Recent flood disasters in China’s northeastern Jilin Province have affected six million people, according to the Chinese regime.

In the name of relief efforts, local officials have been running donation drives, like the one sent out in this notice. The Tonghua City Education Department urges all employees to donate money. It even suggests various amounts each staff should contribute depending on their rank.

The notice says the donation should be done voluntarily, but some residents say they are being forced to give up their pay, or they will risk losing their jobs.

[Mr. Wang, Jilin Resident]: (male Chinese)
“My wife is a teacher, and was forced to donate 60% of her pay. Our life is probably tougher than disaster victims. This month my mother in law is supporting us. We’re all angered by this. If we don’t donate money we’ll lose our jobs. The officials want to show political achievement, and won’t accept goods donations.”

Another public servant who asked to stay anonymous, said even families who aren’t financially well off are being forced to donate money.

[Jilin Resident]: (female, Chinese)
“The authorities say if we complain we will be fired, it’s being forced upon us. I think donation should be voluntary. I heard about my colleagues who are sending children to school, or whose father is in hospital, they’re not even given any leniency.”

A local resident, Mr. Zhang, says corrupt officials have contributed to the disaster.

[Mr. Zhang, Jilin Resident]:
“These high ranking government officials can sell some of their million dollar cars to go towards relief efforts. Why was the disaster so big, you see that they cut back on the materials for the bridge? Doesn’t this have to do with greedy and corrupt officials? Some bridges were barely two years old, and they collapsed during the flood. It’s all shoddy work, the reinforced steel are as thin as wires.”

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