The “evictions” serve to give better visibility and facilitate tourism. In just a few years, 1.25 million people have lost their homes, most without compensation, to make way for skyscrapers, streets and structures related to the Olympics. China “wins” the annual Prize for the violation of housing rights.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agenzie) – Another 15 thousand families in Beijing are to be evicted from their homes in order to “conserve” nearby historical buildings, seen as national and municipal heritage, in order to better accommodate the influx of tourists that will be attending the Beijing Olympics. Kong Fanzhi, director of the Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage, explained that the evictions are “necessary” because the traditional neighbourhoods can no longer meet the rising living standards of modern life. According to the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), there are at least 13 thousand evictions every month.

His explanation has been received with scepticism by those that recall the last few years when entire neighbourhoods were demolished, even traditional courtyards and siheyuan (typical home on two floors that is shaped like a square and has a garden in the centre) leaving the displaced with little or no compensation. Only developers building skyscrapers, streets and other Olympic-related structures are profiting. A demolition threat to a Beijing hutong neighbourhood sparked protests in May against a plan to replace it with a European-style residential and commercial complex in the Dongsibatiao area of Dongcheng district. However, a market for these courtyard residences is flourishing.  Last year, a very wealthy Russian businessman bought an old home for 110 million yuan.

On December 4th, an apartment building near the "bird's nest" Olympic stadium was demolished. Zhang Yaoyao, looking onto the debris of his apartment, told the South China Morning Post that he had not been given “an explanation nor compensation, the Olympics were used as an excuse”.

Beijing plans to move another 200,000 residents as part of the 11th five-year plan on heritage conservation. Zhang admitted that there “could be” more transfers.

Yesterday, the COHRE which fights forced evictions worldwide, named China, Burma and Slovakia the winners of the annual Prize as the countries that have committed the most serious and systematic violations. Beijing and the Olympics organising committee were singled out as having “abysmal disregard” for the eviction of 1.25 million people to make way for the Olympic Games. The COHRE claims that even now 13 thousand people are “evicted” every month.

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