In recent years, there have been countless incidents of grassroots resistance to violence on the Chinese mainland, but due to the Chinese Communist Party’s blockade of information, many people only come to understand the truth after coming overseas. Last Sunday (10th), a human rights documentary film “Wukan” screened in Rowland Heights brought deep shock and reflection to Chinese immigrants in Los Angeles.
The “Wukan Village Incident” erupted in 2011, triggered by the privatization of several thousand acres of land by the village committee. Despite more than a dozen petitions by the villagers, the issue remained unresolved. Local officials not only failed to resolve the conflict but also behaved arrogantly, mobilizing hundreds of armed police to brutally suppress the villagers and killing a detained village representative, leading to the blockade of the entire village, escalating tensions. The film, through historical footage and personal accounts, chronicles the united resistance and process of direct election and self-governance by the villagers, documenting a landmark event in grassroots resistance.
“After that year, I was still acting on the political stage, I didn’t know about this matter.” Mr. Zhou, a former senior CCP official, said after viewing the film. He admired the spirit of resistance of the Wukan villagers, remarking, “When you fear nothing, the government fears you; if you fear everything, then you will always kneel.”
Yao Cheng, a former Colonel Staff Officer of the Chinese Navy who witnessed the Wukan Village incident firsthand, described scenes where 3,000 armed police surrounded the village, and all villagers resisted. The clashes were broadcast in Hong Kong, resulting in more than one casualty.
At the time, in order to protect their rights, the villagers held a direct election to establish a temporary village council and prepared to petition again. After the incident garnered international attention, Vice Secretary Zhu Mingguo, dispatched by the then Guangdong Provincial Party Secretary Wang Yang, intervened in the investigation, returning the bodies of the deceased villagers and those detained, and releasing the captured CCP thugs. The village council was recognized, followed by the establishment of a new village committee. While tensions eased somewhat, the issue of land privatization remained unresolved.
Years later, when villagers attempted to petition again, the director of the village committee, Lin Zulu, was arrested and sentenced on corruption charges by the authorities. Additionally, nine villagers were sentenced to 2 to 10 years in prison on charges of illegal assembly and demonstration.
Despite the tragic conclusion, the Wukan villagers overturned the CCP-appointed village committee through their resistance and elected their own committee, which Yao Cheng stated was the only such instance since the CCP came to power.
Wu Weijie, who participated in the film editing, was deeply moved during the editing process. He said, “In the face of public outcry, the CCP’s first resort is violent suppression, even resorting to violence against children, captured by netizens. Some people in the village were even killed in custody, which is terrifying.” He noted that collusion between officials and businessmen harming the people occurs daily in China, stating, “It is very uncomfortable to be an ordinary person under totalitarian rule in the CCP.”
After viewing the film, Zhu Yufu, a founding member of the Democratic Party, expressed that the chaos in China is pervasive, with injustice prevailing and the common people suffering greatly, having no way to seek justice, viewed by the CCP as even inferior to livestock.
Zhu Yufu himself served a total of 16 years in prison domestically, in addition to three years of deprivation of political rights. He said, “What political rights? Everyone knows it’s a joke in China.”
The film “Wukan” vividly portrays the real events of the Wukan Village incident, including the enormous pressure faced by the villagers under violent repression and scenes of their united resistance.
“I am very shocked and amazed by the Wukan Village incident,” said Zhang Junjie, a member of the Chinese Democratic Party who hosted the screening. He remarked that under CCP rule, the societal hostility in China is severe, with social conflicts constantly emerging, but the Wukan villagers overthrew the CCP’s local rule in a democratic manner, subverting its legitimacy.
Zhang Junjie noted that the villagers’ formation of a council through direct election demonstrated remarkable political wisdom, stating, “The CCP claims that the Chinese people are of poor quality and cannot implement democracy, which is completely absurd.” He believed that what truly prevents democracy in China is not the people but organizations like the CCP, which go to great lengths to suppress the rationality and wisdom of the Chinese people, stifling their longing for freedom. This is the “evil of the system” in China’s problem.
Zhu Yufu encouraged the young generation present at the screening, stating, “Each one of you here is a warrior, with foresight and courage, that’s why you are here.” He believed that the future of the audience will be bright, as they have chosen the right path. If they are determined and willing to take action in politics, now is the best time.
Wang Chaohua, a leader of the 1989 Democracy Movement currently residing in the UK, sent an audio message stating that the turbulent five-year journey of the Wukan incident indicates that to implement democracy, safeguarding citizens’ right to vote and be elected is far from enough, as independent rule of law and freedom of speech are also necessary. She said, “Many brave rights lawyers and individuals are working together domestically to promote social progress, and we overseas can also work tirelessly to support them, seeking international support when they are oppressed.”
This screening event is one of the “Chinese Human Rights Series” organized by the China Democratic Party Headquarters to review significant events in China in recent years, allowing both new and old immigrants to better understand the dynamics and historical changes in Chinese society.
The organizations participating in this screening event include the Los Angeles Visual Artists Association, the National Committee of the Chinese Democratic Party, the Liberty Sculpture Park, the Los Angeles Democratic Platform, Chinese Women’s Rights, China’s Social Democratic Party, Los Angeles Rohingya Association, China Human Rights Watch, and the Chinese Human Rights Alliance. ◇