Society

Ex-soldier, 82, can't be found after demolition

By Zhang Jiawei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-01-13 14:19

The fate of an 82-year-old former New Fourth Army soldier who stood up against a forced demolition of his house in Binhai county, East China's Jiangsu province, and his family is unknown.

Liu Taixiang (L), a former member of the New Fourth Army's special operations squad, sits with his wife amid the ruins of his house, which was demolished at midnight Jan 8 in Binhai county, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/Yangcheng Evening News]

Beijing Times cited unnamed sources as saying the man and his family were taken into custody by "relative departments," while Shanghai Morning Post said the family wanted to avoid media exposure after reaching reconciliation with the local government.

Liu Taixiang, a former member of the New Fourth Army's special operations squad, was at a nearby hospital with a fever when his house was demolished at midnight Jan 8. He had ignored previous warnings and threats about moving away.

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Liu hurried home after hearing the news only to find his house torn down and all his belongings gone. The only thing left behind was a bulldozer, which Liu later tried to sell in an online auction to make up for his losses.

Beijing Times cited government sources saying that 132 of Liu's neighbors had agreed to the demolition and moved away by the end of 2009. Liu's family would move only on the condition that they be given an extra 120-square-meter apartment in addition to the compensation offered.

No family members could be reached Wednesday, and the ruins of Liu's house were cleared away. The bulldozer was also gone.

Beijing Times said some unknown people were at the demolition site, and Liu couldn't be found at the hospital despite not being discharged.

Shanghai Morning Post said the local government has agreed to compensate Liu 230,000 yuan ($34,800), after which the family changed its attitude and started avoiding the media.

But the Binhai county government didn't confirm the agreement.