Farmers Elect, Remove Village Heads in East China ProvinceFarmers in a small village in Wenzhou, coastal Zhejiang Province in east China, have elected four new village heads, after they recalled the incompetent former leaders.The recent election in Shuixin Village, Lucheng District, is unique, as there is an unrestricted number of candidates, and the villagers can vote for whomever they trust. The four heads-elect, the director, vice-director and two executive members of the village committee, are among the ordinary farmers who have made ceaseless efforts to recall the incompetent heads and protect the villagers' interest. In June, 2000, four leaders of Shuixin Village were suspected of involvement in illegal activities, including squandering public money and encroaching on local farmers' democratic rights. Twenty-eight villagers signed a petition to local lawmakers and civil affairs authorities asking for the removal of the four. The request was turned down at first, but the villagers did not give up their efforts. With support from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, an interim committee was set up to look into the cases of the former leaders, who were recalled in July this year. In his inaugural address, Dong Zhiping, director-elect of the new village committee, vowed that he would do his utmost to serve the villagers, and make public all administrative spending. |
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