Once again, it's time for our continuing series of bad news out of China. Despite all the hype, the civil situation only seems to deteriorate (NY Times):
SHANGHAI, Dec. 9 - Residents of a fishing village near Hong Kong said that as many as 20 people had been killed by paramilitary police in an unusually violent clash that marked an escalation in the widespread social protests that have roiled the Chinese countryside. Villagers said that as many as 50 other residents remain unaccounted for since the shooting. It is the largest known use of force by security forces against ordinary citizens since the killings around Tiananmen Square in 1989. That death toll remains unknown, but is estimated to be in the hundreds.
However, as markets and technology take root in China, running an oppressive regime will only get harder:
Like the Dongzhou incident itself, most of the thousands of riots and public disturbances recorded in China this year have involved environmental, property rights and land use issues. Among other problems, in trying to come to grips with the growing rural unrest, the Chinese government is wrestling with a yawning gap in incomes between farmers and urban dwellers, and rampant corruption in local government, where unaccountable officials deal away communal property rights, often for their own profit.
Finally, mobile telephone technology has made it easier for people in rural China to organize, communicating news to one another by short messages, and increasingly allowing them to stay in touch with members of non-governmental organizations in big cities who are eager to advise them or provide legal help.
Interesting and disturbing post. I get a little hope for the country and then come across someting like this. It's sobering and saddening.
Posted by: Peter Begley | December 11, 2005 at 01:11 AM
This sad story is tip of the iceberg. Gap between rich and poor are widening and disillusioned peasants revolution may not be far off. Local buracrats take away land from farmers and residents with use of local thugs and countless unjust act is common.
Posted by: K9Thunder | December 11, 2005 at 02:55 PM
I travel to China often on business and even witnessed peaceful demostration by poor peasant girls protesting not getting paid by Taiwanese factory boss in Dongguan (1 hour north of HK) 2 years ago. Young girls in tear blocked the major cross street and local cops came to forceably put them in paddy wagon. My supplier who was driving said the margin is getting so slim (we can all thank Walmart for that) that some factory are not even paying $80 month wage.
What amazes me is that everyone are so out to get "rich" that there is no moral in getting there. Illegal? Fine. Against the law? Fine, we'll pay them off. Such utter disregard for common law bode not well since Chinese race don't care for law in general (per interesting article on Far Eastern Economic Journal which used example of why Singapore has ridiuclous laws like fine for not flusing toilet, spitting, etc).
Back to local injustice, most of China dynasties were brought on by peasant revolution and history may repeat again.
Posted by: K9Thunder | December 11, 2005 at 03:03 PM