News / World
China slave scandal discovered, includes kids
A human trafficking ring in China has forced more then 1,000 people to work as slaves in brutal conditions. Some of these people have been as young as 8 years old. Over 450 people have been rescued from being forced to work in brick yards and coal mines. Many of the freed workers had been brutally beaten, starved, and forced to work under horrible conditions.
Some local police and officials are believed to have helped the trafficking ring. One boss from the brickyard confessed that one man had been beaten to death. The brick yards and coal mines are said to be run "with exceptional ruthlessness."
The slave trades are believed to have been going on since March if not for years. "So far, we have rescued more than 200 people including over 40 children," a Henan public security department official said. "They were abducted and sold to brick kilns in Shanxi and Henan provinces."
The scandal has outraged many people and has alarmed high ranking Communist Party officials and the president Hu Jintao. Jintao issued orders to police to "deal with the situation."
Parent’s plea to find their missing children caused Henan police to arrest at least 120 people. They said they have personally visited brick kilns where they have seen starving workers with untreated injuries and filthy working conditions. Police believe children and adults were abducted off the streets and sold to mines and factories as slaves. Laborers were sold for as little as $64.
This is not the first time China has had an embarrassing scandal involving children surface. Reports have said children are being used to make 2008 Beijing Olympics merchandise and over 500 children were found working up to six days a week for long hours in a light industry factory. The children were said to be in a "work study" program authorized by the school.
Workers from the brick yards have said many tried to escape but were caught. They were taken back to the brick yards and vicious dogs were used to prevent anyone from escaping.
