On August 4, 74-year-old Zhao Fenglan killed herself in her
home, located in Baoji City of Shaanxi Province. Hua Shang Press
reports that the house had been partially demolished the day before
Zhao's suicide, even though she didn't sign the agreement on
demolition and resettlement.
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The house is located in a community inhabited entirely by the
employees of one company. After the death of Zhao's husband ten
years ago, she lived alone in the 2-room, 50 square meter
house.
According to a publicly posted notice, all the residents in the
community were required to move out by July 25th. Water supply and
electricity were cut off after the demolition began on July 26, but
Zhao still chose to stay. On August 3, she went to her eldest son's
apartment. Upon her return, she found that demotion had started on
her house, including tearing down tiles, part of the roof, and a
corner of the ceiling.
On August 4, Zhao was found dead in her home. Her children said
they were informed of the accident around noon the next day. When
they accompanied the policemen to the scene, they were able to
identify their mother's body.
Her children presented the demolition agreement in duplicate,
and neither copy bore Zhao's signature. The new apartment to which
Zhao was allegedly asked to move cost nearly 100,000 yuan, a price
out of reach for a woman living on the 100 yuan (US$13.21) monthly
allowance given by her husband's company.
(China.org.cn by Ma Yina August 7, 2007)