China's Land Disputes (moved from ATSNN)

Reports have been coming out of China regarding a more aggressive policy of forced evictions in order to further the country's already rapid economic growth. The most recent episode has been filmed by a local farmer and shows graphically the tactics the government is willing to employ in order achieve economic advancement.



It would seem that the pace of advancement is being stepped up even further within China. As urban sprawl and industrial development begins to really take effect we are bound to hear more stories such as this.

However, the problem the authorites are obviously going to face is that of balancing such development with ensuring the perceived rights of the ordinary man and woman are upheld. Too many perceived violations may stir widespread unrest within the peasantry, and that would create a situation which would be extremely difficult to manage.

Having said all that, the road to development is a rocky one, and difficult choices must be made sometimes. I wonder if the practice of widespread evictions that is being carried out in China at the moment has been mirrored, at some time in the past, within any of the nations we now considered as 'Developed'.

They also have cleared people out in order to host the Olympics. The IOC needs to look at this situation and make a public statement. But they are most likely busy counting thier bribes

China’s rapid urban development, fueled in Beijing by preparations for the 2008 Olympics, is leading to the eviction of homeowners and tenants in violation of Chinese law and international standards on the right to housing. In many cities, Chinese local authorities and developers are forcibly evicting hundreds of thousands of homeowners and tenants who have little legal recourse. Evicted residents left with few avenues of redress have increasingly taken to the streets to protest, where they have met police repression.
www.hrw.org...