25-11-2007 

Press Release:

Labour organization in Shenzhen attacked & its legal person severely assaulted, Hong Kong civil society demands the Chinese government for a full investigation to safeguard labour groups' safety

In recent days, a labour group in Shenzhen was continuously being attacked and its legal person being stabbed (see attachment 1: list of incidents). The Hong Kong civil groups are shocked by such scale of violence and strongly condemn this. The attacks show that certain "interest groups" in Shenzhen are openly violating the national, pro-labour rights policy.  

The labour organization under attacks is called "Dagongzhe Centre (DGZ Centre)", which registered as "company" in Longgang District of Shenzhen city. It provides library, labour law education and consultation to workers, to migrant workers in Shenzhen for free. In the recent months, it has been involved in promoting the "Labour Contract Law", a new law the national government is introducing to safeguard workers; and provided legal advices, in order to de-fuse the tension between employers and workers by legal means. It is believed that its role has upset some "interest groups" and they try to threaten the group with violence. According to workers from Longgang District, Baoan District and Dongguan City, workers are being beaten or verbally threatened when they try to claim their wages. Workers are disappointed by the local government bodies' indifference and inability. The case at DGZ Centre is not an individual random case, but a clear signal from the "interest groups" that they would resist the national law, even by using violence. It is indeed a social problem. DGZ Centre wants the Shenzhen city government to play a more active role in safeguarding their safety and investigate the case seriously, in order to capture the attackers and the "interest groups" behind the attacks.  

On 20 Nov, the legal person of the centre, Huang Qing-nan was attacked by two assassinators with knives, at Longhu New Village, a community behind the centre, when he was on his way to visit injured workers in hospital. He was seriously injured. His back, waist, left leg were chopped and left him wounds more than 10 centimetres long. His left leg has the worst cuts. His muscle, bones, blood vessels, and nerves were cut apart, with only a bit of flesh and skin connecting the parts. He stayed in the intensive care unit until being transferred to orthopaedic ward, it is not yet clear if he could ever recover.  Huang had a serious industrial accident in the past and his body was badly burned, leaving him many parts of his muscle cannot sketch normally, which would make the upcoming treatment very difficult. We are now calling the Shenzhen Government to offer Huang proper treatment and rehabilitation.  

After the incidents, DGZ Centre sent out an appeal letter (see attachment 2: appeal letter to Hong Kong civil groups), calling for support from Hong Kong groups. Several labour groups, Workers' Empowerment, Labour Action China, Asia Monitor Resources Centre, Globalization Monitor, which run projects in China respond immediately. If justice is not done for this case, it will give a misleading message to the attackers and more labour groups and their staff would be harmed. The Hong Kong labour groups urge the Shenzhen city government to ensure the security and stop violent actions, to safeguard the staff at the civil organizations and the society.  

Though we are in Hong Kong, we care for China's development and we work for the welfare of Chinese workers. To develop a harmonious society, fairness and justice must be safeguarded. Therefore, the case of DGZ centre must be rightfully solved and the safety of civil groups in China must be guaranteed. We strongly demand the Chinese government:

• Openly condemns & investigates all violent incidents, and in particular the attack on Huang Qingnan; 

• Helps DGZ Centre to re-start its works and provides Huang Qingnan with appropriate medical treatment and rehabilitation; 

• Implements the national policy to maintain a harmonious labour relations, improves the protection of civil groups and their staff in order to prevent violent acts and maintain public security.

Issued by Workers' Empowerment, Labour Action China, Asia Monitor Resources Centre,

Globalisation Monitor, Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM)

Spokespersons:

Chan Shun-hing (WE)  8235 6815      Apo Leung  9078 1489

May Wong (GM) 6180 1984     Vivien Yau (SACOM)  9428 7640