Human Rights Group: 13,000 People Are Evicted Every Month In Preparation For Beijing Olympic Facilities

Geneva, Switzerland (AHN) - Amid criticism from human rights organizations, about 13,000 people a month are being evicted in time for the Beijing Olympics, a Geneva-based housing rights group had said.

The Center on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) said with the ongoing number of evictees, an estimated 1.5 million people living in Beijing capital would be displaced in time for the 2008 Games, reported ABC News.

Beijing, however, said COHRE's figures are exaggerated. The displaced populace is also satisfied with the compensation given them by the government, it added.

A total of 1.23 million people have been unabatedly displaced as of June, the group said, referring to what its findings when it came back to the capital in August.

"In Beijing, and in China more generally, the process of demolition and eviction is characterized by arbitrariness and lack of due process. In many cases, tenants are given little or no notice of their eviction and do not receive the promised compensation," the COHRE said, ABC News reported.

The COHRE said a number of building were demolished in what is called the "petitoners' village" in Fengtai District, a relocation housing site for displaced people from the whole of China due to land seizures, forced evictions, and corruption.

"The 1.5 million figure is definitely wrong, said Sui Zhenjiang, director of Beijing's construction committee, in August.

In September, more than three million complaints - including land acquisitions and housing demolitions - had been lodged at complaints department and local government units in the country, reported Xinhua News quoting the official newspaper of the Commmunist party People's Daily.