Under the Hill: BLACK JAILS in CHINA

Since December of 2010, Wujun Sun has been coming to Parliament Hill almost every work day and setting up his yellow signs and photographs at the bottom of the centre steps. He is originally from Zhejiang province just south of Shanghai, but has been studying in Montreal for the past 6 years. As with most of those who protest outside parliament, Mr. Sun's story is personal and has had serious consequences for him and his family.

Wujun Sun

In June of last year, Mr. Sun's family were evicted from there home; a home that had legally been in the family for generations. Wujun tells me this is common practice as the government continues to pursue economic growth and prosperity - often without concern for its people. His families homes were demolished in order that the Chinese government could build commercial development. No compensation is offered. Expansion at all costs!

He is on the hill to make people aware of the forced evictions, and the fallout for those who dare challenge the communist government. Namely, imprisonment in the Black Jails.

China's black Jails are a growing phenom and are essentially holding cells for dissidents, protestors and petitioners. People are held for indetermined amounts of time, without trial, medical attention, food, water, sleep and are subject to theft and extortion by officials. Although the Chinese government denies there existence, there is growing evidence of there use and in May 2010, a Black Jail Guard was sentenced to 8 years in prison for his part.

Wujun explained to me that his relatives were placed in a Black Jail and tortured, beaten and raped all because they fought for something that was legally theirs - there home. Mr. Sun simply wants people to explore the issue and to be able to explore his own anger through petition - something the Peoples Republic of China strictly forbids. Here, in Canada, his voice may be heard.

You can read Human Rights Watch's 2009 report An Alleyway in Hell which explores the background, Human Rights abuses and subsequent recommendations to address the problem of Black Jails

WATCH this video about the Black Jails