The Chinese government has punished a total of 57 officials for 11 forced demolitions that resulted in deaths of residents.
All the cases occurred after a new regulation took effect which ruled that local governments are forbidden to forcibly dismantle residential houses before a people's court rules it can, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Supervision and other three government authorities yesterday.
Among the 11 forced demolition cases, six were illegally conducted, while the other five were conducted in accordance with regulations but used "violent means,"
In northeast China, 19 officials were sacked or detained over two forced demolition cases, including one in which a woman died.
One case occurred in Changchun, capital city of Jilin Province.
On March 26, shortly before midnight, hundreds of workers and 18 excavators arrived at a residential area and demolished 14 buildings.
The workers had been employed by a local real estate company which was a government contractor.
Some residents were violently removed. A 48-year-old woman, Liu Shuxiang, however, was buried in the ruins of a building.
Liu's family reported her missing at about 2am and her body was discovered 12 hours later.
Liu and more than 180 of her neighbors in the run-down area had refused to agree to a compensation deal.
Later, the Changchun government said Changchun Kexin Real Estate Development Co Ltd had organized the removal without permission as the company hadn't signed a compensation contract.
The government has been ordered to make a self-criticism report to the State Council and Changchun Mayor Cui Jie was ordered to apologize.
Wang Xuezhan, a deputy mayor, received an administrative demerit. Another 11 officials, including the director of Chaoyang District, where the residential area was located, were sacked or given administrative and Party penalties. Yang Zhe, general manager of Kexin, and 10 other people were arrested.
In Panjin in Liaoning Province in May, two men in a group seeking to demolish a foot spa were attacked by the owner with a sword. The owner was said to have been seeking compensation after receiving a removal notice.
Early on May 2, several thugs armed with clubs rushed into the premises. They ordered the owner and his family to move out. The owner, Yang Dongming, produced a samurai sword and one man was stabbed in the chest and another's arm was slashed.
Yang also sprayed a fire extinguisher in the face of the men.
Seven officials in Panjin, including the director of the district where the foot spa was located, were sacked or given administrative penalties. Six people involved in the demolition were arrested.
Land expropriation and demolition are of immediate concern to the people and affect social stability, the Ministry of Supervision statement said. "Local government at all levels should strictly prohibit illegal forced demolitions and protect the legal interests of residents," it said.
The new regulation, which aims at resolving disputes over land expropriation and house demolition, was issued in January by China's State Council, or the Cabinet.
The regulation states no violence or coercion can be used to force homeowners to leave. Nor could measures, such as shutting down water and power supplies, be used.
Demolition could only be carried out after a court ruling if the government could not reach an agreement with residents, the regulation says.
All the cases occurred after a new regulation took effect which ruled that local governments are forbidden to forcibly dismantle residential houses before a people's court rules it can, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Supervision and other three government authorities yesterday.
Among the 11 forced demolition cases, six were illegally conducted, while the other five were conducted in accordance with regulations but used "violent means,"
In northeast China, 19 officials were sacked or detained over two forced demolition cases, including one in which a woman died.
One case occurred in Changchun, capital city of Jilin Province.
On March 26, shortly before midnight, hundreds of workers and 18 excavators arrived at a residential area and demolished 14 buildings.
The workers had been employed by a local real estate company which was a government contractor.
Some residents were violently removed. A 48-year-old woman, Liu Shuxiang, however, was buried in the ruins of a building.
Liu's family reported her missing at about 2am and her body was discovered 12 hours later.
Liu and more than 180 of her neighbors in the run-down area had refused to agree to a compensation deal.
Later, the Changchun government said Changchun Kexin Real Estate Development Co Ltd had organized the removal without permission as the company hadn't signed a compensation contract.
The government has been ordered to make a self-criticism report to the State Council and Changchun Mayor Cui Jie was ordered to apologize.
Wang Xuezhan, a deputy mayor, received an administrative demerit. Another 11 officials, including the director of Chaoyang District, where the residential area was located, were sacked or given administrative and Party penalties. Yang Zhe, general manager of Kexin, and 10 other people were arrested.
In Panjin in Liaoning Province in May, two men in a group seeking to demolish a foot spa were attacked by the owner with a sword. The owner was said to have been seeking compensation after receiving a removal notice.
Early on May 2, several thugs armed with clubs rushed into the premises. They ordered the owner and his family to move out. The owner, Yang Dongming, produced a samurai sword and one man was stabbed in the chest and another's arm was slashed.
Yang also sprayed a fire extinguisher in the face of the men.
Seven officials in Panjin, including the director of the district where the foot spa was located, were sacked or given administrative penalties. Six people involved in the demolition were arrested.
Land expropriation and demolition are of immediate concern to the people and affect social stability, the Ministry of Supervision statement said. "Local government at all levels should strictly prohibit illegal forced demolitions and protect the legal interests of residents," it said.
The new regulation, which aims at resolving disputes over land expropriation and house demolition, was issued in January by China's State Council, or the Cabinet.
The regulation states no violence or coercion can be used to force homeowners to leave. Nor could measures, such as shutting down water and power supplies, be used.
Demolition could only be carried out after a court ruling if the government could not reach an agreement with residents, the regulation says.
