More Villagers Evicted to Make Way for Beijing Olympic Venues

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, March 21, 2008) - About 60 to 70 households in Beiding Village, Datun Township, have received an ultimatum from the authorities to leave their homes by the end of March. Beiding Village lies at the heart of the Beijing Olympics Park, where many of the Games’ main venues are located, and is to be demolished.

According to Citizen’s Rights and Livelihood Watch (CRLW), a Hubei-based grassroots organization, residents of Beiding Village were first asked to relocate in October 2007. Some have moved, but others have refused, citing insufficient compensation which would render it impossible to purchase a home in the area of equal size and convenience to work. Although residents are given the opportunity to purchase property at a location dozens of kilometers away from Datun Village at 9 to 21% below the market rate, the residents complain that the location is far too remote to their jobs, that the rates are not as favorable as they appear and that the property will not be available for two years.

An earlier report by the same group, which surveyed villagers from two townships (including Datun Township) to be demolished to make way for main Olympic venues, recorded inappropriate compensation, official corruption and violence, and persecution of villagers who defended their housing rights during the eviction process.

For more information, please see:

Victims of Beijing Olympics: Villagers' Rights Abused in Preparations for the Game

(February 4, 2008)