China's "democracy village" goes into lockdown

[Randy W]

in the SCMP and Shanghaiist

 

SCMP reporter among five Hong Kong journalists detained, questioned by Chinese police in Wukan crackdown

Post reporter was conducting interview at villager’s home when two dozen men broke in and pushed him to the ground

 

http://cdn3.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/980x551/public/images/methode/2016/09/15/33f3797e-7a42-11e6-aba3-c12eb464ff87_1280x720.JPG?itok=Vcfo20iV

 

 

The Post journalist, who has proper journalist credentials issued by Beijing authorising him to work on the mainland, was released after questioning.

While he did not sign any document, other Hong Kong reporters were said to have been asked to sign a “confession letter” agreeing not to return. Some of them were reportedly beaten. We could not verify the information.

After the Post reporter’s release at around 2am, he was escorted by two Lufeng government officials back to the border of Hong Kong.

 

 

 

 

Wukan goes into lockdown after locals clash with riot police in the streets

 

Back in June, local Communist Party secretary Lin Zuluan was taken away by police and later shown "confessing" to engaging in bribery while in office. Villagers soon began protesting in the street in defense of their popular village chief, arguing that the charges against Lin were false and that his "confession" had been forced.

Lin's arrest followed a draft letter directed to villagers that surfaced on the internet two days before. In it, Lin urged villagers to start demonstrations in order to force the local government to solve unresolved land disputes.Directly-elected by the villagers of Wukan, the 72-year-old leader aired his grievances about the village's dire situation on land, noting that the "inaction of local governments over the past five years" has continued to cause problems.

 

 

 

[Randy W]

Another resident said he saw police climbing onto the rooftops of local houses and shooting tear gas at residents who were running away.

 

“It’s like a war zone here, much worse than the Japanese invasion,” he said.

A few villagers have complained of food shortages due to armed policemen guarding every village entrance.

. . .

Police in Lufeng city, which administers Wukan, said in a statement at about noon on Tuesday that some internet photos and information about Wukan had been fabricated, and that those who spread false information would be dealt with.

 

[Greg.D.]

Wow!

 

What a video! Could not believe my eyes!

 

That is what reform is going to take: the people saying they're not going to take it anymore. Finally pushed too far.

[HotBaozi]

Looks like they imported BLM and put Baltimore mayor, Stephanie Rawlins Blake in charge.

[Allon]

It will. take more than this to get things stirred up. The guy in the black baseball cap, bending down in resignation, is almost a caricature of the Chinese people: tired, hopeless. It will take an earthquake, just like it did for the felled dynasties of years past.

 

The government already erased any mention of this incident. We looked and found nothing.