OpinionA year after free election, grass-roots democracy in Wukan withers
First anniversary of village's free poll finds its residents riven by unresolved land seizures while an old mindset returns
Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the fair election in Wukan, a remote Guangdong fishing village known for its remarkable civil resistance that won "real democracy" in the form of a direct, grass-roots election for its government.
However, it's doubtful that villagers will be celebrating their success on the anniversary.
A year ago, more than 80 per cent of qualified voters in the village cast their ballots and elected protest leaders to form a seven-member village committee, replacing one sacked by the provincial government after months of protests.
Although there are laws governing rural elections, they are rarely enacted in such a fair and transparent manner. Wukan's election was a remarkable victory for civil society, making it a beacon of hope ever since.
Land-rights activism finally won a battle in the war against institutionalised corruption on the mainland. Many hailed Wukan's protests, their peaceful resolution and consequent direct, grass-roots elections - deemed free, fair and transparent - as a landmark model for others to follow.
Today, however, optimism no longer prevails in Wukan, where grass-roots democracy has gradually withered away over the past year. Growing resentment among elected leaders and villagers is tearing away at the village's remarkable victory. Unresolved land issues, especially disputes with neighbouring villages, are further dividing Wukan.