Beijing (AsiaNews) - More than 1,400 people demonstrated on the streets of Mudan City in Heilongjiang Province, protesting against the illegal expropriation by Communist officials of village land for commercial purposes. In Nanning, local authorities demolish the home of an elderly couple without compensation or prior notice.
In Mudan, residents from Wugou village marched through the city's streets last Monday waving banners that read, "Safeguard the interests of the people, punish corruption and return our farmland".
They accuse village officials of illegally expropriating about 750 mu (about 0.5 sq km) of orchard to build commercial properties. They were met by police, which cordoned off the streets, dispersed the protestors, injuring a number of them, and took into custody about 20.
Yesterday, hired thugs, government officials and police burst unannounced into the home of Wei Yaorong and Yu Linlian, respectively 79 and 78. After they were forcibly removed from their home, they had to be taken to hospital.
When their son asked the demolition crew to present government documents that might have authorised the action, the heads of the Liangqing District and the district's legal affairs office told him simply that it was the order of the Liangqing Party and the Liangqing district government.
Across the country, local Communist officials continue to take land and property away from ordinary people, this despite appeals to the central government,
In China, economic development is driven by a desire for rapid industrialisation. This tends to increase the value of farmland if it is located in areas favourable to manufacturing.
Often, local residents are opposed to such change. When they do stand up, local authorities turn to physical violence with no respect for the law.