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Staff / Reuters
Villagers gather outside the Wukan Communist Party offices to protest about land disputes in Wukan village in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong Friday.
WUKAN, China -- One of China's most celebrated experiments in grassroots democracy showed signs of faltering on Friday, as frustrations with elected officials in the southern fishing village of Wukan triggered a small and angry protest.
On the first anniversary of an uprising that gave birth to the experiment, more than 100 villagers rallied outside Wukan's Communist Party offices to express anger at what they saw as slow progress by the village's democratically elected governing committee to resolve local land disputes.
"We still haven't got our land back," shouted Liu Hancai, a retired 62-year-old party member, one of many villagers fighting to win back land that was seized by Wukan's previous administration and illegally sold for development.
PhotoBlog: Chinese villagers defy government in standoff over land rights
The small crowd, many on motorbikes, was kept under tight surveillance by plain-clothed officials fearful of any broader unrest breaking out. Police cars were patrolling the streets.
"There would be more people here, but many people are afraid of trouble and won't come out," Liu told Reuters.
A year ago, Wukan became a beacon of rights activism after the land seizures sparked unrest and led to the sacking of local party officials. That in turn led to village-wide elections for a more representative committee to help resolve the rows.
The Chinese village of Wukan in China's southern Guangdong Province had enough of local government corruption and threw out local party officials earlier this year. Now they are in a tense standoff with security forces who have formed a cordon around the town, cutting it off from the outside world.
Growing pains?
Friday's demonstration was far less heated than the protests that earned Wukan headlines around the world last year. But the small rally reveals how early optimism has soured for some.
Nevertheless, Wukan's elderly village chief and former protest leader, Lin Zuluan, who was voted into office on a landslide, stressed these grievances were natural teething problems with any fledgling democracy.
Democracy declined worldwide in 2011, watchdog says
He stressed his administration had made concrete strides including wresting back 625 acres and implementing clean, legal and open administrative practices including full disclosure of village finances and open tenders for projects.
"At this starting point for Wukan there will definitely exist some problems but it doesn't mean there hasn't been democracy or that we have made major mistakes," he said.
In March, expectations were high in this village, built near a sheltered harbor fringed by mountains, after Lin and his fellow elected leaders pledged to swiftly resolve the land issue.
Villagers defiant as government creates new narrative
Lin said complex land contracts and bureaucratic red-tape were hindering their work, with nearly 700 disputed hectares still unaccounted for.
Some critics say the village committee, which includes several young leaders of last year's protests, lacked administrative experience, failed to engage the public and allowed itself to be out-maneuvered by higher party authorities.
Shady deals
"They were people's heroes," said Chen Jinchao, a villager still trying to get back about 1.6 acres of farmland.
"But now we see them differently. We don't have any new hope. What's the point of electing them if they can't solve the (land) problem?" he added.
Some say recent discord has been partly sown by allies of the former disgraced village leader, Xue Chang, while higher officials in the Shanwei county seat of government remain tangled in shady deals involving hundreds of acres of Wukan land in a new economic development zone.
"If Shanwei's corrupt officials aren't cleaned out completely, it is very difficult for us to move forward," said Zhang Jiancheng, one of the young activists elected onto the village committee.
"Of every 100 things, we may do 50 of them. But people only complain about the 50 things we don't do ... The village committee has been trying to get the land back piece by piece. It's been a very painful process but we must follow legal procedures."
Journalist beatings erase Wukan optimism
With China about to choose new leaders, any further unrest at Wukan could impact Guangdong province's high-flying leader, Wang Yang, hailed as a reformer by some for defusing the Wukan standoff by acceding to key village demands and averting a potentially bloody crackdown.
Read more news from China on NBC's Behind The Wall
Some villagers have spoken of marching again and putting real pressure on county and provincial authorities.
"In the end, if they really force us to the very limits, it will be like a volcano exploding," said a senior villager who asked not to be named. "You can't control it."
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Leave a Comment:
One tiny little villaige against an empire, what kind of results were they expecting?
I think the missing part to their democracy is lobbyist. Democratic politicians really don't know how to vote without a lobbyist stuffing money in their coat pockets and telling them vote this way and you will get reelected. And we know the only goal a politician has is to get reelected.
Democracy never meant people run the government and make the laws that govern them. It just means you put somebody in office for him to tell you what you have to do. They'll figure it out.
Look what William Wallace accomplished.
He was one man who united a country and brought Scotland its freedom from England.
WOW the Media is already advancing THEIR PRO COMMIE PLAN!!
America WAKE UP the media wants to take YOUR FREEDOM and turn America into RUSSIA
In America the Big Developers would have bought and owned the corrupt politicians who would then manipulate the Eminent Domain laws to seize land from American land owners. Any mass protest would be attacked by riot police, paramilitary SWAT cops armed with heavy machine guns, armor vehicles, and helicopter gunships.
At least in China, the local authority and police have shown some restraint.
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Well, that's enough for me.
Just proves that democracy sucks and China, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, etc. have it right.
What more evidence do we need in this country ??
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Then why in the f**k don't you move there? We'd have one less @$$hole in traffic and on welfare.
Yo, all that sailing naked has obviously affected your brain's ability to detect total sarcasm and quite possibly seems to have made you an angry person...put on some shorts and chill.
The problem with sailing naked is sun affects his only thinking mechanism without shorts and when that gets sunburned it is going to be a bad day.
People are losing their properties for development, all I can say is welcome to Democracy.
Politicians say one thing to get elected, and then do something entirely different when they gain office. It doesn't matter if they speak English or Chinese.
Wow!
They have had a whole 12 months to right the wrongs of centuries. Yeah, I'd fire the lazy bums.
Don't judge the value of something by its size. Under estimating what a spark can do has often lead to catastrophic results.The Chicago fire started out very tiny, look what happened. So did the London fire of 1666 that literally burned everything to the ground.
History has shown the courses in practically every great civilization we have records on were altered with just a small few determined individuals. A pebble can start a land slide. Last, a million people can say something can't be done. It only takes one person believing it can. Hence we have the light bulb, airplane, car, vaccines, camera, space ships, artificial hearts, computers, copy machines, cell phones, etc.
Democracy isn't easy to achieve and corruption in politics is everywhere. We of all nations should know that. So of course they are meeting with problems.What they need is support now. Just as we had support as our republic was being founded.
Hence we have the light bulb, airplane, car, vaccines, camera, space ships, artificial hearts, computers, copy machines, cell phones, etc.
How many of these where thought of in a communist country NONE!
Communism has not been in China very long, given the length of time its culture has existed. Plus don't forget how many individuals fled countries with dictators and corrupt political systems, who went on to become great inventors that we benefited from. For China though,it people in the past have contributed much which almost every country has benefited in the world. Here is a list of just some of what it has given to the world. And, some of these were by the communist government.What's interesting to remember is everything we enjoy in advancements, is always built on what came before. Remove one advancement from long ago, and who knows what we may not have today!
Rockets-fire arrow and multi-stage,suspension bridges, toothbrushes, camera obscura, blast furnaces, cast iron, compass, gunpowder, firearms, horse collar, printing-block and moveable type, paper and Indian ink, silk, early seismic detection system for earthquakes, rudder , odometer, scissors, steel, abacus- bellows, belt drives, vaccinations, postal system, umbrellas, kites(really helpful for somebody who stuck a key on a string during a storm one day in history!),dry-dock, star catalogue, paper money, windmills, saws, cannons and naval mines,repeating crossbows, hull compartments/bulkheads in ships, wheel barrows and waterwheels, even toilet paper!
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China has had local elections every 5 years for 25 years. The CPC monitors the elections, and the results, to ensure that the local residents are benefiting from their elections. If the local elected officials are not serving their citizens effectively, the CPC may intervene to help resolve local issues.
"Benefiting" as defined by the CPC. Coming soon to a neighborhood near you.
these two words will NEVER, NEVER go together: Communist and Democracy !!
In every political system there will always be politicians intent on getting their way at the expense of the population.
Protesting an injustice is easy. Having the experience, knowledge, and diligence to work through complex issues is difficult. This is one reason that electing politicians based on their 'charisma' rather than their track record of accomplishment is not the intelligent thing for voters to do.
Well said.
"You seized our land. Give it back." How complex is that issue?
@denver bill2: very complex. Indians are still trying to take back their country.
Chinese Republicans Tea Party? Needs a little extra campaign money to solve problems, with obstructions, 'citizens united'?
""But now we see them differently. We don't have any new hope. What's the point of electing them if they can't solve the problem?""
Am I the only American that wants to hug this guy and say, "we understand"?
Yeah, look at us CAPITAL COMMUNIST = GOP & TEA PARTIES and DEMOCRACY= DEMS & GREEN.
I'll stick to DEMOCRACY for our NATION. Thank You very much !!
Has the element of greed broken in to the village leadership? Are the leaders keeping the land for themselves?
Yes, WHY do WE ELECT CROOKS AND EVADERS OF CIVIC DUTIES and JUSTICE for OUR CONGRESS or HOUSE ????. Sounds like the HOUSING CRASH where the 1-10% GAINED and LOST nothing. The GOP & TEA SHYSTERS way.
Gee's folks it is like the BELLS ARE RINGING when the FINANCIAL CRASH CAME ABOUT WHO GAINED AND WHO LOST.
WALL STREET and all the CONGRESS (GOP & TEA SHYSTER) gained. WE the PEOPLE (CITIZENS) LOST HEAVILY !!! What a coincidence and how Ironic the similarities!!!
I.M A REPUBLICAN AND i'm stuck with a house thats worth heck lot less,can't sell it but because we made a commitment have rented out for 5 yrs. for 300 less than our mortgage. It was the democrats that started this housing fiasco by saying and making mortgage co., okaying people to buy houses they could not afford. It's only suppose to be the american dream if you can afford it. My husband andI have worked a long time but things keep getting worse and I'm suppose to be happy with a commmunity organizer in the white house that doesn't know his a-s from a hole in the ground. GIVE ME A BREAK
OH yes he is responsible for you buying a house you can not afford
Alain Deflandre:
FDR administration created FHA and Fannie, both a form of government home subsidy. Later, Freddie was added. The Federal Reserve's persistent low interest rate coupled with government mortgage guarantees enabled WallStFatCats to securitized the mortgage papers. Lower lending standards and cheap money encouraged house flippers to bid up prices. The housing bubble is not a GOP or Tea Party creation.
HEED the WORDS of "CRANKS and CRAZIES" like the Prime Minister of Australia says about GOP & TEA SHYSTERS !!! Fits right in for the COMMUNIST does it not.
Australia's politicians are no better than America's. Why heed the words from any politicians, especially foreigners? Why let them exploit us with their divide-and-conquer trick?
During the Cold War Era, 'Communism' was the boogy-man used to scare Americans to pay billions for many useless military weapons. When the Big Bad Russian Communism imploded without a whimper, no one in America questioned whether we've been had. Today, the boogy-man is 'Terrorism.' The mission is the same: wagemeaningless wars; kill people; purchase useless expensive weapons; scare the day-light out of the American taxpayers.
Democracy always starts small.
For America it took the Boston Tea Party to get things going that resulted in American becoming free.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Lexington_and_Concord
The Chinese government does not know who its messing with.
Those fishermen can easily set traps around their cities that would tear a regular ground infantry to pieces just like the militiamen did to the British Regulars.
Fisherman with hooks, nets and rope IS a very lethal combination.
Let us as Americans support the Chinese Rebels and give them a new name....Crouching Tigers.
Let their nets and hooks ensnare their enemy to bring their country into the light of freedom.
America is a free country and as an obligation to other nations of planet Earth that are not free and not are protected by laws that protect their rights we must endeavor to make such countries free.
To not do so is to remain slaves ourselves.
How can you do your part for the village of Wukan?
Very simple write a short story about their courage or their lives as fisherman. Keep the story and pass it on to your family members for ages to come talking about the village of Wukan fighting back against Communism and Slavery.
By writing a simple short story about Wukan and her people the spirit of Wukan will become part of America thus making the friendship and bond between Wukan and America stronger once Wukan wins its freedom.
May Wukan and her people walk in the light of hope as they see the history of Communism and Oppression wiped before their land like a storm through the valley.
You are being a bit overly optimistic. This is a tiny town. This is also 2012. Fisherman with hooks and nets might have been able to stand up against men with breach loaded muskets, but they will not be able to stand up to the Chinese Army with machine guns, attack helicopters, and tanks. They will not even try.
The one thing the government in China fears more than anything else is a widespread protest by the peasant class. The rulers in China are very much aware that mobilizing the mostly rural peasant class is what brought the Communist Party to power. They are equally aware that if mobilized against the party, the party could be toppled and the country could very well go into chaos.
When there a over one billion people and the majority of them are poor and disaffected, the government does what it must to placate the masses. While it can use its guns, attack helicopters and tanks, dead peasants can't grow the food needed for the billions of people in the country.
This village is NO DIFFERENT than the U.S., We say we're Democratic but the corrupt Republican corporate MONARCHY has INFILTRATED our government with their "HAND-PICKED" political puppets that have MADE SLAVES of the 99% American People! They have STOLEN 77% of the people's wealth and gave it to their ONE-PERCENTERS & their VACATIONING CEO'S living a LIFE OF LUXURY while driving the 99% American People into POVERTY!
Not a surprise... they have no concept of how democracy actually works, so they are learning. Just ask the Russians about how it worked out for them within a few years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It's taken a long time for democracy to start working and they are even slipping backwards. Democracy takes work, vigilance, and trust in the power of common people. Something we are losing even here.
It has so-o-o worked! A small vocal minority is running over the rights of the majority. Just like in the good ole US of A.
Democracy does not exist anywhere on Earth.
And Thay fit the description of some sad a-s commies from the looks of the picture the're in. GOD BLESS AMERICA...............................................................................................................................................
The guy's on the bikes are squabbeling and are trying to pick up the chick in the hat.
The central and local governments of China should give the decent right to those who have been working hard to their locality and family, and please offer them the decent living standard, so they can save the money for their own family and themselves when they are old; at least, they have shelter and place to work for their living/to stay/to live.
I have a feeling that things will explode. The government strategy is probably to make this entire exercise pointless, and thus discourage people from seeking such changes in the future. This is a potentially dangerous strategy. When even very limited forms of self-government are effectively stamped out, the problem is not resolved.
Peaceful change is often slower than we would like. These officials are up against a huge, corrupt, and antagonistic opponent. The Chinese govt has no interest in seeing democracy succeed. The plutocrats have even less.
We have the same problem with plutocrats here. What beat them the last time was a govt on the side of the people. We need to have that. That pretty well rules out the GOP. The Dems are far from ideal but they are far better than the GOP.
We could teach them all a lesson. Vote out the vote suppressors everywhere. Today it is the elderly and minorities and students. Tomorrow it will be the women. After that, they may decide to go for the white guys, because that will be all that's left.
We need to secure the right to vote for every eligible citizen. That right trumps all other considerations. Otherwise we are no longer democratic or a republic. Laws which by any means deny legitimate voters their rights are not constitutional.
It is a fallacy to claim almost every adult has ID. Many city dwellers have never driven a car. The poor don't fly, and likely rely on others with ID to get items that require it, or do without. Seniors frequently have stopped driving. There are lots that don't have birth certificates. Students should be allowed to vote where they attend school. School ID's should be acceptable ID.
Getting documentation can be expensive. States charge for birth certificates, and they can be expensive. This is a serious burden for the old and poor, as well as students. NY does or at least did charge over 70.00 a few years ago. That's a lot of money for someone on a fixed income.
The right to vote is a right, not a privilege. It is a precious right and responsibility that many Americans fail to appreciate.
This is a year where we need full voter turnout. Everyone needs to vote. No one should seriously consider voting for a party that has so much contempt for poor people that they feel free to take this most basic right away from them, because the rest of us are next.
A demonstration of the value we place on our right to vote would teach all politicians a lesson. The reason he GOP candidateis such a joke is that they think we are not paying attention. A lot of us are not. Bad plan.
I watched the GOP ignore a well qualified candidate because he did not pass their litmus test in favor of a candidate who is a sneering plutocrat and not nearly as well qualified.
Why run a guy no one likes when you have a man who has a better track record and diplomatic experience with our biggest world rival? Because he believes in science? Really? Because he is enough of a patriot to serve the Dem POTUS when asked, in spite of the risk to his own political career? Because his sons are serving in the military while your candidate's sons are on the campaign trail?
It beggars the imagination. It will cost the GOP the election this fall.
I'd like to see them given a sharp lesson. Maybe they will straighten up so I can vote for them again. Right now, with the current dogma, I'll never vote for them again.