Mysterious and obscure China is the emerging superpower #1. Major lender of the American economy that grows decrepit, it is also the main consumer of global energy resources and the owner of an increasing military might. Its economy, the most dynamic in the world, is perfectly integrated into communist ideology. During the age of global crises and total reappraisal of values certain politicians and theoreticians unwittingly lift their eyes to the East, seeking for the formula of social harmony.
The Chinese People’s Republic has yet another dimension, thanks to which it has acquired all the aforementioned and enviable traits. It is its isolation. The rest of the world knows little and less of the price China paid for its economic miracle. Apart from the problems with Tibet Autonomous Region global community knows almost nothing about Chinese social and political life. So to say, Chinese porridge is cooked in a pot with a closed cap. Chinese cuisine, though, is famous for an art of giving false flavors to the food, making fish smell of meat, and giving snake the taste of chicken.
Architect father of Chinese perestroika Dèng Xiăopíng didn’t spend his college years waiting the tables in Chinese restaurant in Paris for nothing. Perhaps, this is exactly the reason why scent and taste of ritual Chinese noodle Laba Chou are so tricky that even the connoisseurs of Chinese cuisine cannot identify its ingredients. On the rare occasions, when excessive pressure inside of the pot doesn’t blow the cap off entirely, but merely lifts it a bit, we can grasp the opportunity and take a look inside, catching a quick peek of the much-talked-about snake with chicken taste.
While the West, rattled by economic crisis, hopefully glimpses at a seemingly unshakeable East, the latter one gradually loses its soil, too. Globalization spares none. China that made a fortune with its help now starts feeling the consequences of decreasing demand in the wealthy Western countries — since this August volume of Chinese export has been steadily dropping. Apart from the Western crisis, Chinese economy is also influenced by the problems of its own, which, however, have accumulated as if by copying the Western patterns. These problems are the real-estate market bubble and the huge debt burden of the local budgets. Recent events in Guangdong province — known as the “laboratory of Chinese capitalism” — vividly reveal the famous Chinese socialism with a capitalist face.
 |
| Rally of revolted Wukan peasants and fishermen |
The tumult around the revolted, yet unsubdued, village of Wukan is on for four months in a row. Wukan is a center of 12-thousand people strong rural and fishing district of Guangdong province, not far from Hong-Kong. Wukan citizens have exiled the local representatives of the Communist Party and elected the local Council made of 13 “people’s will envoys”. On 11 Dec 1000 armed policemen failed to take the village using water cannons and teargas. After the failure, police cordoned the village, cutting it off the food and water supply.
Wukan fishermen and peasants have traditionally been at loggerheads with their neighbors from Lufeng. In September villagers revolted against the decision of administrations to pass a plot of land to a developer company with a cute name “Village Garden”. In 2006 Chinese government changed the legislation regulating the legal status of rural lands. Agricultural tax was denounced and the administrative sale of land was allowed. Incomes from these sales make a substantial share of Chinese budget today, which naturally pushes authorities towards requisition of lands. Approximately 200.000 hectares of land is seized annually. The former editor-in-chief of China Daily (official mouthpiece of the Communist Party apparatus) admitted that throughout 2007–2009 the number of protest against land requisitions has exceeded 90.000. In 2010 this number went as high up as to 100.000.
The fiercest protests started this September in Wukan. After vain roaming through official cabinets, district citizens have hit the streets and occupied the local “Wall Street”, i.e. the regional party committee. Throughout last six years, people from the Dongchou and Tayshi villages have protested against these land frauds, committed by corrupted officials. Police acted brutally then. While pacifying the Dongchou tumult, three protesters were shot to death.
Guangdong province is ruled by Wang Yang, the first secretary of the Communist Party Committee and the architect of a regional development model that was touchingly named “Happy Guangdong”. It was announced that the official objective is to eliminate social injustice and bring social harmony. The rumor has it, though, that soon enough Wang may get an important seat in the central Chinese hierarchy.
Lufeng became a symbol of Guangdong changes. It was recognized nationwide for the new-age architecture of local authorities and the “Golden Sands” night club, where young nymphs cordially greeted the guests, coming in luxurious limos.
This June Wang went through the first trial of his, when rural workers revolted in the town of Zengcheng, protesting against unbearable labor and living conditions. Rebels have burned the police distinct and several cars, while police conducted mass arrests, being reinforced by the deployed security forces. Wukan riots became yet another challenge.
Local party big man faked the election results, having placed his friends and relatives to the key posts and then started selling rural lands to developers. This triggered mass protests among peasants, which were brutally cracked down upon by security forces. One of the rioters described the events in a following way: “They acted like reservoir dogs, beating and arresting the first comers. Then we’ve surrounded the police building and freed our people. Afterwards we threw the party bosses from the building of party committee and elected the regional Council of our own, consisting of 117 people. Out of this number we’ve picked 13 envoys of people’s will and dubbed them the Interim Council of the village”.
 |
| Hu Jinbo |
This time authorities had to confine the scope of oppressions, giving up the ostentatious presence of reinforced security units and started the peace talks with rebels. They were promised to “eliminate the flaws of local authorities”. Secretary Wang himself promised to bring the lost social harmony back to Wukan even at the cost of economic deceleration. In a few days the status-quo was reestablished. Authorities promised not to prosecute the protesters. Weekly “general councils” were held, which all citizens were to take part in. Yet, the “harmonization” wasn’t reaffirmed by any practical actions. Interim Council started organizing rallies in order to remind authorities of the very reason of the conflict.
In November approximately 3.000 took part in a sit-in outside of party committee building. Authorities responded, firing the local party secretary along with his deputy and announcing the new elections. Simultaneously with that officials claimed that the riots are orchestrated by the “aliens”, including the provocateurs from Hong-Kong. Speaking on behalf of Wukan citizens, one of Interim Council members stated: “We only want fair elections; we aren’t going to fight the Communist Party. Our goal is to be heard in Beijing”.
On Dec 9 local authorities started decisive actions against the illegal organization, which they consider the Interim Council. Five out of thirteen Council members were arrested. On Dec 11 it was announced that one of detainees, 43-year-old Hu Jinbo died in his cell from a “heart attack, caused by psychological shock”. Villagers have hit the streets again and started throwing stones at police. All the village fat cats and party bosses have hastily left the village. Luxurious villas that were built at the seized rural lands were abandoned. Village got blocked by police, but people from the neighboring villages secretly supply the rebels with food. Such raids aren’t safe but the Wukan fishermen patrol the routes, using their fishing radio transmitters to warn the neighbors about approaching police units.
Xiang Xiaoping, local peddler, claimed that it’s enough food to endure 10 days of siege (12 at most). Police is cutting the village off the sea as well, which is why villagers can’t fish either. Still they stick to their proud slogan: “We’d rather starve than surrender”. Yang Semao, member of Interim Council, told that the authorities attempted to negotiate with unruly village, communicating through a relative of one of detainees, but the peasants have turned their offers down. They demand officials to admit their responsibility for September beatings and bloodshed, to recognize their demands as legit and their representatives — as competent negotiators on their behalf. The main demand of the revolted people is to give the land back to peasants so it is equally separated among the villagers. Hu Jinbo, who died in his cell, has become a symbol of resistance. Rebels also demand conducting an independent forensic medical examination of his death, unbiased investigations and punishment of the culprits.
Chinese authorities have seemingly regarded Wukan events quite seriously. Information at the state web-site of Shanwei district of Guangdong province (which the rebellious village is referred to) takes more than 4 pages. It basically says that village authorities have been shamelessly robbing Chinese peasants, misappropriating the substantial funds, which developers paid for the land. Party bosses have been acquiring luxurious cars, built villas and generally acted just like their counterparts from everywhere else in the world. In fact, Shanwei authorities recognize the legitimacy of Wukan protesters and their claims, accusing them only of unlawful methods of protest.
It seems that despite the numerous executions, exorbitant level of corruption still exists in China, and, just like everywhere else, it threatens the national security.
No comments:
Post a Comment