(Broadcast on October 16, 2001)
Over three hundred laid off women workers from the Daqing Blanket Factory, in Heilongjiang province, have collectively petitioned in front of government offices demanding that the government either renegotiate their original redundancy packages in line with Daqing's local policy or give them their jobs back. Yesterday [October 15] I broadcast, via a telephone call from an eyewitness, a recording of the workers playing The Internationale, shouting slogans and finally running into police violence. According to information we received today, two male and two female workers were arrested yesterday and are still in detention. On Tuesday [October 16], over 500 workers from the blanket factories again hit the streets and went to the City Complaints Office to demand the release of the people arrested. However, the government's duty office denied having seen the workers' petition.
City Government:
I haven't seen anything like a petition here (laughs)
Han:
There isn't anything amusing about this matter. I am asking you to explain the situation.
City Government:
The people who receive [petitions] can be contacted on 6363795. They deal with this kind of thing.
Han:
Isn't this the government's duty office?
City Government:
Yes.
Han:
Can I ask if the four workers who were arrested yesterday have been released?
City Government:
I wasn't on duty yesterday. I am not sure what happened.
Han:
They are saying that a few hundred workers protested again today, demanding the release of the arrested persons.
City Government:
No. I haven't seen anything here.
Han:
What about other places?
City Government:
I don't know. We are a 24 hour office and are here all the time (laughs). Actually it's the compliants office that is responsible for this kind of problem. We are under the government affairs office. We stay on duty until the next shift arrives.
I phoned the complaints office and the official who answered the hotline confirmed that there were a large number of people outside with a petition.
Complaints Office:
This is the hotline. The sections that deals with your kind of inquiry can be reached on 6393234 so please ask them. Don't phone [ask] again. There is a large number of people petitioning but I don't know what the reason is.
I telephoned the complaints office number she gave me. The phone was answered by one of the office cadres who said she was in the middle of meeting the petitioners.
Complaints Office:
Ring again later. I am meeting [the workers] right now.
Han:
I just wanted to know what this is all about
Complaints Office:
I am meeting with them and don't have the time to answer you at the moment. Is it OK if you call back later?
Han:
All I am asking
Complaints Office:
Call me back later! I am talking them now and don't have the time to talk to you, OK? (Line is cut)
I again telephoned the government's general secretariat but answer was the same: we don't know the details and cant tell you anything.
General Secretariat:
I can't tell you anything concrete regarding how the matter is being dealt with.
Han:
If there was no decision by the city government to make arrests, should those people have been arrested?
General Secretariat:
Ask the Complaints Office.
Han:
I will. But right now I want to know how the city government is dealing with this business of arresting people and releasing them.
General Secretariat:
Arrest and release [of citizens] is up to the Public Security Bureau (PSB), not the city government.
Han:
If the PSB are arresting people, then surely that is with approval of the government. We are not talking about the arrest of a thief or hooligan - this is the arrest of workers who came to petition the complaints office! With several hundred workers outside [government offices] the PSB wouldn't dare arrest anyone without the say so of the government.
General Secretariat:
Where are you phoning from? Exactly where are you telephoning from?
Han:
Hong Kong.
General Secretariat:
You
.. You are asking me about this, there's no way I can explain. Ring the complaints office directly.
Han:
At the end of the day, surely the government controls official policies?
General Affairs Office:
You're saying
It's no good asking me, I cant tell you anything concrete.
Han:
Is it official government policy to arrest the leaders of this kind of government petition?
General Affairs Office:
No, it's not like that. The fact is
. Look, there is no way I can explain this to you. How can I explain this to you?
Finally, I rang the complaints office again and got the following answer:
Complaints Office:
Where are you from? What's all this got to do with you?
Han:
What?
Complaints Office:
I said what's this got to do with you? Don't you think the Daqing government is capable of solving this? Don't we have the channels to deal with this at all levels? Why are you getting involved? Why have you been calling us over these last two days? Are you saying we can't arrest people who have broken the law?
Han:
What laws have they broken?
Complaints Office:
Illegally charging into government offices, hanging banners. Pasting up banners and shouting slogans, you call that legal behaviour?
Han:
Can you say exactly which articles of which law they have broken?
Complaints Office:
Why should I? Can't you understand they broke the law. I'm telling you, we are the government; the government can't do anything illegal. That includes arresting people or dealing with this in any manner we see fit. I've already told these representatives, if you don't like it sue me!
Han:
Have the people who were arrested been released?
Complaints Office:
What has their release got to do with you? Just exactly what has it got to do with you? Are they relatives of yours?
Han:
The press has the right to ask about these things and let ordinary Chinese people know what is going on?
Complaints Office:
Do you have the right? Hey, I'm a government official and it's up to me how I should deal with this.
Han:
Have any of them been released?
Complaints Office:
What's that got to do with you? Are you saying they should be released because you say so?
Han:
Has the problem the workers raised been solved?
Complaints Office:
That is entirely the business of the government and nothing to do with you. You media guys don't solve anything by asking questions. Can the media solve this problem? This a matter for each level of the party and government to deal with, don't you agree?
Han:
Well, what law did the petitioners break?
Complaints Office:
I don't have to tell you that.
Han:
What is the basis for the arrests?
Complaints Office:
The Chinese Constitution has rules, does it not?
Han:
Which clause of the constitution are you referring to?
Complaints Office:
I don't have to tell you!