Since May 15th when I published an article about the violence I witnessed 10 days ago in Baotou City, nothing has been published at Magic City. A number of people wrote to me expressing their concern for my safety and became even more worried when I did not respond.

Despite the fears, I am OK. I left Baotou early morning May 19th to start my journey back to Australia, and since that time have not had time to access the internet.

As one can see, Today's edition has been published and there are some articles waiting to be published May 29th. Hopefully from June onwards I will not be hampered in publishing the Wednesday and Saturday editions of Magic City Morning Star News, and hopefully the Editor will soon be free to return to his duties.

Thank you to those of you who wrote expressing concerns for my safety.

As for Miss Mae, the lady who got beaten by the office manager of that school, she was still limping on the 19th when I last saw her, but she is otherwise fine. There are some good people in Baotou keeping an eye on her to ensure her continued safety.

R.P. BenDedek
Email: rpbendedek@hotmail.com

January 2011 Update:

Miss Mae is still weekly going to the police trying to get action taken against her attacker. She has made her way through the system in China and is now dealing directly with the higher police officials.

She suffers from chronic back pain from injuries received during her attack. EET - Easy English Training Centre [Baotou and Shanghai] have done their best to prevent any action being taken, but the full story cannot yet be printed.

Mr. Wu her attacker originally offered Miss Mae 500 yuan compensation and this has now reached 3000 yuan, but Miss Mae has never asked for money. She has pressed for her right to see her attacker in Court.

Authorities, goaded apparently by Mr. Gao Jiawei, have insisted that if the matter goes to court there will be an international incident.

Mr. Wu, Cui Lirong the Baotou Owner, and Gao Jiawei the Taiwanese Franchiser of Easy English Training schools are constantly away, overseas, out of the city, on business etc whenever the police try to talk to them.

At one point, after receiving certain advice from Baotou about Mr. Gao Jiawei's plan for me if I return to Baotou [which I did on October 7th 2010], I contacted the Taiwan Consul in Australia. Details of that event cannot at this time be related.

R.P. BenDedek Jan 4th 2011