Stop razing houses for commercial interest

Tang Fuzhen set herself on fire on the roof of her house in a last-ditch attempt to save it from a government-backed demolition squad in Chongqing recently. To prevent such a tragedy, the Real Right Law should be strictly followed in private property demolition cases, says an article in Zhujiang Evening News. Excerpt:

A series of violent "eviction and demolition" incidents have taken place in Shanghai, Chongqing and Chengdu in recent times. And the outcome has been the same: Residents arrested for resisting demolitions and violating regulations, and local authorities fulfilling their goal.

The Real Right Law, promulgated in 2007 after eight deliberations, stipulates that land can be seized only for "public interest" and in accordance with "the authority and procedure prescribed by law".