In 1996 Tang Fu-zhen's husband Hu Chang-ming constructed a three-story building in Jinhua village.
Event
At the time of the incident Tang Fu-zhen was 47 years of age. On November 13, 2009 Tang Fu-zhen together with her relatives and those of her ex-husband's relatives fought with a demolition team. According to her brother Tang Fu-ming, he told the media the demolition relocation took place at the early morning hour of 5 am on November 13. People wearing camouflage clothing started entering the building armed with shields and steel pipes. The attackers started indiscriminately beating anyone in the building. The demolition crew were backed by police and firefighters. Tang and her relatives threw rocks and bottles filled with gasoline. Three hours into the melee, Tang poured gasoline all over her body. She started saying something on the roof of the building, while others tried to prevent her actions. In 10 minutes, she self-immolated and turned bright red in flames on the roof. In the event, four members of Tang Fu-zhen's family ended up wounded and in the hospital. Two people suffered severe injuries. Seven people were taken away by public safety officials. Tang Fu-zhen's sister Tang Fu-jing said that after the immolation incident, her hospital room was protected by 4 people. She was not able to see her sister at all. On November 29, 11pm Tang Fu-zhen was officially pronounced dead by the hospital. The building was also destroyed. A mobile phone captured the event and spread the video on the Internet. The story was given wide coverage and was broadcast on CCTV.
Demolition law
In 2001 mainland China's regulation authorizes demolition "before" a compensation agreement is reached. However, in 2007 a property law said demolition work can start only "after" both the demolition crew and residents agree on compensation. This contradiction in the law has led to widespread dissatisfaction among people who lose their homes without fair compensation.
Other construction incidents
In November 2009 a Shanghai woman threw gasoline bombs at government forklifts working on an expansion of the Hongqiao airport expansion. In Chengdu, a woman set fire to herself in front of police and firefighters.
Forced demolition in Gumo village, Weihai (威海古陌村暴力强拆寡妇房屋)
Feng-luwei, the head of Gumo village in Weihai, Shangdong pulled down the widow Wang-guiying's house by violence in 2000. The land use right was forced to be changed, even though house owner still has the land deed and house ownership certificate. The widows have not been relocated after 13 years. Wang-guiying has been appealing to the higher authorities for help to Beijing for 10 years more. Yet every time, she was obstructed by Feng-luwei, who sent his men to shadow Wang-guiying 24 hours a day, especially during the people's congress.
Other incidents
In Guiyang, 13 residents were kidnapped by thugs hired by a local real estate developer who then demolished their homes. On December 14, 2009 a man named Xi Xinzhu in Beijing also self immolated when government officials pressed his family to give up their home. He suffered 10% body burns.
