Rising Protests in China
As China grows into its role as a 21st-century economic powerhouse, its government is struggling with the growth of popular unrest. Groups of Chinese citizens, from small bands of workers to entire villages, have been staging protests across the massive nation with increasing frequency. According to research by the Chinese Academy of Governance, the number of protests in China doubled between 2006 and 2010, rising to 180,000 reported "mass incidents." The uprisings are responses to myriad issues, primarily official corruption, government land grabs, Tibetan autonomy, and environmental problems. Late last year, the residents of Wukan -- angered by a land grab by corrupt officials -- rose up and briefly seized control of their village. After several days, the government gave in, admitting to mistakes and vowing to crack down on corruption. Villagers were also allowed to hold their first-ever secret ballot elections, apparently free from Communist Party interference. On February 11, 2012, Wukan residents elected their own governing committee, with a voter turnout of 85 percent.
10. Mr Zhang, a 44-year old resident of Wukan, a fishing village in the southern province of Guangdong holds up the deeds to a tract of family land which the local government took away from him in 1995, on the rooftop of his house on December 17, 2011. Wukan villagers have complained of government land grabs for decades, but a massive real estate project announced in September led to an outpouring of pent up anger resulting in riots and clashes with police. (Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images)
16. On February 1, 2012, a Chinese man casts his vote as thousands of residents take part in the voting for their first-ever open democratic elections for the village committee in Wukan, after residents protested for months in autumn in 2011 against their allegedly corrupt leaders. Residents in Wukan won rare concessions after they faced off with authorities for more than a week in December in a row over land and graft, including pledges to hold free village polls. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
30. Chinese villagers hold placards reading "I want a home" and "firmly resist illegal demolition" as they protest against low compensations following land seizure disputes with local government and a property developer in Beixin village, in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province, on July 14, 2011. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Some pictures at the source are distressing. Most of them are behind warning-clicks.
10. Mr Zhang, a 44-year old resident of Wukan, a fishing village in the southern province of Guangdong holds up the deeds to a tract of family land which the local government took away from him in 1995, on the rooftop of his house on December 17, 2011. Wukan villagers have complained of government land grabs for decades, but a massive real estate project announced in September led to an outpouring of pent up anger resulting in riots and clashes with police. (Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images)
16. On February 1, 2012, a Chinese man casts his vote as thousands of residents take part in the voting for their first-ever open democratic elections for the village committee in Wukan, after residents protested for months in autumn in 2011 against their allegedly corrupt leaders. Residents in Wukan won rare concessions after they faced off with authorities for more than a week in December in a row over land and graft, including pledges to hold free village polls. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
30. Chinese villagers hold placards reading "I want a home" and "firmly resist illegal demolition" as they protest against low compensations following land seizure disputes with local government and a property developer in Beixin village, in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province, on July 14, 2011. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Some pictures at the source are distressing. Most of them are behind warning-clicks.