On August 4, 74-year-old Zhao Fenglan killed herself in her home, located in Baoji City of Shaanxi Province. Hua Shang Press reports that the house had been partially demolished the day before Zhao's suicide, even though she didn't sign the agreement on demolition and resettlement.
The house is located in a community inhabited entirely by the employees of one company. After the death of Zhao's husband ten years ago, she lived alone in the 2-room, 50 square meter house.
According to a publicly posted notice, all the residents in the community were required to move out by July 25th. Water supply and electricity were cut off after the demolition began on July 26, but Zhao still chose to stay. On August 3, she went to her eldest son's apartment. Upon her return, she found that demotion had started on her house, including tearing down tiles, part of the roof, and a corner of the ceiling.
On August 4, Zhao was found dead in her home. Her children said they were informed of the accident around noon the next day. When they accompanied the policemen to the scene, they were able to identify their mother's body.
Her children presented the demolition agreement in duplicate, and neither copy bore Zhao's signature. The new apartment to which Zhao was allegedly asked to move cost nearly 100,000 yuan, a price out of reach for a woman living on the 100 yuan (US$13.21) monthly allowance given by her husband's company.
(China.org.cn by Ma Yina August 7, 2007)
