Wukan protest leader is made village's Communist party secretary
Lin Zuluan was prominent in fight against land seizures during which citizens ran police and officials out of town
Tania Branigan in Beijing
guardian.co.uk, Monday 16 January 2012 02.58 EST
A protest leader in Wukan, the southern Chinese village that drove out the authorities in a row over land grabs, has been appointed as its new Communist party secretary.
Residents applauded Lin Zuluan's new role as another positive step in their struggle with local officials.
Unrest prompted by the seizure of farmland and accusations of electoral fraud by village heads escalated in December after Xue Jinbo, who had been negotiating with local authorities, died in custody. Provincial leaders stepped in and offered concessions 10 days after police and party officials fled the village in Guangdong province.
Residents welcomed that intervention but remained concerned they could still face retribution and pledges might not be delivered fully.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/16/wukan-protest-leader-communist-party
Sat Dec 17, 2011, 03:43 AM
Wukan Revolt Begins Like Others, but Its End Is Less Certain
http://www.democraticunderground.com/100230892
Mon Dec 19, 2011, 07:03 PM
China Protesters Share Food as Supplies Run Out
http://upload.democraticunderground.com/10146120
Tue Dec 27, 2011, 12:12 AM
China official says Wukan protest shows rights demands on rise
http://www.democraticunderground.com/100274874
All-in-all an interesting demonstration of the burgeoning demand in China for democracy and respect for human rights. What began as a provincial protest became international news, resonated in Beijing, and resulted in at least a symbolic leadership change, and all this in spite of a coordinated attempt on behalf of the police to squash such dissent. This is the face of the Peoples Republic of China in the 21st Century, not the Beijing Olympics. The PRC will be seeing change, whether those in power want to accept it with civility, or not.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_of_Wukan
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