However, there were reports of police trying to block petitioners from attending.
One of the petitioners, Wan Shimin, told the reporter: “At 7:30 a.m., four policemen sat outside the door of my home and did not let me go out. They did not leave until 12:00 p.m.”
Cai Wenjun said there were also many plainclothes police watching the proceedings, and that she was able to recognize about 20 of them.
Duan Huimin Did Not Die in Vain, He Will Be Remembered
Chen Weihua said her brother was also beaten to death by the Chinese authorities. She came, she said, as a representative of her family to offer support to Duan’s family, who, after three years, has never received any formal explanation regarding his death.
Guo Yigui said, “If we do not support Duan’s family, the government will be more ruthless.” He said petitioners would not give up fighting for their rights.
Duan Huimin’s mother spoke of the hardships they have endured. She said her son Duan was well-educated with a college degree and was only 49 years old when he went to appeal. He had committed no crimes, and was sleeping in a hotel when he was beaten by the police. She said her daughter and Duan’s brother have also been persecuted by the CCP, and now the police have surrounded her home, not allowing her to go out. “Down with the CCP!” she said. “Down with the CCP!”
World Expo a Cause for Concern to Petitioners
Dong Guoqing, an attendee at the service, said that more and more frequently new cases of injustice are never resolved. The authorities ignore petitioners’ rights and safety—even their lives. He expressed concern that with the World Expo coming to Shanghai this year, circumstances will become even worse for petitioners.
“The authorities will carry out many policies to achieve the so-called ‘stable society,’ all of which will obviously put petitioners in a more difficult situation.” He advised the petitioners to put forth a united front.
Many of those at the memorial, including Duan’s mother and Dong Guoqing, expressed their hope that media in and outside of China will help the people of the world understand the plight of petitioners in China.
Read the original Chinese article