[Hong Kong Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy report: "Demonstration by 1,000 Workers of Key Military Industry Factory for 'Shenzhou' and Missiles Blocks Road in Zunyi"]

(14 May 2010) - This Centre has learned that over a thousand retired and former staff and workers of a military industry enterprise, China Aerospace Science and Industry Group's 061 Base in Zunyi, Guizhou, which built core components for the "Shenzhou 7" and also does so for missiles and rockets, have been demonstrating and blocking intersections in Zunyi for three days since 12 May. They are demanding that the base return 20 million RMB in various kinds of subsidies which the base embezzled [ ke kou ] from about 5,000 retired staff and workers.

This Centre has learned that beginning on the morning of 12 May, workers blocked the main intersections on Zunyi's main thoroughfares, Zhonghua Road, Xianggang Road, and Aomen Road. The workers blocked the roads, holding up huge banners about 8 meters long which read, "Return fairness to us, let the sun shine more brilliantly" and "Survival is only fair, even for a weak group like us." One worker told us that the number of people there peaked at over 1,000 on the afternoon of the 12th, and that some continued to demonstrate today. He expects that the number of people blocking roads will increase tomorrow. A large number of Public Security personnel are standing by, but no bloody clashes have occurred. The worker said that the central authorities have issued another document reiterating standards for various subsidies such as wages, housing, and medical insurance for former and retired staff and workers of military industries from the 1965 "Great Strategy for the Northwest" era, but according to that document the 061 Base has shorted workers by 20 million RMB in subsidies which the staff and workers demand that the base pay immediately.

The 061 military industrial base is a core base of China Aerospace. It currently has 20,000 staff and workers. It researches and manufactures electric power systems, guidance systems, and control systems for the Shenzhou series and medium and long-range missiles and carrier rockets. Those components have been called the Shenzhou spacecraft's "heart and blood vessels" and its "eyes." Such critical components for Shenzhou 8, to be launched in 2011, are made at the 061 Base.

The Great Strategy for the Northwest which China began to implement in 1965 moved a large number of strategic military industrial factories to Guizhou and Sichuan. A lot of scientific research personnel, staff and workers who had been living in cities were suddenly moved to poor, rural, and mountainous areas such as Zunyi. Now as many as a million retired military industry workers are calling on the central authorities to compensate them for the huge change in their lives caused by the Great Strategy for the Northwest.

Zunyi is a sacred place for Chinese Communists. A conference held in Zunyi in January 1935 is known as the most important turning point from defeat to victory for them, the start of Mao Zedong's hold on power. Yet Zunyi remains one of the most impoverished areas of China.

Source: Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Hong Kong, in Chinese 14 May 10