CRI听力:C. Chinese City Probes "AIDS Demolition Team" Scandal

The government of Nanyang in central China's Henan province is probing allegations that a few AIDS patients have been employed to threaten residents to move out of their homes to make way for a real estate development project.

Striking red graffiti reading "AIDS patients' demolition team" was first spotted on walls, bulletin boards, and buildings in Wolong District.

The threatening messages have haunted residents living in the neighborhood since then.

Zhang Zhenduo is a local resident.

"There were at least seven or eight people. They have been harassing us for more than two weeks since the beginning of December. They showed us certificates proving they were HIV carriers, and later began scrawling words like 'AIDS Patients' Demolition Team' on the walls. They also set off firecrackers to disturb us at night, and always knocked at our doors to order us to sign agreements, making us unable to fall asleep. All the residents feel disgusted by these actions."

The community sits on a prime location in Nanyang with reputable schools nearby, which is one of the reported reasons the residents refused to leave their houses.

The harassment began 2 years ago when water, electricity, and gas to the community was cut off. The utilities were restored following a lawsuit launched by the victims.

The company in charge of the demolition of the community has been ordered to suspend the project and cooperate with the investigation.

It is not yet known whether the team really included AIDS patients or just used the disease as a threat.

Demolitions have been under the spotlight in China for years because of the huge profits involved and the sometimes violent process.

Governments have made efforts to reduce the number of violent demolitions.