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AFP - Getty Images
An undated cellphone picture shows thousands of residents of Wukan village in China's Guangdong province carrying a banner saying "Wukan's people were treated unjustly" during a protest of alleged illegal land seizures.
BEIJING– For years, in the name of social harmony, China’s ruling Communist Party has been highly successful in masking, placating or simply distorting the tens of thousands of protests – dubbed “mass demonstrations” – that occur here ever year.
The Wukan rebellion will prove a tougher dilemma for Beijing to solve.
From The Telegraph newspaper’s Malcolm Moore comes details of the stunning story of Wukan, a fishing village of 20,000 in China’s southern Guangdong Province. Earlier this week, the entire town rose up and threw out local party officials and police forces following years of having the people’s land sold out from underneath them.
The villagers’ frustration mixed with anger over news that one of the protest organizers, Xue Jinbo, died in police custody, allegedly from a heart attack. Since the start of the revolt in September, Wukan residents have successfully thwarted multiple attempts by the police to re-enter the town by creating roadblocks out of fallen trees or just using themselves.
They are now in a tense standoff with security forces, which earlier formed a cordon around Wukan--although a villager inside the perimeter told NBC News earlier today by phone that the cordon has been removed, leaving one checkpoint blocking the central access into the town.
Scores of state security officers are said to be still positioned around the edge of Wukan, which has begun seven days of mourning for the fallen protest leader.
Moore also reports that the town has enough food to last ten more days and that the security cordon is in fact still in effect (Click here to read more on how Malcolm Moore slipped through the security cordon).
That we know anything about this explosive story – which has been months in the making but appears to be coming to a head this week – is largely due to Moore, who earlier successfully slipped through the security cordon and since has been filing articles and Tweets on events occurring within Wukan. (Follow him on twitter: @MalcolmMoore)
The reports have given everyone a rare inside look at the mindset and mechanics of a popular uprising in China--a rarity for foreign journalists who often face tight, sometimes arbitrary restrictions, and harassment by local government forces when trying to report on issues deemed sensitive.
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. See video of the protests.
Slipping through China’s security
To say that foreign journalists in China know a thing or two about security cordons is an understatement.
Over the years, the security apparatus has become exceptionally good at quickly sealing off and containing problem areas while at the same time wallpapering over dissent with state media coverage.
In 2008, during the spring Tibetan uprisings, NBC attempted multiple times to enter the Tibetan areas of Sichuan Province for coverage but was turned back by security forces that had formed roadblocks around the region to prevent independent reporters and observers from entering.
Similar restrictions have continued this year. Journalists have attempted to enter those areas again following a wave of self-immolations by Tibetans that has called renewed attention to the plight of China’s Tibetan minority.
Most recently, local government officials in the Shandong town of Linyi have effectively bottled up local dissent by keeping blind lawyer and social activist, Chen Guangcheng, under perpetual house arrest.
Supporters of Chen – who in 2006 famously filed a lawsuit on behalf of his fellow residents against the local government over its practice of forced abortions and sterilizations – and foreign journalists have attempted many times this year to visit the activist and his family. But they’ve been met at the town’s edge by plain-clothed security agents who forcibly restrict visitors from entering by throwing rocks and swinging sticks.
It was only in the last week – under intense public pressure – that the provincial government of Shandong intervened, permitting ulcer medicine to be brought to Chen.
Peter Parks / AFP - Getty Images
Armed police in riot gear stand at a roadblock en route to Wukan on Wednesday. Residents of the village, which was surrounded by police after protests over the death in custody of a community, leader vowed to continue their fight for land rights.
Will other Chinese dominos fall?
The dramatic chain of events in Wukan begs the obvious question, could this be the proverbial “first domino” that falls in a wave of similar copycat protests nationwide? As Moore stresses in his coverage of the rebellion, the people of Wukan are counting on the central government to come to the rescue and depose the corrupt local officials whom they believe responsible for their current plight.
That hope has manifested itself in the numerous rumors, as Moore reports, swirling around the village. The most recent is that China’s state news channel, CCTV, is coming later this week to cover the standoff. Some of the villagers have concluded amongst themselves that national coverage of their plight will lead to swift action by China’s ruling party against the corrupt Wukan government.
How the central government manages Wukan’s revolt against party authority is a source of intense speculation. Its action will generate strong responses both nationally and abroad and will reveal to China watchers which audience the party wishes to anger less.
On one hand, Beijing could do as Wukan’s villagers wish and come down hard on the local officials, reaffirming the Communist Party’s often-repeated mantra of “serving the people.” This path, however, could have the unintended consequence of convincing local governments throughout the mainland that Beijing is willing to sell out its own in order to preserve social harmony, potentially forming a rift between local and central government apparatuses.
On the other hand, Beijing could determine that preservation of Party rule is the single most important priority and elect to crush the rebellion through force or the threat of it. Such a tack would instantly draw international condemnation, but as China has shown in the past international opinion plays a very distant second to its interest in preserving national stability.
A dark horse in changing that thinking is the ever-evolving Chinese blogosphere, which increasingly has filled the role as national zeitgeist. Ironically, even as state censors work overtime to scrub the web of news and discussion of socially delicate issues like Wukan, decision-makers here increasingly must account for public reaction on these matters and factor potential online anger in the complex calculus that is governing.
Where China will fall on this matter remains to be seen, but the next few days will tell us a lot about how Beijing plans to handle mass disturbances in the near future.
NBC News producer Bo Gu contributed to this report.
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The Chinese will go into that village and slaughter those people like there is no tomorrow. The US should not enter into any Chinese disputes, or even give their opinions. The Chinese have been doing this for centuries to their people and their people evidently are not ready to revolt. China, and other countries, are not like the US. In the US you are allowed to say and do anything, look at the OWS proesters. If they were in China they would all be dead by now. The US needs to stop thinking that other countries enjoy, and should have, the same freedoms as they do. We cannot change customs and standards in other countries. It is not our job to police the world or tell other countries how to police theirs.
seems like the chinese government want to contain the dissidents so as to prevent mass protests from spreading throughout china.
The U.S. must end its own hypocrisy if it wants to lead by example for equal rights in the world. We decry the persecution and slaughtering of dissenters in other lands but our own government thinks it is irrelevant that the U.S. has slaughtered over 50,000,000 (fifty million) conceived lives through allowing (and funding) of abortion since legislating the practice in 1973. These innocent ones had no rights and no voice but their cry still rings out against us.
wrong thread shineligt. Jesus freaks meet over on Fox.com on Wednesdays
That is exactly my point, Sam. For God-honoring people, the moral erosion of our country has whittled the options down to one token media outlet and labels those that tune in as freaks. Like a person with a slow leak in their heart, we will see how far this nation walks before collapsing after "freeing" itself from the "evilness" of Judeo-Christian values. Our nation was built on Biblical truths that, in the past, made it the envy of the world. Now, because of our spiritual indolence, intellectual pride, and bent on greed and pleasure, we want to use those pages of our nation's history, and even the pages of the Bible itself, as toilet paper.
Our nation was built by slave owning, rich white dudes who may or may not have believed in the institutional mysticism you subscribe to. The one positive thing they all had going for them was an honest belief in the greatness of MAN and the universal truth that he should be able to do whatever makes him happy so long as it doesn't infringe upon the happiness of other men. You and people like you are no better than our cave dwelling ancestors who crapped their pants every time there was a full moon. And the bible you claim our nation was founded on is nothing more than a collection of short stories lacking any estetic value even as works of fiction. Stop infecting the world I live in and control with your nonsense.
..and by the way, our country was not the envy of the world because a large number of its citizens still believed in things that go bump in the night. The source of our admiration was our ability to kick ass and take names.
Sorry to hear of your hatred toward God, Sam, but I do agree with you that much has been done by so-called Christians to disillusion many concerning the claims of Christ. It has gotten to be a big muddled mess from which to try to sort the truth. Much suffering has been inflicted under the nose of religious Christianity including slavery, the Holocaust and corporate greed.
I know that you will jump all over me for saying this, but there is a drastic difference between religious Christianity and being a follower of Jesus Christ. In forming our personal stance on faith, we must not look at our fellow human beings to determine who God is. We must look at God Himself. I believe that God walked this earth as a man, laying down all the rights He had in being God, and bought back, with His own blood and very life, an open door of forgiveness for anyone who desires to go through it. To understand God's heart more, read what He is really like in His teachings from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, chapters 5-7. That is the model to evaluate Him from. You are a critically-minded and observant person. I hope this desire for truth finds you discovering the reality of His love and desire for you! Blessings.
Yay to the people of Wukan!
Although I don't see the situation quite as much as a 'support local govt vs. support local people' dilemma for the central govt. as the author implies. The central govt has been making examples of corrupt local officials on occassion for awhile now. Nothing new there. They do (officially) stand against corruption (when they're not busy profiting from it).
It's also true that there have been many many uprisings occurring all over the country that we never hear about. For all sorts of reasons -- anti-corruption, ethnic clashes, etc. Everyone in China knows they happen. So is this particular incident the start of a 'China Spring'? Probably not.
So, for what it's worth, my guess is that 1) The central govt will make an example of one or more corrupt officials of Wukan, to show their seriousness in the fight against corruption. 2) They will then violently squash any protestors that go past whatever level of protest is considered to be acceptable on that particular day.
Then in a few years there'll be a great movie made about the Wukan uprising by one of China's 'Fifth Generation' of filmmakers.
There's nothing the Chinese Communist Party values more than their own hold on power. As long as they provide the people with a growing economy, the people will put up with the Communist Party. After all, except for a brief period after the end of the last empiral dynasty, China for thousands of years has known only authoritarian central govt. But as soon as the economic gravy-train stops (and it may be slowing down) -- watch out.
Almost the only legitimacy the Communist Party holds anymore is economic growth.
The village of Wukan will be surrounded by the Chinese military and the people will just disappear. No more problem. That's how the Chinese communist government works. Their government answers to no one.
How is the fist gloved? With the sons and daughters of every man and women serving or with professionals? The fist Will fall..The real question ? How well can the Chinese contain the truth? The fires of Liberty are burning across the Globe. More access to the internet, sponsership of an exchange student, a little less bickering between free people, It couldn't hurt.
Hmmmm.... Beginning to think that the emminent domain issue thing is going to be a really, really big issue for all nations down the road. Some will try to put up a hotel and say it's for the public good and force land owners into selling. What public good is a hotel? Really. I know that in NH there's a huge worry about Hydro Quebec's plan to bring power in through the white mountain area and possibly try to use the eminent domain fight. I hope it doesn't ever get to that. This thing in China probably isn't even about eminent domain, but I can tell you I would be beyond fighting mad if some local dude came in and tried to steal my land too. I am usually not one to join any type of group insurrection, protest or demonstration, but do anything to harm my life or property and you've got yourself a battle.
What Courage ! What Strength !
Support the Wukan Rebellion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is absolutely no difference between the corrupt party criminals confiscating homes and property from villagers for personal profit and JP Morgan and the cabal of international banks that confiscate every souls wealth similarly to MF Global and private bank accounts. The level of sophistication differs, as well as, the will of those of us in the west to resist the economic bondage that has been institutionalized for generations, but the crimes are identical. We are being domesticated and bred for enslavement and the efforts of disguise that have hidden this from us all have dissipated as the arrogance of our masters overrules their judgement.
Note that Chinese security forces will follow orders including the use of lethal force just like Fascist Germany and the SS, just like our police forces do on a daily basis; whilst the media colludes with centralized governing authority to either hide or spin the detail in such a manner as to make it acceptable to those of us that remain enslaved. What is occurring on a global basis, in China, Greece, Syria, or with the OWS movement is a revolt against our masters and our generational bondage. How can we react with contempt and self aggrandized superiority when reading about an entire Chinese village having the courage to finally resist, yet turn the other way when our state security forces jail, kill, or silence protests in this country. We should all stand together and simply opt out of the slave state we live in, peacefully, in the spirit that Gandhi and MLK did so effectively.
Today we are all Chinese villagers, tomorrow we will hang, be gassed, shot, or simply forced out into the street to subsist in abject poverty unless we make a stand.
Taking away peoples land without a fair reason that benefits all the people and fair market value independently determined not determined by the gov is a surefire way to create a revolution. The land is life. In a village like that especially if they have been there generations the government's plan to bulldoze their house so they can pocket the cash to build a condo is corrupt evil and the chinese should remove that government that allows that from it's leadership position.
The cancer of "democracy" that is spreading chaos through out the world can not be allowed to spread to China, China is a stable beacon in a world of weak failing Western "Democracys".
Sure Rule....sure. You may want to take a look at the track record of which form of government has won out in the past 50 years. Your shrinking nanny police states ruled by despots is disappearing right under your nose... Guess there must be a reason for that, or haven't you tried to figure that one out yet?
But, hey hang to your illusions if you wish...then hang with your masters.
We will see who comes crawling to who when your failing western governments collapse- China is the fastest growing country on earth and has trillions of your US dollars and Euros. China owns you - soon you will have to pay!
Soooo, you're first argument was communism versus capitalism. Now you are changing the game to China vs. US, aren't you? Well, back to the real contention, here's a little article you may wish to read and then you'll understand why China is only a momentary flash in the pan having tried to play in the world of capitalism and making decisions based on ancient Chinese thinking...:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/china-news/chinese-tv-host-says-regime-nearly-bankrupt-141214.html
You know that every government in the last 3,500 years in China has changed by violent revolution including the current one. People get fed up of governments comprised of corrupt despots.. which the vast majority of provincial and local governments are and their rule is being challenged as it always has been.
With 1.3 billion, and likely 1.7 billion people, of whom there are 800 million peasants, Beijing would last about 24 hours under a siege of just 20% (160,000,000) of them showing up with pitch forks. And so that is why mental mind control is present everywhere and phony nationalism is preached non-stop. But, combine that with the tenets of this article on why the central government has made terrible fiscal decisions and you have country-wide revolution on your door step. Ought to be fun to watch....
You're silence speaks volumes...
Why is this not on the front pages of all the major newspapers world-wide? It should be. Is it that nobody wants to stir the pot?
I heard a news story last night about the smog in Bejing. It was so bad last week that they had to shut down all landings cause the pilots couldn't see the ground from above. At the American Consulate they keep tabs on the smog and every day the alerts were in the high range and on one day it was so high indicater went off the meter. Now their government doesn't call it smog anymore now it is FOG. How stupid is that. So much for the Government there always hiding the truth.
The town's people and the movement leaders have a lot to be proud of here. Some times it is necessary to take back control of one's own village when tyrants have taken it over. The right of self governance is a human right but throughout history it has been necessary to fight for this. Those who wish to exploit and dominate exist and must be reminded of man's higher purposes from time to time. My prayers are with the people of this town. Hopefully justice will prevail.
OWS protestors, please take notes...this is how you do it!
Biff out the corrupt and keep them out.
When anyone is in any government authority's custody, it means that the government authority makes sure they protect their custody's object (person) in terms of safety and security and it makes sure they provide any medical attention for those in their custody.
Please the government has mercy and grace to their civilians and listen to their problems and please resolve the problems in a peaceful manner.
Wanna make a difference - get the Occupiers to boycott Chinese made goods-
The occupiers and non-occupiers should boycott China's exported crap. But then what would we all give each other for holiday gifts. What a conundrum.
@bmac - True, while it's not our place to say what the Chinese people (read: Citizenry, not Officials) want, who's to say we know what they really want anyways? It's not like any native Chinese person can say what they really want with the Party of Red Zedong breathing down their necks, waiting for the slightest opportunity to slaughter them.
Truth be told, this will be a test of China's resolve. If China wants freedom badly enough, they'll risk overthrowing the dictators in place, with possible bloodshed and such, to get it. If they don't want it, they'll bow down and take their guillotines like the good doggies they are.
While I can't do anything worth merit, what I can do, and what we should be doing, is watching to see how this unfolds. Tiananmen Square was surely a minor genocide (and that's being nice, I could be mean about it and just call it genocide altogether), but what were we supposed to do that wouldn't raise any red flags back east? If China goes as far as to genocide the whole village, I argue that the Party of Red Zedong has lost legitimacy to rule.
Right now (and this is merely my opinion), China does not need another Tiananmen on their records, ESPECIALLY right now when the world as a whole is super sensitive to stuff like that.
I am glad there are some changes happening in China. I went there for a visit and it didn't seem like there were people suffering under the "Crushing hand of the Red Menace" to me. The people in the country were very nice, the people in Beijing were very rude. Just like people in America, nice in the country rude in the cities.
Toxic drywall from China. Poisonous baby formula from China. Fake drugs from China. Multiple abuses of human rights of Han Chinese, Tibetans, Mongolians and others. Threats to American leaders for receiving the Dalai Lama or others the Chinese government disapproves of. What do you can companies that send American jobs to China? I call them traitors. Clearly there are many Chinese who do not like their government. I wish them luck.
Things in China may not be what the West thinks:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/china-news/chinese-tv-host-says-regime-nearly-bankrupt-141214.html
"Protect and Serve": Supply cops with ton of pepper sprays and handcuffs. Let the judges put a bad marks on their record for life with high fine these poor souls cannot afford...Problems solved.
If the citizens of the US would do the same thing....the world would be a far better place!
20,000 mad screaming chinese against local government corruption... china's communist party heads can learn something from what's happening to the former mayor and city council of bell, california who are on trial for rifling the city's coffers. if the ccp doesn't handle this in a diplomatic and transparent fashion, next month could be 200,000 mad screaming chinese, then 2 million, then 200 million... and then the game is over for the commies.
China does indeed seem to move in sudden, bloody revolutions based on history.
There could indeed be ugly times ahead for China if they don't handle things carefully
I hope I'll still be able to get an Apple iPad that's all I really care about anyway.
If these people who have been eating these official's feces all these years don't start assassinating them and their families nothing will change. Make the officials fear for their lives they have to live around there somewhere. Hunt them down and their fellow traveler crooks too.