FT and Telegraph on Wukan

choi

(A) 沈达明 (中国网友), 大家谈中国：乌坎启示—中国当代农民抗争的里程碑
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/si ... c_wukan_final.shtml

Quote:

"这次抗议最大的与众不同，是当地政府的反应缓慢，并没有一开始就「抓苗头」，也没有封锁隔离，使得海内外媒体基本上自由出入，将现场情况传向全世界，最终令政府低头

"据我观察，媒体公关的力量在这次中国农民运动中凸显了出来。村里不少90后参与进来，利用互联网宣传，立刻吸引了各国记者蜂拥而至。他们的装束、谈吐还有黄头发，完全颠覆了我们城市居民对中国农民的守旧印象。接待我们采访的张建兴，从小酷爱好莱坞警匪片，和媒体打起交道也颇为老练。他有不少QQ号，同时买了摄像机制作MV，放在网上宣传，效果明显。即使是当地的小学生，谈起贪官污吏也头头是道，带我到处参观，关闭的派出所、罢课的学校、搬走的村委会。他们还特意带记者去看村官的别墅和穷人的贫民窟，叫我照这个照那个，俨然专业导游，公关动作熟练。

"想进村的记者，他们也抱着怀疑态度，但确认身份后，便畅所欲言。他们多次强调，希望媒体积极报道，让中央了解情况。* * * 村民强调他们不是有些媒体所说的'起事'或'起义，' 只是合理的表达利益诉求而已。有些被政府认为是海外反华媒体的机构采访他们，他们也不怎么搭理。很明显，他们的立场和态度，与中央政府颇为一致。


(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.