Protest – Greetings from Huashui (part I)

After the riot

The Dutch reporter Hans Moleman visited the rebellious Zhejiang village Huashui two weeks after villagers chased away the local government as it tried to break up a blockade against polluting chemical factories. The demonstrators are still going strong, Moleman reported this weekend in this paper, adding must flavor to earlier stories. Parts of his report, roughly translated from Dutch:

They came under the cover of the night, using the long concrete road from the city Dongyang. At five in the morning a long motorcade entered the village. Most of the villagers were still asleep, but woke up as soon as the rumor went around. They are here, come to help us!
It was a strange group of people getting of the busses at the Huashui Middle School that had been set up as a command post by the local government. Official of the transport bureau, the construction bureau, the land office, yes, even members of the Women’s Federation were mobilized, together with a unit of the riot police.
Their task: to sort out the rebellious village. To clear the tents die that been blocking access roads to the Max Chemical Company for two week, a factory owned by the mayor. They were still sleepy, the auxiliary forces of the mayor. Most of them did not want to do this job, one of the auxiliary police men later told his friend in the village. “But the head of the departments and party official had appointed the volunteers. And then you have to, otherwise you lose your job and your house.” He got a uniform coat, a helmet, a truncheon and a shield. Do not use for, just intimidate, was their assignment, It Is only old women in those tents, and they will run away when they see us.
It all went very differently. After the morning fog disappeared on that April 10, Huashui was celebrating a victory. The peaceful eviction developed into a battle, and the villagers had won. Thousands of people from the valleys had come to the barricade; with stones and sticks they chased the local authorities away. Thirty three auxiliary agents needed treatment in a hospital, many left their uniforms behind as they fled. An angry mob turned cars from party members upside down at the school yard, windows of busses were smashed.
A few days before the local government had sent a letter to the village, with the urgent appeal to stop the mutiny. That letter is very telling about the relation between the Chinese state and its citizens. The authorities fear the people, are aware of the mistrust towards the ruling power.

“Dear villagers, the standard of living at the country side has improved, but some people are misusing your goodness. They want to disturb our good life and stop our development.
“To restore order and a stable, safe and harmonious life in Huashui, we have to do the following: “A harmonious society asks for a collective effort; please trust your government and support us in sorting out any problems; 2. Building tents is illegal and makes no sense. It makes children to stay away from school and stops farmers from working. Please stop doing this. 3. We have to convince the old women in the tents they have to go home. These women are weak and all this is bad for their health 4. Be alert and do not listen to a few evil people with hidden agenda’s. We have to get them into our circle so they can help our village again.”

Tomorrow: the situation in Huashui after two weeks

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