Good start, but we need more favorable policies

The draft amendment that would grant equal representation to rural and urban people in people's congresses, discussed recently by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, has come at the right time, says Zhou Wei, a professor of law in Sichuan University.

Urban and rural areas both have undergone tremendous changes during the 30 years of reform and opening up. Urbanization has transferred a large section of the rural population to cities (or transformed them into urban residents), Zhou says. And the current demographic structure provides the right condition for a change.

The most direct benefit, if the draft is passed in its current form, will be the enhancement in the levels of grassroots democracy and transparency in elections, he says. The amendment makes some concrete proposals for developing democracy and strengthening farmers' ties with their deputies. "For example, one clause requires candidates or deputies to answer people's questions face to face."

Zhou is happy with some other changes, too. With growing awareness of rights among rural people, changes must be made to narrow the gap between law and reality. "The previous biased proportion of 8:1 and 4:1 for deputies from urban and rural areas, which made 8 and later 4 rural people politically equivalent to only one urban resident in choosing deputies, was because the country then had an overwhelmingly large rural population. But such a great imbalance between urban and rural populations no longer exists."

In the past, farmers lived off the land. But today, a majority of the rural workers - aged between 16 and 40 - work in urban areas. These migrant workers, who are usually discriminated against and paid less than their urban counterparts, are in urgent need of more deputies to help them in the domains of legislation and decision-making.

In fact, the lack of basic rights for farmers or obstacles in exercising these rights is thwarting the efforts to solve the problems facing the country's agriculture, Zhou says. "Therefore the draft, if passed, will serve as a legal driving force in continuing the social, economic, political and cultural changes rural areas have undergone over the past three decades."

Yet the draft is far from being a panacea for all the ills, he warns. "Only numerical increase of deputies cannot ensure that farmers will be able to amplify their voice," he says, wondering whether the defects in the existing system are acting as a counteractive force.

Village heads have too much say in village affairs, and that's a big hurdle on the road to developing democracy at the grassroots level and raising people's awareness of rights. Moreover, recommendations of deputies at times are still not open to the public and authorities from higher townships continue to interfere in such matters.

Along with the efforts to establish the rule of law in recent years, deputies have begun to wield greater influence and their status has been raised. But since local authorities, too, have got more interested in acquiring higher status they are striking an unharmonious note in the normal process of democratic reform in the countryside, Zhou says.

"It's a risky trend, which needs to be watched carefully and countered because local authorities can exercise more power than ordinary people in choosing deputies, who in return may work for these authorities and cast a blind eye to the real needs of the people they actually represent."

In Zhou's opinion, the draft offers a good chance to further push forward direct election at the village or even the township level. Overall, the draft is a major breakthrough in China's political reform, but more "good policies" are needed to improve the lot of the rural people.

Once the draft is passed, the government should try to solve all of the problems being faced by farmers as soon as possible to ensure that they enjoy as much say as urban residents in the decision-making process, Zhou says. For example, the government can pass more favorable policies on agricultural production, equal access to medical care, education and social security.

(China Daily 12/08/2009 page9)