More than 12,000 mainland petitioners have sent an open letter to Communist Party leaders demanding democratic reform and basic human freedoms, in the face of strict orders from the public security chief for social stability during next week's party congress.
The letter, signed by 12,150 petitioners from 30 provinces, was initiated by four petitioners from Heilongjiang , Hubei , Hebei and Henan , the organisers said yesterday.
It highlights social problems including disputes over rural land seizures, relocation problems caused in urban renewal projects, unemployment, pollution, depleted resources, and a decline in moral standards caused by official abuses of power and disregard for the constitution.
'We believe that working hard together means power, and we hope our strengthening voice can be heard by the central leaders,' Henan farmer Liu Xueli said. 'We four spent more than two months collecting the signatures. Every word in the letter reflects our heartfelt wish.'
Another organiser, Hebei farmer Cheng Yingcai , said all the letter's signatories had suffered grievances.
'We found that the details of our grievances were not unique, because there is injustice everywhere in our country,' he said. 'Our problems can only be solved when the whole political and legal system is refined.'