(B) Besides the quotation, there is no need to read any of the following reports, including those of WSJ and NYT, whose drafts I provided yesterday but which underwent revisions, including authorship (adding an additional reporter each) and updates.
(1) We Just Need a Bit of Land, Say Siege Villagers; Chinese protest; Wukan's battling residents tell Jamil Anderlini of their grievances and plea to be able to 'fill our bellies.' Financial Times, Dec 21, 2011.
Quote:
"The extraordinary scenes of villagers organising themselves to feed each other and defend their homes have caught the attention of the world, and have even led some to wonder whether this could be the start of a 'Chinese spring.' But while some of their leaders have talked idealistically about the need for 'real democracy,' the vast majority of villagers insist their actions have nothing to do with politics and everything to do with their basic economic needs.
"In a speech on Sunday, the party official in charge of hte district covering Wulan compared himself and the government to benevolent parents and villagers to naughty children. Zheng Yanxiong, partysecretary for Shangwei city, reflected on the growing difficulties of governing, saying: 'If we meet all the villagers' demands then it will raise all of society's expectations too high.'
(2) Peter Simpson, Wukan Forces Chinese Officials to Release Three Villagers. Daily Telegraph, Dec 21, 2011. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ ... hree-villagers.html
("After a rally informing the residents of the unique bluff calling, Wukan village chief Yang [Semao] told The Daily Telegraph the government’s compromise was a 'temporary victory' for the community. 'The real victory lies ahead. When we can elect our own leader and when we get back all the land the government sold too cheaply, and trace all the money the officials have embezzled and hand it back to the villagers, that will be a victory,' he said.")
(3) Brian Spegele and Angela Yeoh, Chinese Village Protesters Get the Ear of Ever-Higher Officials. Wall Street Journal, Dec 21, 2011.
(4) Edward Wong and Michael Wines, Top Provincial Leaders Agree to Meet With Protesting; Denunciations had defined the official response until now. New York Times, Dec 21, 2011.