By Gou Xinyuyulin
Published: 2007-07-20

"I spent time with some of the investors in the oil well. They were utterly destitute," says Guo.

Guo's first contact with the case was through Bao Yujun, a member of the CPPCC. The mere mention of the case to Bao at that time would stir him-- he has said that the case “defies human nature." After the investigation in November 2004, Guo discovered that despite having working the well for ten years, the government appropriated their assets in a flash. Common citizens began doubting their government and their party.

This March, Tong Zongrui and several other representatives of the Shanbei Oil investors came to Beijing, where they delivered new information to Gou. He then directly called Bao, who was in a meeting at the two congresses.

“Bao Yujun, after receiving the call, said that I should immediately send him the information,” says Gou.

On June 12, Bao Yujun told the EO via phone that the Shanbei Oil case had been discussed both in 2003 and in 2004 at the two congresses. But a changes in leadership and implementation of the Property Law have catalyzed a turning point in the case.

Mo Shaoping’s Ten Words Become Policy 

In a secluded, small courtyard tucked in Beijing’s Zhongshan Park, Mo Shaoping, partner of his namesake firm, tells us the premise for his involvement in the case.

By 2005, many investors’ representatives had sought his expertise, and he accepted under three conditions. First, he stipulated that they fight for compensation, not the return of the well. Two, he wanted to change the lawsuit against the local and provincial governments into coordination and negotiation. Three, he would have to walk a middle road. Mo believed that the highest levels of central government weren’t clear on the dispute, and wanted to report the problem to the State Council with support from the Association of Industry and Commerce.

Last December, Mo’s firm rushed a copy of their legal opinions to Shaanxi province’s complaints office, governor, and people’s congress. On December 26, officials from the Shaanxi government headquarters acknowledged receipt of the package and promised that they would “actively look into the matter”

On March 8, the same day that Guo sent his materials to the CPPCC, Mo Shaoping, Ping Xiaoling, and Hu Xiao all distributed their own materials.

Guo’s letter said that in June of 2006, after the oil well had been forcibly taken by the government from its investors without proper compensation, many investors sought an audience with more senior government officials. As they sat tight and drew in domestic and international attention, the local judicial bodies penalized Ping Bingxian and three others involved in the seizure. While this cooled down the investors, they have still fiercely sought greater justice, as many of them had become burdened by massive debt that has left them penniless and frantic.

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