Earlier this year, a farmer lost his life while fighting for his property and rights. His family never received justice or compensation.
In November last year, the Lingchuan town authorities in Fujian forcibly seized a local farmer’s land. They wanted to use the property for a real-estate project and pocket its profits. The farmer, Wang Fengquan, did not receive any money for his land from the government.
Days later, his 73-year-old mother, Lyu Fengzhe, demanded an explanation from the village director, Wang Xianfa, regarding her family’s seized land. However, the director not only refused to answer but also assaulted her physically. She was beaten up and knocked unconscious to the ground. At the hospital, she was diagnosed as having multiple soft-tissue contusions. Ms. Lyu already had a mental disability.
The farmer filed a complaint against this at the police station, but it was never processed. This led to a long bitter contest between him and the authorities. At one point, he was forced to write a statement denying that the director had ever hit his mother. However, he refused to do so.
In March, the former village secretary, Zhou Deqi, and director Wang hatched a plan to abduct the farmer. He was picked up while he was on his way home by two police officers and over a dozen thugs. A villager witnessed the abduction and immediately informed farmer Wang’s family.
The family visited the police station to inquire after him, but the officers were evasive. Eventually, a few days later, they heard about his death. They rushed to the town’s government to demand an explanation but again, they were ignored.
Only one police officer ever spoke to the family, and he told them that the farmer had committed suicide after he was arrested. The family said that the story did not make any sense and there were a lot of holes in it that the officer could not answer.
Finally, tired by their questions, the town secretary, Lin Haibin, admitted that the government had approved his arrest. They hired the thugs too, he confessed.
Farmer Wang’s family just wanted his body to be brought back home so they could hold a memorial service for him. However, the authorities refused to do that. Instead, they ordered security guards to use electric batons on his wife and sister. The women were soon knocked unconscious to the floor.
The village secretary, Mr. Zhou, soon confessed his role as well to the villagers. He said, “I’m guilty in this matter, but this was personally organized and arranged by the town’s deputy mayor, Wang Chunshu. Even if he is held accountable, he would simply be locked up and released in a few days.”
According to a government insider, farmer Wang was beaten to death by his abductees. Which is why his dead body was full of bruises and blood. Both the local and the provincial Public Security bureaus refused to file his case, as a result.
Since then, his family has traveled to Beijing as well as approached the Putian authorities for justice, but to no avail. This incident has sparked outrage in the local community, but the authorities are least bothered to administer justice and compensation.
Reported by Lin Yijiang
