Wukan

Wukan (Chinese乌坎, Pinyin Wūkǎn ) is a village in the district Donghai Road (东海 街道) the independent city of Lufeng Shanwei prefecture-level city in the Chinese province of Guangdong.

Population and management

The people of Wukan is specified 12000-20000.

Economy and infrastructure

Large parts of the population living from fishing.

In Wukan there is a temple for the regional deity Xianwang.

History

Wukan to have been founded around 1600.

Land conflict in Wukan

Began on September 21, 2011 as a protest against the expropriation of residents by local businessmen and communist cadres a land dispute in Wukan.

In December, the situation escalated after a resident was arrested died in police custody. The villagers chased away the police and Communist functionaries; in return, the police cordoned off the village by a siege ring. All access roads were blocked, and the Coast Guard prevented store the fishermen.

On December 21, the Chinese government sent a high-ranking official as a negotiator by Wukan. At the same time began to remove the barricades. It was subsequently determined against the former village party chief for unlawful enrichment, and arrested villagers were released. The negotiators of the villagers, Lin Zulian, was elected on January 15 as the new village party chief.

In February 2012, the residents chose more than one hundred representatives. These representatives suggested candidates for the seven-member village committee, which was elected on March 3, 2012. These were the first free elections in China. Observers hope that Wukan is a role model for all of China. Critics fear at that time that it is only tactical concessions to be withdrawn immediately once the dust has settled. This fear was not confirmed; In April 2014, the village committee was confirmed in an election.