2008 Woodie Awards
Chinese slave ring busted; 33 mentally disable men set free
Sari Schutrum-Boward
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: World
Thirty-three mentally disabled men, who were forced to work as slaves at a building site were rescued by police forces from a Chinese slave-ring on March 20.
According to BBC News, at least three people who are suspected of keeping the slaves are detained.
"They took people from the country," said Associate Professor of Political Science George Guo. "Once they arrived in the city they were sent to work in the construction field, and there was no way to go back."
BBC News reported that the men were discovered in a dirty room in Hulan, a city in the north-eastern province of Heilongjiang.
"I assume Hulan is an extremely politically and economically backward place where people do not get sufficient education," said sophomore Xiaoyi Zhang, a China native, and a former Guilford student in an e-mail interview. "They have to sell labor at an extremely low price to just stay alive, which leads to rich people coming in and seizing them for labor exploitation."
According to The Beijing Times, the police said "Many of the 33 detainees could not speak coherently, or clearly remember their names or where their families lived."
One detainee has been there for three years.
The men were rounded up at the bus and train station. They were swayed to get into cars by gangs who were offering work.
"This was an organized crime," Guo said. "They buy the men tickets and once the men arrive they are immediately approached and gone forever."
The Beijing Times reported that anyone who attempted to escape were beaten and terrorized.
"These men will most likely suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), due to the seriousness of the trauma," said Debra Taylor part-time lecturer in psychology in an e-mail interview. "PTSD can last for several months to many years, depending on the nature of the trauma and how well the person is able to deal with the trauma."
According to BBC News, college students raised attention to the ring when they called the police after witnessing a man who jumped to his death from the seventh-floor window.
According to BBC News, at least three people who are suspected of keeping the slaves are detained.
"They took people from the country," said Associate Professor of Political Science George Guo. "Once they arrived in the city they were sent to work in the construction field, and there was no way to go back."
BBC News reported that the men were discovered in a dirty room in Hulan, a city in the north-eastern province of Heilongjiang.
"I assume Hulan is an extremely politically and economically backward place where people do not get sufficient education," said sophomore Xiaoyi Zhang, a China native, and a former Guilford student in an e-mail interview. "They have to sell labor at an extremely low price to just stay alive, which leads to rich people coming in and seizing them for labor exploitation."
According to The Beijing Times, the police said "Many of the 33 detainees could not speak coherently, or clearly remember their names or where their families lived."
One detainee has been there for three years.
The men were rounded up at the bus and train station. They were swayed to get into cars by gangs who were offering work.
"This was an organized crime," Guo said. "They buy the men tickets and once the men arrive they are immediately approached and gone forever."
The Beijing Times reported that anyone who attempted to escape were beaten and terrorized.
"These men will most likely suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), due to the seriousness of the trauma," said Debra Taylor part-time lecturer in psychology in an e-mail interview. "PTSD can last for several months to many years, depending on the nature of the trauma and how well the person is able to deal with the trauma."
According to BBC News, college students raised attention to the ring when they called the police after witnessing a man who jumped to his death from the seventh-floor window.
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