A recent news story from Inner Mongolia has me questioning if there’s a difference in Chinese policy towards minorities like the Mongols.The story, is about Wu Bao-quan, a man from Inner Mongolia (some articles just referenced him as a Mongol, which from what I can tell refers to his ethnicity) who has been tried and jailed for what the government deems slander.Wu has learned through a friend that the people in the Habagexi village and Zhaizida village within Ordos Prefectureof Inner Mongolia had their land appropriated by the government at a rate far below the national standard policy.He further alleged that while the people had only received 250rmb per mu that the government was able to turn around and sell it for 820,000 RMB per mu.Wu felt that people needed to know about this and published an article on the internet condemning the practice in the hopes that the attention would push the local government to properly reimburse the people.
Instead, Wu was arrested and tried.He was convicted of “’fabrication of facts and slander’, and ‘creating a malignant influence on the people of the area and the area itself, and threatening local development.’”He was sentenced to one year in prison which, he appealed.He was granted a new trial and the people from the villages came out to testify on his behalf.Despite the official court records citing that the ‘’facts are unclear,’” his sentence was re-imposed and extended to two years.
So, this begs the question if this is just the normal corruption rampant in China, or have Wu and the people of Habagexi village and Zhaizida village been treated differently because of their ethnic background?
Progress in China is measured in terms of GDP and development.The land that was taken was to be used for the Kangbashi New District, a new modern city to be a model for progress in modern China.Similar projects have affected people, especially those in rural villages, around China for projects such as the Three Gorges Dam.However, the Chinese government established a proper rate at which people whose land was claimed should be reimbursed.Irrigated land should be paid a rate of 25,000 RMB per mu, dry land 20,000 RMB per mu, and uncultivated land should be paid a rate of 10,000 RMB per mu.However, Wu and the people of Habagexi village and Zhaizida village contend that they only received 5757 RMB per mu of irrigated land, 800 RMB per mu of dry land, and 250 RMB per mu of uncultivated land.
It is easy to assume that these people received less than the standard simply because they are Mongolian. However with the rampant corruption, especially at the local level, across China this could just be another example of a policy that takes advantage of the powerless.Wu’s imprisonment emphasizes the lack of power the people have to seek justice.
Wu Bao-quan’s imprisonment is another example of Human Rights violations imposed by the Chinese government. Individuals in China who have openly utilized their supposed “freedom of speech” have been consistently punished.
This internet crackdown is said to be supported by American software companies such as Cisco, Microsoft, Google and Yahoo due to their cooperation with the Chinese government to censor Internet use. It is said that the companies have agreed to restrict access to certain websites and terms and to reveal the identities of it’s users. According to Amnesty International several people have been arrested for discussing certain topics online.
I feel that Wu’s arrest represents both China’s rampant corrupt system and its prejudice towards it’s ethnic people. Despite China’s amazing ability to rapidly modernize and it’s establishment of economic reforms it’s human rights infringements pose serious threats to its future.
I believe it’s just a matter of time, when the Chinese citizens and it’s minorities will defend their innate rights as human beings and stand up in opposition to the Chinese governments illegal behavior. Human Rights violations are said to be intensifying. The Chinese people have sacrificed their lives before to defend their rights and I believe it is possible that they will rise up to repeat history again.
Wu is suffering from what all China and its territories are suffering from a lack of legal rule of law in China. With China having only one party rule, a strong rule of law must be in place to keep China in check. The level of corruption that has affected Wu is criminal. Under Chinese constitution he has the right to file a grivance however, if he exercises this right he is imprisoned. This corruption that includes improper payment for land, mistreatment of minorities, and human rights issues will not be resolved without law. It is true that a 2 party or 3 party system would resolve some issues China may have but the idea of imposing western thought on eastern culture is not appealing. This is why a strong legal system can be a small step prior to any major shift in politics in China, at least to help to end corruption and robbing the poor.
Wu Bao-quan’s imprisonment is another example of Human Rights violations imposed by the Chinese government. Individuals in China who have openly utilized their supposed “freedom of speech” have been consistently punished.
ReplyDeleteThis internet crackdown is said to be supported by American software companies such as Cisco, Microsoft, Google and Yahoo due to their cooperation with the Chinese government to censor Internet use. It is said that the companies have agreed to restrict access to certain websites and terms and to reveal the identities of it’s users. According to Amnesty International several people have been arrested for discussing certain topics online.
I feel that Wu’s arrest represents both China’s rampant corrupt system and its prejudice towards it’s ethnic people. Despite China’s amazing ability to rapidly modernize and it’s establishment of economic reforms it’s human rights infringements pose serious threats to its future.
I believe it’s just a matter of time, when the Chinese citizens and it’s minorities will defend their innate rights as human beings and stand up in opposition to the Chinese governments illegal behavior. Human Rights violations are said to be intensifying. The Chinese people have sacrificed their lives before to defend their rights and I believe it is possible that they will rise up to repeat history again.
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ReplyDeleteWu is suffering from what all China and its territories are suffering from a lack of legal rule of law in China. With China having only one party rule, a strong rule of law must be in place to keep China in check. The level of corruption that has affected Wu is criminal. Under Chinese constitution he has the right to file a grivance however, if he exercises this right he is imprisoned. This corruption that includes improper payment for land, mistreatment of minorities, and human rights issues will not be resolved without law. It is true that a 2 party or 3 party system would resolve some issues China may have but the idea of imposing western thought on eastern culture is not appealing. This is why a strong legal system can be a small step prior to any major shift in politics in China, at least to help to end corruption and robbing the poor.
ReplyDelete