Epoch Times
By Fu Ming & Mi Lan
Sound of Hope Radion Network Created: Feb 24, 2010 Last Updated: Feb 24, 2010

Forgotten by society and determined to sing out, over 60 homeless petitioners held their own “Chinese New Year Gala” on Feb. 5, a symbolic inversion of the dazzling and gaudy official affair held by the state broadcaster CCTV every year.

The petitioner’s version of the Chinese New Year Gala features plainly dressed citizens singing without accompaniment directly at a camera. Hailing from provinces around the country, they are introduced by a young host before coming forward to pour out their grievances through song.

“Because I’ve petitioned for so many years and not received an official response, I collected my experiences and composed a song. There is no fairness for people on earth, so I can only speak to the Heavens,” said one middle aged woman before beginning to belt out her troubles.

Their “celebration” touched a raw nerve with public security officials, however. Soon after the petitioners had uploaded a video of their gala performance to the Internet, police went looking for several of the individuals involved.

A Sound of Hope radio reporter interviewed Mr. Luan Qingyang, one of the organizers now in hiding. “Staff from our Municipal government and from the provincial levels came to my home on New Year’s Eve, and on New Year’s Day. They monitored the place I used to live for the whole night yesterday,” he said.    more …