Where's my daddy?

Where's my daddy?, originally uploaded by Andrew Carter.

Andrew Carter is an amazing "capturer" This is a photo he recently took in China. The story attached describes the photo.

Where's my daddy?

Eight year-old Zheng Lin Xin, who I met on 11 September, doesn't know where her daddy is.

Zheng Da Jing had been taken from Beijing against his will two weeks before by government officials from his home province of Hubei.

His wife hadn't heard from him since.

Mr Zheng had gone to the capital to petition the state council for justice in a property dispute that has left his family homeless.

He's one of thousands from across China who gather in the city to exercise their ancient right to have their pleas heard.

But the Beijing authorities don't want the petitioners causing a nuisance as the city prepares for the communist party congress in a month's time, or generally cluttering the streets as the 2008 Olympics approaches.

So they send them home, often against their will and under cover of darkness.

Nobody knows the exact numbers, but human rights groups receive a steady stream of reports about people being removed each week.

Xin's mum cried as she told us the story, but the little girl just smiled and tried out her English on us.

"Hello" and "Thank you" were the only phrases she knew.

Taken during filming for a forthcoming Unreported World documentary to be broadcast on Channel 4 TV in the UK on 19 Oct 2007.