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Beijing: On March 16, 2009, Father Francis Gao
Jianli (39) was attacked while at the mayor's office in
Xiangong town in Chencang district where he had been
invited to discuss a disputed church property.
The land in question was seized during the Cultural
Revolution and a factory was opened on the site. The
factory has since shut down and both the church and the
district government's property management office have
made claims of ownership.
When the government began to work on the land, hundreds
of believers gathered on the site in protest. Father
Jianli was summoned by the mayor to address the issue
but was instead badly beaten by two men. At last report,
Father Jianli remained in hospital in Baoji city and was
under police surveillance.
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