Posted on 09/07/2008 5:32:29 PM PDT by sidewinder009
HE PAST few days in China have seen a number of outbreaks of violence in rural areas over property disputes and real estate frauds, the latest in a series of confrontations over grievances about perceived abuses of power, corruption and land grabs, writes Clifford Coonan in Beijing.
In Henan province in central China, thousands of students attacked a county government office, smashing windows and clashing with riot police. Students from a local high school took to the streets to try and stop a developer from building apartments on their sports ground.
Tensions spilled over into violence after two girls were injured in the scuffles with police, and the students surrounded the government building at noon, the Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said.
Last week, large numbers of soldiers and armed riot police were sent to quell two major protests. In central Hunan province, 5,000 soldiers and armed police converged on a furious crowd of up to 10,000 demanding money back from an alleged fundraising fraud relating to real estate.
The disturbances took place in Jishou city, and 50 people were injured in rioting and police arrested 20 people, the Hong Kong-based rights group said.
(Excerpt) Read more at irishtimes.com ...
Luh Loh.... Tluoble in Paladise?
On a financial website I heard a China investment expert remark that there are 200 “mass incidents” per day in China. Now that the Olympics are over, look for that to increase.
I’m not surprised; these riots have been taking place since the Nineties. Although the central or provincial government might replace an official, replacements become just as entrenched in their corrupt behavior. No one wants to look too carefully at this corruption for fear such an investigation will point to the real culprit: A tyrannical oligarchy.
While there are many civic-minded reformers who have records of rooting out problems, they are vastly out-numbered by those who promote the status quo.
It would be nice to read someday that the government succumbs to the will of the folks but for now, that’s a dream.
I consider these riots to be “recall elections” and the beginning of a functioning democracy. They are a release for the masses against corruption and incompetance. Eventually the communists will be so afraid of them they will offer true voting, (within one party) as a solution. That will work for a while, and then they will finally get multiple parties.
Vince,
Actually in many villages, voting for public officials is permitted, except everybody has the same party affiliation. The act of voting is actually popular in these locations because it gives the populous some sense of control (wow, imagine that). I am uncertain whether many larger towns or cities permit voting.
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