Published by BeiJing Spring Edition of June 2007 No. 169:
Realistic Needs of Establishing Self-Organization for Farmers
Wang Jun
Current China’s Development was accompanied by rapid urbanization, which makes Chinese farmers the biggest victimized groups. Relocating from their lands leaves the farmers no home to stay, and leave massive lands deserted. Young farmers wander into cities, and the elderly & minors was left watching the land. Farmers who constantly appeal often get punished, and this has raised serious social concerns. To unite all farmers and set up their own organization has become the most urgent needs in current society.
Chapter One: SiXin Farms in WuHan as an example
SiXin Farm is a large state owned farm employing farmers from outside through ads on newspapers and TVs. The farm has attracted over 2000 farmers, over 500 households till 1994. They all work in the farm as if this was their homes. In July 2001No 26 Notice from WuHan assigned SiXin Farm to WuHan new region, up for economic development. Till the end of 2003, full time employees of SiXin Farm has been compensated and relocated, while the farmers migrated here since 1983 has not received anything. SiXin local authority does not believe these migrating farmers should be relocated and compensated. In order to force these farmers away from their land, the farm authorities since May 10, 2004 cut water and electricity supply, damaged the water facility. After heavy rain, farm land was covered with water; local authorities forbid draining the water using electric pumping system. In July 2004, in 40 degrees high temperature, over 2000 farmers was forced to sign the agreement by local developing authority. They left SiXin Farm after receiving very little payments for compensation of their plants, house, relocation & moving costs.
These farmers had nowhere to turn to but returning home. Since they have been away, and the policy for farming lands lease is 30 years, their original houses were no longer in existence. Under these circumstances, these farmers return to Wuhan, and lease for a high price the land near SiXin Farm, they rent their houses there too.
Since the end of July 2004, SiXin Farm has been awaiting for development, no more farming are allowed. Yet till 2006, land of SiXin Farm are still deserted, no sign of development. Famers who were previous forced away started to return, setting up temporary tents, and plan to stay and work on the land. The second day, police, city control, & local gangsters sent 50 to 60 people with tools to attack the farmers. Two were seriously injured on site, and the gangsters set on fire & destroyed all the 50 tents. Facing the terrorists like event, farmers decide to unite together and set up their own organization to protect their basic rights.
Chapter 2: Two kinds Farmers Organization in Chinese History
When mentioning farmers’ organization, one should research Chinese history from its nature & function. Farmer’s organization of late Qing & Early MinGuo is a social economic self-help organization aiming to advance agriculture development. Farmers Organization of KMT Era is a political organization mainly consists of prominent figures in village. Their goal is to maintain the stability of the society. The farmers’ organization of the Communist Era is trial-government organizations set up under the principal of fight against the richer class. It is used as a tool to destroy traditional village routine.
Farmers’ organization during BeiFa Time is led by CCP. They focused on violent revolution despite destruction of the nation. They encouraged violence & started fights among villages, which differs greatly in nature from active construction of farmers’ organization in old times. Mao, TzeDong’s “Research Report on Hunan Farmer’s Movement” has its effect as a very bad example. Their so-called “overthrown the landlord” is only finding excuses of creating social chaos, and chances of changing their social status. CCP’s Farmer Association appears to be attacking “bad landlords”, their related systems & ideologies, city corrupted officials, and bad village customs, their real target is to overthrow the whole basis of China Society. They cannot care less on what price Chinese people will be paying.
On July 20, 1927 CCP Central Government published Nong Zi No. 9 notice, which clearly stated: “Farmers Association is not a career organization, but a political ally formed by poor farmers in villages and counties…it is a positive format of government in villages.” That means under the claim of “all power goes to farmers association”, CCP completely destroyed social basis in China’s villages, and completely overthrows the social structure & moral standards in Chinese Villages.
In July 1928 KMT government published "Regulations on the Organization of Farmers Association”. However, in those serious disastrous regions like Hunan, the farmers’ organization will be unable to carry out reconstruction work. In January 1930 the KMT Central Committee people Training Department formulated "Peasant Movement program”. The program stated: the peasant movement is not for overthrowing the bad landlords only, but also for training the peasants for various jobs of country’s construction, which is the one of the most important tenets in recent campaign for farmers.
Chapter 3: China Farmers’ Association should follow developing direction of the world
Since CCP use Farmers’ Association as tools to encourage farmers to join the revolution, Farmers’ Association is only considered by Chinese people as the tool of fighting among classes. In reality, Farmers’ Association in most developed countries is to protect interest of the farmers, increase their skills, improve their life, and promote agricultural modernization. Its political function reflects all farmers’ interest as a whole, and the association participated in communications with the government. The Farmers’ Association could pressure the government on behalf of the farmers, but not to fight against the government as a revolutionary organization. It is absolutely not a government institution.
China Farmers Association should follow the direction of world farmers’ organization, which is to promote modernization in China’s villages. The Farmers in SiXin Farm as mentioned above has made their historical contribution to the development of WuHan City, it is against the law of nature that WuHan municipal government kick them away. For that reason, we support their appeal since 2004; we have sympathy with their 4 times bitter appeal journey to Beijing; we were infuriated with the police & securities of DongHu Development Zone in WuHan, since they released poisonous gas towards the farmers on the excuse of obstruction of public duties. We condemn CCP government’s arrestment on Tian, DePing & Yang, FuWu. Their action is conducts of political gangsters.
The main theme of China’s modernization is to transform from agriculture based into industry & information based society. One of the major missions is to drag farmers from traditional organization based on families. And it has very important meanings. Since being restrained by CCP autocracy, the farmers association had become political tools for CCP instead of developing into a real modern social organization.
Chapter 4: Future China Farmers’ Association need to be independent
To speak from the heart, the re-construction of Farmers’ Association advocated by KMT is identical to the current harmonic society as promoted by CCP now. “In one hand, it calls to raise the farmers’ social and moral values as well as their knowledge & skills; on the other hand, it promote production and the amount of production on the purpose of improving the livelihood; while requesting the farmers association to strengthen their organization body, KMT also ask the association to assist KMT government to wipe out CCP bandits in order to achieve social stability. KMT government advocate for autonomous regions, and KMT promote self-defense capability and national consciousness of their citizens in order to save China from a national peril…”(See" Agriculture Council Act ") . The two are almost the same if changed the term “CCP Bandits” to “Democracy Activists”. Both are to eliminate dissidents, maintain current status & ensure their vested interests first. The difference is “CCP Bandits” are violent revolutionists, while “Democracy Activists” does not promote violence.
After the year 1950, led by the wrong approach of violent revolution, Farmers’ Association has fallen into the same state of tragedy as China does. The association was an institution of murder for money during the agricultural land reform period, and became a tool for class struggle during the agricultural Cooperative period. Finally it became CPC＇s government at the village level, and tends to destroy itself. State leading power to the rural community prevents Farmers’ Association from becoming independent political forces outside the government authority.
As the lessons of history shows, we can come to the following conclusion: First, future farmers will need to be independent and adhere to the characteristics of "civil" and "autonomy". Secondly, the future of Farmers’ Association would need to reject violence. Agriculture Council to become farmers in their own organization, and be separated from the State; thirdly, Famers’ Association should belong to the Farmers, stay autonomous & handle their own affairs; Finally Farmers’ Association need to guarantee that farmers’ participation be voluntary – participation to the farmers’ association is not compulsory but voluntary.
(The author of this article Wang Jun is the Chairman of Chinese Democracy Party World Union)
Author: Wang Jun
Tel: 001-917-348-5230
Website：http://www.cdbs.tv
Email: cdpwu@yahoo.com
|
|
