By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

Beijing, China – The city’s Olympics organizing committee said 14,901 people from 6,307 households had been relocated for Olympics Game venues.  The figures are dramatically different from those provided last year by an international campaign group.  The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) said an estimated 1.25 million people had been displaced ahead of the Games, often in a brutal and arbitrary manner with little compensation.  COHRE described the situation as an “abysmal disregard” for the basic human right to housing.

However, Chinese officials said everyone who was relocated did so voluntarily, and with adequate compensation.  According to Zhang Jiaming, vice-director of the Beijing Municipal Construction Committee, “the relocation projects enjoyed the support of residents involved…All the relocated households signed the relocation agreements and move voluntarily; no one was forced our of their home.”  Zhang also indicated the average compensation per household for relocation was enough to allow some displaced resident to buy better housing and some could even afford a car with left over money.

The key issue remains for this massive relocation is the lack of transparency.  According to Nicholas Bequelin, who is a researcher for Human Rights Watch, “People did get money and were resettled, but what is important is what happened to the people who protested. Many people were taken to police stations or threatened with job dismissal.”  In addition, Human Rights Watch reports show that much of the compensation money was embezzled by corrupt local officials, many relocations were forced by using heavy-handed police tactics, and there was no opportunity to object when compensation did not match the value of people’s home.

In recent years, evictions from homes and farmland have caused widespread protests across China.  Residents are often frustrated with government’s inadequate compensation and corruption.  Last year, police were deployed to evict protesters on the construction site of the new state television network headquarters in Beijing.

For more information, please see:

AP – Beijing Olympic official says people evicted got generous compensation – 19 February 2008

BBC News – ‘Thousands’ moved for China Games – 20 February 2008

Reuters – Beijing says 15,000 relocated for Games venues – 19 February 2008

The Washington Post – China Defends Relocation Policy – 20 February 2008