July 6th, Shanghai resident Liu Dongbao, who was relocated due to urban development, was released from the detention center in Jing’an District, Shanghai. This marked the ninth time in the past year and a half that he had been detained for 30 days on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”.
On June 4th, Liu Dongbao was repatriated for entering Zhongnanhai to protect his rights. He was detained by the Shimen Second Road Police Station for giving a speech to 30 petitioners on the return train to Shanghai. In the police station, Liu Dongbao shouted, “Down with the Communist Party!”
On the evening of June 4th, he was near Fuyou Street in Beijing when police checked his identity, then he was sent to Jiujing Zhuang and later repatriated by the Beijing Office. Upon returning to Shanghai, he was criminally detained for 30 days by the Shimen Second Road Police Station.
Previously, on March 19th, Liu Dongbao was detained in Beijing until May 30th.
Shanghai activist Yu Zhonghuan explained to a reporter from Dajiyuan that Liu Dongbao used to run businesses such as restaurants and department stores, living a comfortable life. Thirty years ago, his only residence on Shimen Second Road in the central Jing’an District of Shanghai was demolished by the government. The compensation he received was insufficient to buy a new house, so he had no choice but to rent. As he aged and his health deteriorated, his financial situation worsened, forcing his family of three to live in a humble rented apartment.
Due to limited space in the rental, he placed some household items at the back door of his home.
Yu Zhonghuan stated, “On the morning of December 7, 2023, around 10 a.m., Chen Wenjun, the leader of the Urban Management Brigade along with over 30 urban management officers and security personnel, arrived at Liu Dongbao’s back door on Jiangning Road in Jing’an District. Without any legal procedures, they smashed all the household items, took away over 30 items including rice cookers, thermos flasks, and other daily necessities (which have not been returned to this day), and physically assaulted Liu Dongbao. There were several witnesses, injury examination reports, and even body camera footage from the enforcement officers on the scene as evidence.”
After being injured and bedridden for several days, Liu Dongbao, accompanied by family members and several witnesses, filed complaints with the public security and disciplinary departments but was constantly evaded and dismissed. Despite seeking justice and filing complaints legally and properly, he faced endless repression and persecution. Unknown individuals often monitored his home. In response, Liu Dongbao went to Beijing several times to file complaints, only to be intercepted, later subject to criminal detention, or kidnapped and illegally detained in black jails.
Yu Zhonghuan continued, “On March 19, 2024, around 10 a.m., Chen Wenjun once again led over 30 urban management officers and security personnel to Liu’s back door without any legal procedures, in a vengeful retaliation against Liu Dongbao for accusing him. At that time, there were hundreds of onlookers, both inside and outside the system, who witnessed and understood the events, all stating that the urban management officers were acting lawlessly and causing a negative social impact.”
“Liu Dongbao visited the public security, streets, districts, municipal petition bureaus, and disciplinary departments dozens of times, only to be evaded, passed around, and dismissed. In despair, he shouted ‘Down with the Communist Party!’ at the street office, urban management, district government, and district discipline inspection commission, demanding justice. As a result, this 70-year-old man faced relentless persecution, being detained 9 times for a total of 9 months, spending 4 months in black jails for 3 incidents, with a total of 13 out of the past 18 months behind bars,” Yu Zhonghuan revealed.