【禁聞】公民社會夢想“常坤的家”遭打壓

【新唐人2011年4月22日訊】安徽省臨泉縣“常坤的家”創辦人常坤,提供了一個很小的免費的社區服務中心;希望實現“公民權利教育,從家鄉開始”的理想;不過,從成立以來,“常坤的家”就不斷受到地方當局的阻撓和打壓,過程艱辛。

“常坤的家”AIBO(愛博)青年中心,在去年(2010年)5月4號成立,提供臨泉縣城關鎮光明社區居民8項免費服務;簡陋的“活動中心”裏,學生可以免費讀書、上網。

這個理念的形成,是常坤在2008年到美國留學後,受到當地社區和老年、青年服務工作的影響,促使常坤回到家鄉實踐這個理想。

成立“常坤的家”並不容易;首先,常坤經過幾個月的時間才和家人取得溝通,常坤的爺爺常新禮終於同意支持常坤的理想,把原來收租的五間門面樓房,作為基本活動場地,免費提供給社區的父老鄉親,由常坤的妹妹常俊擔任義務管理員。

常坤:“我們家鄉雖然有很多很多問題,但是我們不能夠拋之棄之,希望通過我們的方式慢慢去改變這些,形成一個“公民權利教育”,從家鄉開始的理念,來認識我們的社區,讓她變得更漂亮、生活更加和諧。”

另一方面,“常坤的家”成立之後就不斷的受到地方當局的警告;剛開始,社區書記就要求常坤立刻關閉“常坤的家”,停止對社區居民提供任何免費服務。今年4月3號“常坤的家”被摘牌;4號提前開年會,卻遭到當局的無端阻撓。

常坤:“(支持的民眾和居民)來了5~60個人,他們滿懷希望、滿懷憧憬的來到“常坤的家”AIBO(愛博)青年中心,看到的卻是來自於城關鎮政府、社區裡的領導幹部的一些阻撓、謾罵甚至一些暴力行為;但是呢,他們也告訴我說,他們認為,看到這個事情比在會議上學到的東西,更能夠讓他們刻骨銘心。”

當天,常坤腦部受傷住院觀察,他的家人也受到不同程度的傷害;而警方至今不聞不問,任兇手逍遙法外。

陸軍(北京益仁平中心負責人):“常坤做的一些工作提升大家的衛生常識、法律和公民意識的活動,這樣就可能觸到一些地方官員的記恨。因為如果說民眾法律意識、權利意識更強的話,可能對於地方一些違法亂紀的現象,特別是官員的不法行為造成很大的威脅。”

4月9號,“常坤的家”AIBO青年中心再次開放,周圍父老鄉親和青年學生,都以行動表達他們對於知識、書本、互聯網,和開放公民社會以及公平正義的追求;不過,他們仍時時受到地方當局派員盯梢!

常坤:“娛樂場所都存在,都在鼓勵、都在發展,為甚麼就不能夠發展學習的場所呢?”

當地民眾:“我們中國作件好事特別特別的不容易現在;我們中國的體制和教育它實際上對人是一種長期吸食精神柯海英(毒品)的過程,可以說百分之八、九十的人受到這個毒害太深太深,真正清醒的人那是很少很少、確實很少。”

目前,已有上千人在“常坤的家”參與圖書閱讀和互聯網服務;而講座論壇就開辦了八次,包括來自美國、香港、日本等地的學者、作家、記者和NGO人士參加,並與當地青年座談。常坤希望通過持之以恆的示範,若干年後,能在社區看到成效。

臨泉縣曾是公安部劃定的17個毒品問題重點整治地區之一,2003年,成為全中國第一批愛滋病防治示範區。

而28歲的常坤已經從事公益工作多年,他的理想是“首先我們的爸媽兄弟姊妹們支持我們,接著我們的親戚鄰居支持我們,我們的父老鄉親支持我們,最終我們才能見到夢想的公民社會!”

新唐人記者梁欣、薛莉採訪報導。

=====

A Dream Community Suppressed in China

Chang Kun from Anhui Province, the founder of “Chang Kun's Home”, provides a very small but free service center, hoping to fulfill his dream of "civil rights education starts from home." However, "Chang Kun's Home” has encountered continuous interferences from the local authorities.

"Chang Kun's Home"AIBO Youth Center was established in May, 2010. It provides 8 free services for the residents of Linquan County. In the center, students can read books and use the Internet for free.

The concept of community services was formed after Chang Kun studied in America in 2008. He was inspired by the services in the local community.

To establish “Chang Kun's Home” was hard: first, it took him a few months to gain supports from his Family. His grandfather finally agreed to give up five rental stores to provide a free activity site for the community residents and his sister became the volunteer manager of the youth center.

Chang Kun: “Our home town has many problems, but we cannot abandon it. Hopefully we can slowly improve it, form a concept that education of human rights starts from home, understand our community and make it more beautiful and harmonious.”

Since its establishment, "Chang Kun's Home "has received continuous warnings from the authorities. The community secretary asked him to close the center and not provide any free services. On April 3, 2010, the center was delisted. On April 4, authorities tried to prevent them from having an annual meeting.

Chang Kun: “Many local residents came to support us. They hoped to see the Chang Kun's Home', but they saw the harassment, cursing and violence coming from the local authorities instead. However, they told us that this was unforgettable and they learned more from this than from a meeting.”

On the incident day, Chang Kun had to stay in the hospital for observation from a brain injury. His family suffered varying degrees of injury. So far, police have remained indifferent, and the perpetrator is at large.

Lu Jun (a manager from Beijing Center): "What Chang Kun does can improve our health knowledge, legal and civic awareness which are in conflict with local authorities. A strong sense of legal and human rights will become a threat for wrong doings from our local authorities.

On April 9, "Chang Kun's Home"AIBO Youth Centre opened again, surrounded by folks and young students wanting to express their quests for knowledge, books, Internet, an open dream community and justice. However, they are being monitored as always!

Chang Kun:"Entertainments are being encouraged and developed nowadays, but why not a learning center?”

Local resident: “It's hard to do good deeds in China, Under our educational system, it is like addicted to heroin, about 80-90% of people are deeply poisoned. It's rare to find someone who is clear-headed.”

At present, thousands of people participate in reading and Internet services at the "Chang Kun's Home”. They've offered forums eight times. Participants were scholars, writers, reporters and NGO staffs from America, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Chang Kun hopes that through persistence and we would see the results in the community after a few years.

Linquan County was once one of the 17 designated drug areas. In 2003, it became the first AIDS prevention demonstration area.

Chang Kun is 28 and has engaged in community services for many years. His vision is “First gain supports from our parents and siblings, then from our relatives and neighbors, then from our local residents and in the end, our dream community will become reality!”

NTD reporters Liang Xin and Xue Li