Aviation City Tragedy 02"Auto mechanic left paralyzed, long-term care family's tears run dry, award-winning teacher lashes out: "As long as zonal expropriation exists, there is no fairness or justice in this world"
(Continued from previous article) On November 9, 2013, the Aviation City Self-Rescue Association opposing zonal expropriation launched an action to surround the airport; on the same day, elderly farmer Lu A-yun chose to take his own life. Seven years later, on November 9 of this year, the Taoyuan City Government issued an expropriation notice, and at this time news again emerged that expropriated elderly farmer Hsu Shih-ting had poisoned himself. "Upstream and Downstream" conducted in-depth interviews with five expropriated households and found that the tragedy is not an isolated case; many expropriated households suffer in silence with no one knowing, their psychological pressure at the edge of a cliff.
Tsai Mei-ling, founder of the Aviation City Anti-Forced Relocation Alliance, sharply criticized: "The government draws one line on a map, and tens of thousands of people are left displaced. Those sitting on large tracts of land may become rich overnight, but owner-occupiers may take on debt to swap homes, unable to eat or sleep in peace. And for those who were already economically disadvantaged or unable to repay loans, taking this step back may leave a bottomless abyss beneath them."
Human rights groups believe that the right to housing is protected by international covenants. The elderly farmer chose to die to show his determination because farmland is part of a farmer's identity, emotions and personality rights; it cannot simply be replaced, nor can money make up for it.
Auto mechanic went from optimistic to depressed and paralyzed, weeping: Aviation City ruined my life
Chen Chien-yi, born in 1974, was always a happy auto mechanic; apart from photos of his children, his phone album was filled with beautiful photos of all kinds of cars. About 10 years ago, after completing his apprenticeship in Xinzhuang and planning to open his own business, he set his sights on the traffic flow along Nankan Road near the airport and gritted his teeth to take out a loan to buy a three-story, more than 40-ping townhouse, using the first floor as a shop and the second and third floors as living space, thinking that as long as he worked hard there would be no problem.
Unexpectedly, just as the auto repair equipment had been installed, the repair shop was included in zonal expropriation, like a bolt from the blue. Chen Chin-yi had relatives with prior expropriation experience and knew that compensation for owner-occupiers was simply not enough to re-establish a family business. He followed the self-rescue association in protesting everywhere, firmly maintaining his opposition. "Besides writing opposition statements, I attended meetings seven or eight times to express opposition. I went to the Construction and Planning Agency and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. I never expected the government to carry out overwhelming propaganda, plus mobilization by investors, to forcibly create the false impression that the pro side was the majority."
"Protesting on one hand, looking for a house on the other. How many 30-year stretches does a person have to fight like this?" The heavy pressure of an 8 million loan and anxiety over an uncertain future made Chen Chin-yi unable to be happy anymore. He once went a full month unable to sleep, became irritable and short-tempered, which affected his wife and children and led to family discord. Due to severe depression, his condition turned into "chronic psychosomatic illness," and he fell into paralysis. Now, after receiving a disability certificate, Chen Chin-yi is preparing to move into a care facility under his family's arrangements.
Looking at a photo with his daughter, he remembered how happy he had been when they first moved into the new home. Contrasting that with today's miserable situation, he could not hold back his grief and tears. "Please help me tell society that Aviation City destroyed my family and my career, and ruined my life."
Caring for her paralyzed husband without complaint or regret, yet zonal expropriation turned her hair white overnight
Gao Man, known as Sister Gao, married her husband in 1990 and bought a small townhouse of 22.4 ping next to the airport for 4.7 million, making it convenient for her husband, who worked in overseas sales, to fly for business trips. In a quiet alley, the outdoors was a stretch of green space. The couple spent most of their lives in this small happy nest, raising children together.
Gao Man's husband was enthusiastic about public welfare; he not only served as an ambulance volunteer but was also an athlete and loved photography. The house was filled with his works, including memories of the couple's overseas travels and records of their children growing up. The happy smiles began to go off-key two years ago. Her husband was in a car accident and became paralyzed, and she quit her job to care for him at home 24 hours a day.
Gao Man had not originally opposed zonal expropriation, until the results of the above-ground property assessment came out in June. The compensation for their townhouse was only just over 3 million. She did a rough calculation: under the government's compensation plan, if she chose to receive building land back, she might receive less than 15 ping, without even the qualifications to rebuild, and could only be directly allocated resettlement housing. "What about my husband? The space in an ordinary apartment simply cannot accommodate caring for him." And townhouses on the market cost tens of millions, which she could not afford at all, so she could only seek help everywhere.
Caring for her paralyzed husband, she and her daughter had no complaints or regrets, but the government not only failed to assist disadvantaged households, it instead brought in zonal expropriation, making her situation even worse. Worry turned her hair white overnight, and under long-term stress she developed so-called "alopecia areata," losing all her hair within a month. "Now I can only wear a wig when going out," she sighed helplessly.
"The government expropriated my home. Pleading everywhere only got me sympathetic looks from officials and the four words 'handle as an individual case.' How can I swallow that?" Happiness under hardship was like a candle flickering in the wind. Gao Man lost her former elegance and confidence, forcing out a dazed smile.
