Cui Yingjie
Encyclopedia
Cui Yingjie is a peasant from Fuping County
(阜平县), Hebei, China who came to Beijing
as a migrant worker
. Cui became the source of national attention when on August 11, 2006, a Beijing City Urban Administrative and Law Enforcement Bureau official or Chengguan (城管), Li Zhiqiang (李志强), attempted to confiscate Cui's bicycle cart because Cui had no license to work
or live in Beijing. Cui protested the confiscation and a struggle ensued, during which Cui stabbed Li in the throat with a fruit knife. Li died from his wounds soon after. Cui fled to Tianjin
, where he was arrested several days later.
Cui's trial began in December, 2006. During the trial, a large internet discussion began on whether Cui should face the death penalty
or not for his crimes. Although precedent called for the death penalty, many Chinese sympathized with Cui's situation as a poor peasant coming to Beijing to earn a living for his family, who lost his temper when his means of earning of living was being taken away from him. In April 2007, Cui was convicted of willful murder and sentenced to death, but his punishment was reprieved for 2 years. This reprieve generally implies that with good behavior Cui's sentence will be reduced to life in prison.
Cui's case highlighted the growing problem facing Beijing and other large cities. Many migrant workers have illegally come to the cities in search of work. With the 2008 Olympics approaching, Beijing has begun cracking down on migrant workers.
Many Chinese observers compared the case to that of Sun Zhigang, who was killed after being mistakenly arrested in Guangzhou
in 2003. That case caused a complete overhaul of the custody and repatriation
laws, although it is not yet clear if Cui Yingjie's case will have a similar effect on city administration.
Fuping County, Hebei
Fuping County is a county southwestern Hebei province, North China. It is under the jurisdiction of Baoding City.-Administrative Divisions:Towns:*Fuping Town , Longquanguan , Pingyang, Fuping County, Hebei , Chengnanzhuang Townships:...
(阜平县), Hebei, China who came to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
as a migrant worker
Migrant worker
The term migrant worker has different official meanings and connotations in different parts of the world. The United Nations' definition is broad, including any people working outside of their home country...
. Cui became the source of national attention when on August 11, 2006, a Beijing City Urban Administrative and Law Enforcement Bureau official or Chengguan (城管), Li Zhiqiang (李志强), attempted to confiscate Cui's bicycle cart because Cui had no license to work
Work permit
Work permit is a generic term for a legal authorization which allows a person to take employment.It is most often used in reference to instances where a person is given permission to work in a country where one does not hold citizenship, but is also used in reference to minors, who in some...
or live in Beijing. Cui protested the confiscation and a struggle ensued, during which Cui stabbed Li in the throat with a fruit knife. Li died from his wounds soon after. Cui fled to Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, where he was arrested several days later.
Cui's trial began in December, 2006. During the trial, a large internet discussion began on whether Cui should face the death penalty
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
or not for his crimes. Although precedent called for the death penalty, many Chinese sympathized with Cui's situation as a poor peasant coming to Beijing to earn a living for his family, who lost his temper when his means of earning of living was being taken away from him. In April 2007, Cui was convicted of willful murder and sentenced to death, but his punishment was reprieved for 2 years. This reprieve generally implies that with good behavior Cui's sentence will be reduced to life in prison.
Cui's case highlighted the growing problem facing Beijing and other large cities. Many migrant workers have illegally come to the cities in search of work. With the 2008 Olympics approaching, Beijing has begun cracking down on migrant workers.
Many Chinese observers compared the case to that of Sun Zhigang, who was killed after being mistakenly arrested in Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
in 2003. That case caused a complete overhaul of the custody and repatriation
Custody and repatriation
Custody and repatriation was an administrative procedure, established in 1982 and ended in 2003, by which the police in the People's Republic of China could detain people if they did not have a residence permit or temporary living permit , and return them to the place where they could legally...
laws, although it is not yet clear if Cui Yingjie's case will have a similar effect on city administration.