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Pizhou phenomenon a threat to harmony
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-04 07:49
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Media reports reveal serious problems in rural construction and development in Pizhou city, Jiangsu province. Tracts of arable land have been expropriated causing violent conflicts, reflecting the lack of values among local leaders, says an article in China Youth Daily. Excerpts:
Pizhou city in Jiangsu province has been facing serious land expropriation problems, prompting some scholars to coin a new term, the "Pizhou phenomenon".
The phenomenon has caused serious upheaval in the lives of the city's residents. Many reports described Pizhou as a successful example of development, making the local officials believe what they had been doing was right. But in fact, what they have done reflects chaos and the loss values.
A society has many interest groups. Therefore, values are reflected in a variety of ways. But the Pizhou phenomenon reflects the chaos of values, meaning a total loss of universal standards, which could only harm society.
The officials have broken the bottom line of morality, that is, violated social justice and the law. Land expropriation should not hurt farmers, who depend on arable land for their livelihood. That is an essential principle. The ultimate end of development in the country is welfare of the people. But what the officials have done in the name of urbanization has deprived the farmers of the right to live.
Reports say the Pizhou local government has changed vast tracts of arable land into construction sites, which is a direct violation of national laws and policies. Such illegal land management methods could be used only because there was lack of supervision.
Land has been (and is being) expropriated not only in Pizhou, but also many other places. Hence, it's important to learn a lesson from the Pizhou phenomenon in order to prevent similar tragedies from being repeated elsewhere.
(China Daily 02/04/2010 page9)
