Buried beneath the glittering skyscrapers of booming Shanghai are countless stories of the miseries of families whose houses have been demolished by government order. In order to protest the forced demolition of his home, Wu Gengqiang chained himself to his motorized vehicle for the disabled to show that he is prepared to die with his house. His first effort was successful.
Tricked by the Neighbourhood Committee
Forty-two-year-old Wu Gengqiang lived in the house he had inherited from his parents in the Yangpu District of Shanghai. For twenty years, he ran a hairdressing business in the house where he lived with his wife and child. However, in May 2004, the neighbourhood committee tricked his family into leaving their home. While they were away, the house was demolished and all the family’s possessions were confiscated. Wu received the first demolition notice in 2003. He filed a lawsuit against the government and won the case. However, a second demolition notice was issued. He appealed again, but his house was pulled down during the appeal.
One of Wu’s relatives told The Epoch Times , “Wu’s entire family was tricked into leaving their house, so nobody was there when the house was pulled down. The neighbourhood committee cheated them by asking them to go to the committee to discuss their house. When they arrived, they were told that their house was being demolished at that very moment.
They were forcibly detained in the committee building from 9:00 a. m. until 6:00 p. m. When they returned to their house, it was no longer there. All their belongings had been removed as well. The neighbourhood committee assured them that their belongings were still theirs. However, they have not set eyes on them ever since.”
Living by Panhandling
