Last Wednesday, China’s National Development and Reform Commission announced its approval for the Shanghai Disney theme park. It will be built in the city’s eastern Pudong District taking up 1.57 square miles of land—which means the relocation of residents.

The Community group League of Chinese Victims says similar mass relocations were carried out for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. They say it violated many human rights and property rights, including violent forced demolitions ordered by Shanghai authorities and inadequate compensation for the residents.

Chairperson of the League of Chinese Victims Shen Ting, urges Disney not to repeat such violations.

[Shen Ting, Chairperson, League of Chinese Victims]:
“First, we want to remind Disney’s headquarters in the United States not to infringe on the rights of local residents or their residential rights in the process of this investment. This is something they need to be alerted about. So this time, we will tell the Disney headquarters about the refugees that have resulted from the Shanghai World Expo development, and ask Disney to supervise Shanghai authorities during the relocation process to make sure residents’ rights are not violated.”

Disney will hold a 43% share in the project. The remainder will be controlled by Shanghai State owned companies. Chinese state media reports the park will cost up to $3.6 billion U.S. dollars and it’s expected to be opened in 2014.