Chinese "dama" join house demolition team

Less than one month after an "AIDS demolition team" in China's central Henan Province spurred huge controversy, another group of demolition personnel snagged headlines recently, this time featuring Chinese "dama", or middle-aged Chinese women.

In a surveillance video that went viral on the Internet lately, a group of middle-aged women, usually called "dama" in Chinese, can be seen storming into a house and punching the windows, sticks in hand.

The attack took place in a make-shift house in Henan's Zhecheng County during the wee hours of Jan. 7. The house owner reportedly refused to move out after failing to reach a compensation deal with the real estate developer, according to the China News Service.

The 20 members of the demolition squad were each given 200 yuan (32.6 U.S. dollars) to demolish the house. A local public security official said they are looking into the case.

A publicity official of Zhecheng confirmed the authenticity of the video to Xinhua, adding that the "dama" were construction workers hired by a real estate developer to persuade the house owner, an old lady, to sign demolition contracts.

The official said on condition of anonymity 71 out of 72 households in the area have moved out. The old lady has refused to move unless she gets a compensation of three million yuan. He added that there were no "violent attacks" at the site.

Chinese "dama," or "big mama" in English, are usually seen as those who keep a tight grip on the family purse and have their eyes set on gold prices in jewelry shops. In recent years, Chinese "dama", many of whom have a big passion for square dancing, have courted controversy as they often disturb residents by playing music at high volumes while dancing in public spaces.

The topic is being heatedly discussed on microblog Sina Weibo, with many people saying the absurd demolition team shows loopholes in a society under the rule of law.

"First there was AIDS demolition team, now there is a dama demolition team. What's next?" read one comment.

"Why don't they just stick to square dancing?" said another.

Experts say the bizzare demolition teams are a result of patchy law enforcement.

"Some local governments in China resort to violent, sometimes illegal measures, to reach quick demolition," said Yang Hongmei, a professor with the Henan University of Economics and Law.

In the case of "dama" demolition team, Yang believes that some "dama" have low levels of education and law, making them easily hired by some people.

"Hiding behind the absurd teams are those who want to pay less compensation," Yang said.

Liu Hui, a lawyer with Beijing Yanyuan Law Firm, said governments should go through proper legal procedures when it comes to house demolition, and supervision should be ramped up in the process.

The case came on the heels of another incident regarding house demolition. In December, four officials were reprimanded and five suspects held by police in Henan's Nanyang City after six people living with HIV/AIDS were hired to harass residents who refused to vacate their homes for construction projects.

The six-member team harassed residents who refused to sign demolition contracts, set off firecrackers in the yard and shot residents' windows with slingshots and steel ball bearings.

The demolition team even brandished their AIDS identity cards in an attempt to intimidate residents, according to police.