Road to Petition

• Source: The Global Times
• [22:18 April 29 2009]
• Comments

Final chapter

Shan’s letter from the State bureau indicated she could go to the Beijing office to file a petition. Shan then went, but was turned down.

Shan’s troubles did not end there. She was stopped by police on the street after visiting the bureau on March 13. Having identified her, police dispatched Shan off to the suburb of Majialou on the South Fourth Ring Road where intercepted petitioners are temporarily detained before being sent back home.

The Beijing-based liaison office for the State-owned enterprise Shan had criticized sent a staff member over to Majialou to pick her up. But instead of detaining her or sending her home, the staff member opted – unusually – to follow Shan instead.

“He tailed me, and I knew it,” said Shan. “So I didn’t go back to my temporary Beijing accommodation.”

Shan is now filing lawsuits with one bureau for failure to act and with another for covering up her treatment.

The phone number listed on the State Bureau of Letters and Calls website is an automated message, which informs callers where to send letters and where to visit. After two days and 18 phone calls to the constantly-busy Beijing municipal office of letters and calls, a member of staff, who refused to be named, answered the phone.

“The directors don’t have time for an interview for now,” she said.

Three new advice documents were released earlier this month by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council: they stipulate that all township officials must receive petitioners at any time and all county Party leaders must set aside one day a month to receive petitioners. Central and provincial government leaders are also encouraged to receive petitioners.