The author’s arrest while investigating Chinese prisons
I was with a film crew making a documentary for Channel 4. We were inside one of Beijing’s secret ‘black jails’, where the poor and destitute are held without trial or charge. Officially these jails do not exist, since arbitrary arrest and detention are against Chinese law. But in fact there are many of them, and they exist with the full knowledge and backing of the government. My colleagues and I were the first Western TV crew to enter a black jail, and we paid for our temerity: we were assaulted, our camera was smashed, and we were arrested and detained.
The black jails are where ‘petitioners’ end up. There are thousands of petitioners in Beijing, poor Chinese from the provinces who have flooded into the city to seek the help of state officials in settling their grievances — something they have a legal right to do — but who are branded as ‘troublemakers’ by the authorities. The sole reason for locking them up seems to be that they are an eyesore, and spoil Beijing’s image as a modern, harmonious city. That image has never been more important: next week is the Communist Party Congress and next year the city hosts the 2008 Olympic Games.
In Beijing last month we found these petitioners living like tramps, sleeping rough in underpasses. Among them were peasants evicted from farms, elderly men with goatee beards trying to clear their names after jail sentences as ‘counter-revolutionaries’ during Mao’s reign of terror, mothers trying to have their children’s murders or rapes investigated by lazy, corrupt officials. We even met a disabled ex-military serviceman who had been deployed among the forces that suppressed protests in the Tiananmen bloodbath.
The prisoners in the black jail we visited were from Nanyang City in Henan province. As we spoke to the inmates and the guards, a black-shirted goon came storming towards us shouting his head off. In unison the inmates pointed and screamed, ‘He’s the director!’ They wept and grimaced. ‘He’s the one who runs this place!’ Black Shirt went nuts. ‘Don’t film!’ he shouted. ‘This is illegal!’
Suddenly a dozen snarling guards in jumpsuits surrounded us. I tried reasoning with them. ‘Be polite,’ I said — to no avail. They shoved us away from the jail gates. Black Shirt tried to rip the camera out of my cameraman Andrew’s hands. In the tussle, the guards smashed it. Outside, we jumped into the taxi that had driven us to the jail — amazingly it was still waiting for us — and tried to drive off.
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Andrew
October 18th, 2007 4:42pm Report this commentHow can I see the footage without watching Channel 4 at 7:30 on 19 October??? By the way, that means absolutely nothing to an international readership.
Paul
October 19th, 2007 8:06pm Report this commentJust watched the program. The Olympic games should be boycotted. There is no justification for the cruelty with which these ordinary people are treated. There is no excuse for not reacting. If you can speak, then shout.
Chloe Pooley
October 19th, 2007 9:35pm Report this commentWe just watched the programme, too. I had already had huge doubts about China's human rights record in current times but then I saw this programme by Aidan Hartley. It was evidence of vile, pointless and inhumane treatment of ordinary citizens who are being forced out of their homes by the authorities, then beaten, detained and tortured for daring to protest against their treatment. All this because Beijing is making way for new developments near the Olympic zone. The programme makers' treatment speaks volumes about the deeply ironic desperation of behalf of the state to smother any signs of protest to appear developed and democratic in the light of the country's hosting the Olympics. The country should never have won the bid and I sincerely hope participating countries such as the UK pull out for fear of condoning such a repressive regime.
Dret Grefison
October 20th, 2007 6:05am Report this commentBoycott anything and any brand associated with the Olympics, seriously. Perfect opportunity to make a difference by making 2008 a year the Olympics wouldn't put up with all the BS just to let some (spectacular) kids win medals.
Margaret Gray
October 21st, 2007 9:51pm Report this commentI would like to see the video of those black jails on the internet. Let me know when it is available.
Daffy
October 23rd, 2007 12:46pm Report this commentI wish there was a contact at the IOC to make my feelings known or petition I could sign. It was obvious the China would carry on with its human rights abuses and being awarded the Olympics means more of it people suffer with an apparent pat on the back from the rest of the world.
Monty
October 25th, 2007 4:31pm Report this commentAt the moment, there is a Global Human Rights Torch Relay taking place to raise awareness of human rights in China. Please visit wwww.humanrightstorch.org. From there, there are lots of related links where you can sign petitions. I wasn't going to participate in this Relay. After reading this article and watching http://www.veoh.com/videos/v1357069DKZqmaty I am now feeling really ashamed myself. I am appealing to all you kind-hearted people out there to please, please do something about it. Even something as simple as spreading this link or telling people about it. The ruling Chinese Communist Regime is so brutal and evil that it is even persecuting its own people for practising a traditional Chinese qigong exercise called Falun Gong. Falun Gong benefits both the mind and body and embraces the basic principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. The persecution has been going on for eights years and thousands have been tortured to death. Hundreds of thousands are in jails and slave labour camps in appalling conditions, pumping out all those "Made in China" stuffs we are buying. These are the "lucky" ones as they are hundreds of thousands in detention centres, kept there solely to satisfy the organ harvesting trade in China. Corrupted government officials, judiciaries members and military-based hospitals' directors benefited from the sales of organs of Falun Gong people. How?? Organs are forcibly removed from these detainees while they are still semi-conscious and once transplantations are completed, they are killed and the authorities pocketed the monies made, usually from unsuspecting foreigners who are desperate for a second chance in life. More often than not, these patients died from complications once back in their home countries. It is no longer just a China issue but a worldwide issue now. (http://organharvestinvestigation.net) The evil Chinese Communist Party must be toppled in order for the true and pure traditional China to emerge. Thank you for your kind attention.
Jessie Doyle
November 27th, 2007 9:46pm Report this commentI was touched moved and inspired by your report. What can I do to help the cause? I only caught part of the programme but would like to know how I can get hold of a copy to watch throughout. Originally I was so shocked I wanted to shame the goverment by enrolling the athlets to boycotte the olymics by sending each of them a copy of your report, with your permission....This led to a breakthrough idea...The olympics being held there next year is an oppotunity to raise awarness and money. The Olymics could be like the United Nations as the world is watching and members from every country are involved. People love to show they care, look at Live Aid and Live 8. A stand for human rights laws to be established in Baijing could be made through some kind of high profile event. I ask again what can I do? How about raising money for the people who are loosing their homes. If there was money for them new homes could be built somewhere safe. I would love to know what you think. If you would like to support these ideas. I would like to inquire further into this as a possibility. Would you let your report be shown to help enrole people into helping? Do you have any ideas/projects that I could get involved with. I see this as a clear and possible oppotunity. Thank you for your time Jessie X
Hallie
January 8th, 2008 9:44pm Report this commentI am putting together a film series for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and I am interested in viewing this documentary. How can I go about requesting a screener? Thanks very much.
Elizabeth Nash
January 18th, 2008 8:18pm Report this commentI tried to watch the Channel 4 transmission of your program, unfortunately and no doubt due to local weather conditions, I was only able to hear and was not able to see your program as the image throughout was distorted; if there is any means by which I can see your program properly please let me know as I would like to write a letter to Gordan Brown whose speech incidently on the channel 4 news that went before your program, I was able to view with interest and without disturbance from local weather condidions. Many thanks
Paul
January 18th, 2008 8:28pm Report this commentHaving visited China myself i know how strict they are with taking pictures or filming anything they dont want you to - they have guards or security on every corner! The olympics should never have been given to beijing in the 1st place (somewhere where people still cannot openly express their rights)....there should be more focus put on this by the media 9thus resulting in pressure on the chinese government) - espcially with the olympics not too far off.
ar
January 22nd, 2008 12:28pm Report this commentBeijings Olympic lie
Jessie Doyle
January 26th, 2008 1:41pm Report this commentSince my last letter to you I have found a way to make a stand and would love people to join in and support the cause! If anyone missed Aiden's report it its on www.veoh.com/videos/v1357069DKZqmaty
I am recruiting people to join in a sponsored skydive on 29th Feb, which is Leap Year. To raise money and awarness for the people of Beijing who have been unlawfully evicted from their homes and imprisioned as a result. And to support Amnesty International's campaign to have Human Rights Laws for China by the Olympics 2008. Please sponsore or join in the jump, all welcome. This project has just gained the interest and support of my local paper the Ham&High which is great news. I am also hosting a fund raising event on Chinese New Year 8th Feb at The Torriano, 71-73 Torrianno Avenue, Kentish Town London NW5 Please come along and show your support. Love Jessie X
Rixio
September 7th, 2008 3:13am Report this commentMaybe Im late here, but Try to see what your country doesn't want you to see, Lebanon Now, India in the 1800's, Irak, Afghanistan, and many regimes not supported by your government but created by it, All kinds of Colonial invasion and all kind of support to bother against human beings. SO look inside you before criticizing another country, Is not good I know your Idea but is the way people had lived in this country for many years.
Riff Hammond
April 27th, 2009 1:36pm Report this commentJust saw a clip on Aljazeera and had to find out more.Its disgustful how the Chinese Government can do this to innocent People...
Roger Berkley
June 7th, 2009 4:26pm Report this commentThis is a completely biased report - read it with an open mind - it doesn't even attempt to explain things from China's point of view and makes broad unfounded statements without any evidence to support.
This is really shameless reporting - Aidan Hartley should never work again.
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