More than 1,000 missing children in China are believed to have been abducted and forced to work as slave labour in brick kilns for 16 hours a day.
The children, some as young as 8 and still wearing their school uniform., were guarded by fierce dogs and thugs who beat them. Many children had festering wounds on their black feet and around their waists, apparently from burns. Some were even beaten to death by their guards.
China has been shocked by the cruelty of this brutal human trafficking. The desperate parents of more than 400 missing children have posted an online letter pleading with the authorities to rescue their children.
The parents, most of them from Central China’s Henan Province, believe their missing children have been abducted or coaxed into child labor in neighboring Shanxi Province.
One parent said he received a phone call from his son in May, saying he was being forced to work in a kiln in Shanxi. The boy said the owner of the brick kiln had told him he would release him if his father paid 35,000 yuan ($4,600).
Eight parents said they had been intimidated by kiln owners while looking for their children near Yuncheng in Shanxi. Local police offered no help, they said.
Police have now begun to make arrests after the scandal “brewed on the Internet” and in the state media. Hundreds of adult slaves have also been rescued.
Investigations have been spearheaded largely by parents searching the mountains of southern Shanxi for missing sons.
In memory of those who are still missing.
Absolutely shocking. And here we are with the Olympic Games at our doorstep. Millions of dollars are being spent and humans rights issues like this one are far from being solved. And then there is Tibet … Thanks Ellee for bringing this to our attention.
Eurodog, this is a truly shocking story. How can police turn a blind eye to young children working as slave labour? Let’s hope they are all rescued soon and returned home. Poor kids, how they must have suffered.
This is absolutely awful, Ellee. Well done for bringing it to our attention.
I despair at some of the things going on in China. Thanks for bringing this up. China made the New York Times headlines three times in a week for recalled products, which we know are made with child labor and under appalling conditions. Yet we, US, still keep buying!
ps. I found you over at Ian Lidster’s blog … I used to play the clarinet too! And although I live in the US, I’m actually from Birmingham so thought I’d say hi.
I despair at some of the things going on in China. Thanks for bringing this up. China made the New York Times headlines three times in a week for recalled products, which we know are made with child labor and under appalling conditions. Yet we, US, still keep buying!
ps. I found you over at Ian Lidster’s blog … I used to play the clarinet too! And although I live in the US, I’m actually from Birmingham so thought I’d say hi.
What has to be one of the nicest blogs is showing us the worst of the World, all necessary I suppose, Ellee. 🙁
Vicki, thanks for dropping by and visiting my site.
Kevin, I know we try to be positive about China and its booming economy, but we can’t turn a blind eye to these atrocities.