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Grassroots Democratic Election Improving in NE. China
Han Xingfu, 61, head of the villagers' committee of Huojiadian Village in northeast China's Jilin Province, is preparing for the fifth election to be held at the end of this year.
During his tenure, the village became increasingly famous for its democratic election at home and abroad. Two years ago, Han had a heated discussion on democratic election at grassroots level with Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), when he visited the village.
"The villagers' awareness of democracy and participation have gradually enhanced after the elections and the election process has become more standardized and is on a better legal footing," Han told Li.
The discussion between the head of China's top legislature and the lowest administrator in the country hit headlines of news media.
"How could we practice democracy if farmers have not had an access to democracy in a country like China which is the home to over 900 million farmers?" said Zeng Fanxu, a deputy to the Ninth
NPC who was once in charge of the grassroots election in the province.
The first villagers' committee election in the province was in 1988. The head of the villagers' committee was elected by villagers rather than being appointed by superiors.
Three years later when farmers voted in the second election, transparency of the election was greatly improved as the voters' list, quota and requirements of candidates, as well as the correct voting process were all put in place.
A campaign speech became a must in the third election in 1995. It was a common scene for crowds of sun tanned farmers to be sitting in front of a stage watching and listening to the speeches of the candidates.
Lishu County took the lead in moving away from the former candidate nomination system by opening the competition stage to all, which enabled voters to nominate anyone for village head election, including themselves.
More than 90 percent of the villagers voted and many of whom traveled over ten km for the election.
Chen Yongxi, then newly elected head of the villagers' committee of Ping'an Village in Lishu County, impressed a Newsweek correspondent by saying that Clinton won in the election with only 46 percent of American people voting. Whereas he rose from an election with a 95 percent participation rate.
Relevant laws and regulations were adopted to ensure the grassroots democracy. The "Organic Village Committee Law of the People's Republic of China" was promulgated in November, 1998. The fourth election in rural areas of Jilin Province made it possible for villagers away from home to vote via post.
Surprised by the efficient and smooth election, an observer from the Carter Center believed that westerners will change their negative view on China's democracy if only they had witnessed the election process.
Jilin Province passed a new law on village-level election this summer based on the experience gained from the former four elections.
The law makes it a rule that spouses, lineal relative or collateral relative within three generations of any villagers' committee members not be elected into one villagers' committee so as to avoid interference from influential clans, said Zhu Kemin, head of the provincial civil affairs department.
The law, which has been passed by the provincial government, was submitted to the Standing Committee of Provincial People's Congress for examination and approval.
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