Book reports on abuses in rural farming communities
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) A married couple from the province of Anhui has written a book on the hard living conditions of Chinese farmers, who find themselves subject to harassment, persecution and abuse by local authorities.
Since their book, "Investigations on Chinese Farmers", was published last January, it has sold over 100,000 copies and will soon be made available for free in the internet.
The best-seller's authors, Chen Guidi and his wife Wu Chuntao, used all their savings to get it published. Since it has been such a success, the couple promises to release a new book on the same topic.
The book begins by recounting three episodes of violence brought on by local state workers and directed at farmers of the province, after the rural citizens tried to report a series of homicides and beatings to government officials.
Some farmers had been beaten to death by police, while others were killed directly by the village chief, and still others were expelled from their homes for refusing to pay taxes considered illegal by the central government.
The book also reports that government officials covered up their crimes and how the local media, judges and accusers lied about the violent events.
Moreover the book tells how government-ordered investigations were met with great difficulty.
Some of the book's chapters tell about the involvement of some top level politicians in various incidents. For example, in 1998 local government officials were said to have fooled Prime Minister Zhu Rongji. While visiting Nanling County local officials led Zhu Rongji to granaries, which were filled according to government orders on grain provisions. The Chinese premier praised the "faithful carrying out of government policies", yet the truth was that the granary had been filled only the night before his arrival.
In 1996 China's current prime minister, Wen Jiabao, visited Huoshan County and asked local state officials to bring him to some of the area's poorest villages. But they told him the villages were not able to be reached by normal means of transport and took him instead to visit well-off families. Wen Jiabao was able to meet some farmers, giving some excuse, and managed to grasp their suffering
The authors of "Investigations on Chinese Farmers" said they have witnessed even worse incidents than those they write about. But they have left out some of these details for fear of violent repercussions.
A month after the book was published China's central government issued a statement, reaffirming its determination to tackle problems occurring in rural parts of the country. (MR)
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