Self-immolator's wife opts out of US embassy aid

• Source: Global Times
• [03:22 December 18 2009]
• Comments

By Wen Tao

Xi's wife and brother seeking legal assistance from Anhui Law Firm. Photo: Wen Tao

A Chinese-American whose husband set himself on fire protesting the demolition of their home said that she is unwilling to seek assistance from the US embassy, believing that Chinese law should handle this domestic matter.

Long Shufang, a US citizen, said her husband, Xi Xinzhu, who holds a US green card, is still in critical condition and is unable to move or speak. Their house was demolished right after Xi was taken to the hospital.

Now the other four family members are living in four different temporary shelters. "Our family was basically torn apart," Long said. Despite her citizenship to the US, Long does not plan to seek help from the US embassy.

Long said she refuses to seek help from the embassy because she does not want people think she takes the advantage of being an American citizen simply to solve a domestic issue.

Xi's daughter is also a US citizen. She immigrated to America when she was 9 and is now in her 20s.

Jonathan Turley, a public diplomacy officer at the US embassy, told the Global Times he could not offer any statement because he has had no approval from the people concerned.

A statement issued by the Haidian district government Thursday said that the incident occurred when staff were attempting to negotiate a "voluntary relocation" with Xi's neighbor, another family who refused the compensation offered by the Beiwu village committee, whose party chief is also head of the developer, Yiquan Real Estate Development Company.

"On-site staff and firefighters ran into the yard in time to see Xi pouring gasoline on himself. Xi set himself on fire before firefighters could stop him," the statement read.