by Wang Zhicheng

They will be forced to return the stolen money, about 45 thousand U.S. dollars. The inhabitants are not completely satisfied: the stolen money in decades of power is much more, such as the money involved in the corruption ring. The government continues to fear of social unrest (180 thousand in 2010). Doubts about the possibility of the " Wukan model” spreading.

Guangzhou (AsiaNews) - Chinese authorities have expelled two leaders from the Wukan Communist Party. They were the heads of the village which has struggled for months against their corruption and manipulation of elections.

Xinhua reported late yesterday, that Xue Chang, party secretary, and Chen Shunyi, head of the committee, will be forced to return their illegal profits of 189,200 yuan and 86 thousand yuan respectively (a total of about 45 thousand dollars).

In 2011 the village of Wukan was under the media spotlight because of the popular protests against the leaders accused of selling land and pocketing the proceeds, only to give below cost compensation to citizens.

At first the government responded to the demonstrations of thousands of inhabitants with repression, one of the arrested protesters, Xue Jinbo,  died in prison in a suspicious way, the police laid siege to the village and imposed a blackout on reporting. But thanks to its proximity to Hong Kong, the news of Wukan spread, and inflamed other villages in Guangdong and Jiangxi. The fear of seeing the revolt spread throughout China prompted authorities to come to terms with the inhabitants allowing new elections and an investigation into the wrongdoing of the leaders.

The Wukan solution is also due to the ambitions of the party chief of Guangdong, Wang Yang, who seeks a place in the Politburo Standing Committee for next October.

The Chinese government greatly fears social protests (so-called "mass incidents"), which are increasing from year to year: in 2010, according to some estimates, they exceeded 180 thousand units.

The expulsion from the Party, the investigation and the return of money does not fully satisfy the people of Wukan. Some of them argue that because their leaders remained in power for decades, the stolen money is much more than the amount they are called upon to return. Others say that there are many more governmental representatives who participated in the sales and profits from corruption, who should be pursued.

Among analysts, no one dares to speak of a "Wukan model " that the central government would like to see spread. For some, the victory of the villagers is an exception to the unchanged rule that sees corruption fester in the rest of the country (see 12/01/2012 Wukan is only one case: China still oppresses people's rights).

 

• china
• wukan
• model
• village
• corruption
• trial
• communist
• party
• social
• protest