A LONG-RUNNING stand-off between villagers and authorities over land-grabs in Wukan in wealthy Guangdong province worsened yesterday as police sealed off the village to crush protests over government land seizures and the death of a man in police custody.
Police have blocked roads leading to Wukan, a fishing village of 20,000 people, and locals were trying to keep them out. Videos online show hundreds of villagers gathered for a rally. The villagers complain that their farmland has been sold by local officials to developers to build factories without their consent.
The protest marks the latest challenge to the authority of the Communist Party in China. Throughout the Wukan riots, the protesters have focused their anger at the local government, and angry mobs have attacked public buildings including the headquarters of the local Communist Party.
Tensions started to rise when a September 21st protest by hundreds of villagers turned violent, with residents smashing buildings, overturning vehicles and clashing with police.
The current escalation began last Friday, when the police descended on Wukan and arrested five land rights activists they accused of leading the September protests. One of them, Xue Jinbo, died in detention on Sunday after he “confessed” to destroying public property, and family members who saw the body say he appeared to have been tortured.
On Sunday morning more than 1,000 armed police tried to enter the village but were beaten back by villagers.
“Today and yesterday the village organised a meeting to discuss how to deal with the situation. The village does not agree with the official conclusion on the cause of death . I don’t know if there is a discussion between officials and the village,” a villager wrote on the Twitter-style Weibo site.
Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, called for an independent investigation into Mr Xue’s death.
“China’s leaders have said they want local officials to put residents’ rights, health and well-being foremost in their pursuit of growth. Unfortunately citizens tell us over and over that their rights are being sacrificed for profit,” he said.
The protests were sparked by the seizure of hectares of land and their sale to developer Country Garden for €120 million.