The Tang Fu-zhen self-immolation incident (唐福珍自焚事件) was an event that occurred at Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China on November 13, 2009.[1][2] Tang Fu-zhen (唐福珍) fought with demolition crew and government authorities in an effort to save the building. In the end she lost and self-immolated. The incident has triggered a debate on "forced demolitions" rampant across China.[3]
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In 1996 Tang Fu-zhen's (唐福珍) husband Hu Chang-ming (胡昌明) constructed a three-story building in Jinhua village (金华村), Jinniu District, Chengdu.[2] The building was to prepare for the upcoming economic developments. The economy however, started going downhill after 2005.[2] For years the family tried in vain to obtain property certificates. Previously the Tang family spent more than 7 million yuan on the property, but the district government agreed to pay only 2.17 million yuan, because it was considered illegal.[4] Trouble started in August 2007 when the district government decided to link two roads, and Hu's building stood in the way of the project. According to the bureau, they negotiated with Hu 19 times.[3]
At the time of the incident Tang Fu-zhen (唐福珍) was 47 years of age.[2] On November 13, 2009 Tang Fu-zhen together with her relatives and those of her ex-husband's fought with a demolition team.[3] According to her brother Tang Fu-ming (唐福明), he told the media the demolition relocation took place at the early morning hour of 5 am on November 13. People wearing camouflage clothing started entering the building armed with shields and steel pipes. The attackers started beating anyone indiscriminately in the building.[1] The demolition crew were backed by police and firefighters.[4] Tang and her relatives threw rocks and bottles filled with gasoline.[3]
Three hours into the melee, Tang poured gasoline all over her body.[3] She started saying something on the roof of the building, while others tried to prevent her actions. In 10 minutes, she self-immolated and turned bright red in flames on the roof.[2] In the event, four members of Tang Fu-zhen's family ended up wounded in the hospital. Two people suffered severe injuries. Seven people were taken away by public safety officials.[2]
Tang Fu-zhen's sister Tang Fu-jing (唐福英) said that after the immolation incident, her hospital room was protected by 4 people. She was not able to see her sister at all.[1] On November 29, 11pm Tang Fu-zhen was officially pronounced dead by the hospital.[1] The building was also destroyed.[3]
A mobile phone captured the event and spread the video on the internet. The story was given wide coverage and was broadcast on CCTV.[4]
In 2001 mainland's regulation authorises demolition "before" a compensation agreement is reached. However in 2007 a property law said demolition work can start only "after" both the demolition crew and residents agree on compensation. This law contradiction has led to widespread dissatisfaction among people who lose their homes without fair compensation.[4]
In November 2009 a Shanghai woman threw gasoline bombs at government forklifts working on an expansion of the Hongqiao airport expansion. In Chengdu, a woman set fire to herself in front of police and firefighters.[5]
In Guiyang, 13 residents were kidnapped by thugs hired by a local real estate developer who then demolished their homes.[5]
On December 14, 2009 a man named Xi Xinzhu (席新柱) in Beijing also self immolated when government officials pressed his family to give up their home. He suffered 10% body burns.[5]