Petitioners protest in Beijing
One thing worries the government in China right now: public protest. The world economy's got worse. That means that people in this country are losing their jobs. Here's the equation the Communist Party fears: fewer jobs = more protests.
Even before the economic downturn, the Chinese government counted tens of thousands of demonstrations - or "mass incidents" - every year. Most of these protests take place well away from public view. Some of the demonstrations are filmed by the protesters themselves - who then post their footage onto the internet. Occasionally, we're able to cover protests ourselves. We usually take the chance to do so - it's important for us to report on what people are angry about, and how their actions are dealt with by the authorities. 
This morning a group of 70-80 demonstrators gathered outside the State Council press office in Beijing. These protesters were petitioners, ordinary people who appeal to the government to hear their individual cases. A petition is often a desperate last-resort - petitioners have usually spent years trying and failing to get justice through the courts.
As soon as my colleague and I arrived, a handful of petitioners approached us and began to tell us their stories.
"My two daughters were killed in hospital because of radiation," Zhou Yafeng told us through tears, "I am asking for government's help because it's too slow to turn to the courts. You can see all the information from my documents including legal certificate on my daughters' death."
Other petitioners held up signs telling their own stories. Many tried to hand out photocopies of their petitions. One woman jammed a copy of hers into my jacket pocket.
A dozen or so police officers stood nearby. After a few minutes they taped off an area of pavement outside the State Council press office and told the petitioners to stand in one area. Most did so.
On the main road next to the protest traffic carried on normally. Bus passengers going by would have caught a brief sight of a group of people holding up signs, but nothing more.
One police officer asked to see our press cards. He then escorted us to another officer who wrote down our names and ID numbers in a dog-eared notebook.
We left shortly afterwards. As we drove away, two protesters threw copies of their petitions into the back seat of our car.
I’m 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~47~RS~)
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Glad to see people in China are able to protest
Also glad to see the police just wrote down your names but didn't kick you away
But the protesters will get dispointed because it will be hard for BBC to give more coverage or help to their individual cases. After all they are not political protests for demacracy or freedom.
But I must blame the police for using a dog-eared notebook. Your names and ID numbers must deserve a brand new one.
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I hope we do see more protests, but the sad reflection on Chinese (and also many central asia/russian) societies is that ordinary people don't and won't care.
All Chinese are aware of the problems in their society, but most think:
"if I am careful, bad things will never happen to me. these people must have messed up"
Which is NOT TRUE! This idea that tragedy will only strike those who are either guilty or uncareful is the downfall of our society. A lack of compassion and turning a blind eye.
They call themselves "intellectuals", "patriots". lol
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The author of this blog seems, to me at least, to want China to fail.
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Mista Reynolds, you did a good job in Beijing. Well done. Can you investigate the story further, rather just be there and dis-appear in a minute. that is an unfinished report. peace up
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One of the ills in the communist system is that the compliance with, and for some the glamorisation of, the government often leads to blind and cruel disregard for those who suffer from unfair treatment.
This doesn't mean the democratic system is short of problems. The celebration of freedom speech and human right is sometimes a major hindrance to important collective goals. And in the U.S., the slippery concept of 'freedom' often exacerbates the yawning divide between those who have freedom in every sense and those who are socially and financially deprived but are nonetheless 'emotionally' free.
I grow up in China and have lived in different democratic countries. By nature, the state governance doesn's differ much. But by degree, China does need to do more to improve its treatment of those disadvantaged--not you and me here who can afford to indulge ourselves in debate as a pastime.
In either case, I think it's important for journalists, as James puts it, 'to report on what people are angry about, and how their actions are dealt with by the authorities'.
Thanks, James!
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#6, well said. I hope James can also share the details of some of the documents that petitioners gave to him.
The law has been ignored by local governments, hence people turning to Beijing for more help.
#3, the perfect response to your comment is in James' blog entry: It is a journalist's duty to report on what people are angry about, and how the authorities react. Here he is talking to ordinary people that many scream at him to do and he wants China to fail? Try telling that to the petitioners.
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"As soon as my colleague and I arrived, a handful of petitioners approached us and began to tell us their stories." --- You are so proud of yourself, aren't you?
Of cause they love to tell you their stories. A dummy can understand that.
And you have never thought that you are actually encouraging them??? Or, is that your purpose???
There should be legal channels for people to bring their cases to the justice. China might not be that sophisticated yet, even though things are improving. But, for foreigners to get involved is completely inappropriate in my view. You are easily seen as trying to stir things up. I am not a citizen of PRC, and I definitely see it that way. If I were the government, you had long been deported.
I have not seen a Chinese journalist doing the same thing you do in other countries.
Governing 1.3 billion people with 50 some ethnic minorities is not an easy task. I know you love to come to China to tell Chinese people how to govern their country, but I don't think you can. You are not the 'savior' of the whole world, don't dream of being one.
By the way, if you so love 'protests', you need to be in Taiwan. What a 'democracy' !
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People in china, they are more lucky. When government fails, they still can go to central government, or turn to western journalist to give pressure. While we living in UK, council approved developers to destroy the public park at back of my house, no petition or ombudsman would help. The case was handed in for years now. The building is already done. Despite we have all the right cases, nothing can or will be done. Once you exhausted all the procedure, only god can help you. No wonder I need a pint during the weekend, so that I can forget about the ugly bunkers at back of my garden. I wish I can send leaflet to Chinese media in Westerminster. In this case, I think Chinese people should feel lucky.
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People in China are protesting about BBC and bias reporting including those by James Reynolds but how come does the BBC dont report this?
To put it in your own words "it's important for us to report on what people are angry about" but not if people in China are angry about BBC.
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There has been some scholarship done on protest in China by Tanner that suggests protests have become an integral part of the negotiation process in getting grievances solved and that there have been more and more protests recorded by the police. The study was based on a PRC MPS report that documented the rise of the number of protests. China has a long history of peasants petitioning the central government to get their problems addressed. What could be interesting is to see which groups made it to present their petitions. There was a story not too long ago (this week I think) that talked of earthquake victim families once again being turned away and prevented from reaching Beijing to protest. First petition, then protest, then??? Thanks again James for one of your snapshots of China society. Keep them coming.
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Thankyou for the read James, hope to see you report more on incidences like this.
It does make you wonder though, what with Charter 08 circulating, and another one calling for a "boycott of state media", that the population are becoming more 'aware' and demanding of their rights and of any injustices, and so they should. This year, in terms of the anniversaries alone, will be a test for the government.
"Mass incidents" are common in China, though, combined with this economic crisis, it isn't surprising there will be more.
To #3, that is the kind of response I see all over the internet if the international media is critical of the Chinese government. It is in no way a call to see China fail, or jealousy or anything like that. China's government, just like all governments, should be accountable to the people, listen to their concerns and be able to accept criticism which can then be resolved. Detaining people (which was even reported in state media), or limiting a right to protest to be heard isn't being accountable. However, we have seen that in a report today that the government reconsidered plans to build a factory after a protest, so that's a start. It's also good they only took your names.
But with these things, they all take time. We can only wait and see what happens.
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Hey James, your blog is very insightful, and as a Chinese (who is a Japanese citizen) living in the US, and having travelled inside China extensively, I find your observations very intriguing and you actually blog about many things I haven't noticed before..
and on the post, the Chinese people have always had a hard time getting justice and hopefully the government will do something about this ASAP, otherwise I feel that discontentment will spread and it will be hard to contain then..
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James:
I am in support of the Chinese government and there regards of being worry about the uncertain times in the country...And, people protesting...
~Dennis Junior~
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Reynolds, I'm sorry Chinese people may let you down. Less job=more protests, cannot be true in China in at less 30 more years.
How much do you know about Chinese history? Do you know, once up a time, a governer was called "Difang mu", which means, he was a shepherd, looking after his sheep---people of his province. At the same time, the people make no trouble to their governer, just hoping he treated them kindly, at least not cruelly.
What's more, most Chinese alive have struggled from peiod of great difficulty, without enough food and clothes, and they don't expect an extravagant life as you do.
Thousands of migrant workers had to leave cities and go back to their villiages, that's true, but to people who had sufferred hunger and cold, it's nothing more than earning less money, and take a relax.
Just like my father, one of the farmers of China, said, we farmers can live happily and peacefully without meat in food for a month even a year, while the Americans will topple their goverment for a meal without meat.
Now, farmers can live on rice and wheat planted by themselves, and combine with their traditional characters--compliance, if you want to see more protests, Chinese people will let you down.
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Thank you for writing about this, James. I am involved in the human rights and humanitarian sector and I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to bring this kind of news up to the surface.
I am also glad that there are at least some Chinese citizens who are aware that they too are humans who deserve to live with dignity.
I hope that these kind of protests and civil disobedience continue for as long as it takes to see their civil liberties enshrined in the rule of law.
Just as a side note, I sincerely offer my unreserved support and admiration to the many Chinese intellects and ordinary citizens who are now facing persecution due to their involvement in the rights charter which has served as an unequivocal echo of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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Why so many people here wanna see protests in China? Personally thinking, the layoff situation here is not so serious. Many people may leave for home a little earlier this year, but it doesen't matter. Most of them will come back after holiday or will find another way. Besides, most Chinese have their own savings, so even they don't work for some time, it will be fine. On the whole, everything goes on normally although a little difficult than before.
I'm not acctually the one pro-government or pro-CCP and I've refused to be a CCP at my University, but I think our government is basically doing fine and is trying the best to help these "peasant workers" back home early and "layoff workers".
James, I believe what you wrote here may exist, but pls give more details so that you can help these people. In China, there is no more effective way to help those poor people through website. You can be a real advocator for human right in China. Don't just keep on blaming or mocking and pls do some real things.
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I find it unfortunate that certain posters will criticise James for simply reporting on less-than-positive news about China. Sorry, but it's not his job to sweep it under the carpet and act like CCTV in presenting "good domestic, bad international" news. Claiming he wants China to "fail" are just poor attempts at trying to limit discussion of matters you wish didn't exist.
These people are petitioning because they feel aggrieved. It is their right to do so, even if they are reportedly often ignored or even sometimes taken away for questioning. As for demanding he publish details of these petitions, do you think that would solve anything for them? The probable reaction would be that they'd get a visit from the Police for going to a foreign journalist. James knows that there's nothing he can do for these people on an individual basis, merely perhaps to shame the Chinese government into treating these people better.
As for comments about China somehow being better than the UK, it's nonsense. We can vote for local and national governments, and make appeals through the courts or to higher political authorities. No one can just take away our homes and deny us compensation. In China ordinary people have no leverage over government other than threat of protest and the courts/petitions often don't help. They also can't raise national awareness of their problems because the media are censored/self-censor, campaigners are arrested or bullied, etc.
As for the main question, economic trouble may well lead to more protest and the Chinese government is worried about it. It only has itself to blame, of course, because it refused to allow a safety-valve of civil rights to develop where aggrieved people could express their views peacefully without challenging the State's authority. The current situation is much more dangerous, and it's wrong to think that it can be ignored. Anyone who cares about China should not try to censor/restrict discussion of this problem and instead welcome the chance to talk about it.
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I am an englishman living in China.Three years ago i was part of a protest.The power company turned off the electrics to my estate,because the management company had not paid the bill for street lighting etc. As there were old people living there we decided to protest at the town hall.We managed to storm the mayors office, one of us used to work there so knew the way.We were treated well,the government paid the bill and the company was ordered to switch on the power again.An excellent system we need in the uk.I now live in a rural area,yes there are massive problems here,but at the moment, most of the problems are caused by corrupt officials,especially at the lowest levels.Unfortunatly the laid off workers will add to this.
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Charter 08? Ridiculous charter! A group of ignorant people trying to make themselves famous.
There are many ways to improve human rights in China, but confronting the government is the worst solution.
Chinese will find the best way for themselves to achieve the right human rights. The western definition of human right is simply a poison to China.
On the basis of over 3000 years wisdom, give chinese another 100 years, you will see what China will be.
Be patient, be proactive, be smart. Chinese government will be one of the best government in the world. Let's wait and see.
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Charter 8 won't do anything of significance because it isn't directly backed by the majority of the population - even if mentally, at least not physically.
Even if half the population of the UK had signed a petition against the iraq war, would we have gone? David Miliband has just stated that the war was a wrong idea, and he is regretful.
We all live on the same boat.
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"What ordinary Chinese dont see in Western countries is massive unemployment"
- 5.5% in the UK, double that figure for China at least.
"few manufacturing industries (many gone to China)"
- not for much longer.
"most people have next to no savings (unlike Chinese folks)"
- because hosptials and healthcare are free (unlike China).
"high street stores closures,"
- true, but I've seen this in small cities in China too.
"high taxation",
- to pay for our welfare state.
"pensioners living on the breadline and dying in the winter cold because they cannot afford fuel"
- not half as many as in China where houses rarely have heating.
"high crime rates"
- I've never had money stolen in the UK (unlike China)
"government dont listen to protestors hence very few protests"
- actually because we have a fair legal system with very few cases of corruption (unlike China).
"CCTV in every street corners".
- good thing I'd say in helping to solve crime.
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Open the barn doors and let them out or let them go to their dream places, otherwise they will bring China down.
Like in old Chinese history as it is now, for a few bucks many despicable Chinese in China would open the doors of the Great Wall to let foreign invaders in, and destroy the country.
And as the Americans love to tell you, if you don't like the country get out of here and don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Go away and don't come back, as I'd like to say.
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I don't think the police has the authority to note down journalists' ID. It's unnecessary and the reporter has the right to refuse to show it because their interview only needs the agreement from the interviewee.
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Bymy personal point of view, James blogs are really important as any human wherever they can from have the right to inform about what happen in any country. I had been to China from the last 3 years and I just can say I love this country but as any other country things are not right always for the comon mortal as China is not an exception.
What James say, few months back I was In Xi'an and I witnesed a mas protest by comon chinese citizens, I as on't undrestand chinese, I just filmed all I saw, the people just seeing a was a foreigner came to me talking and asking, I guess, to take them on my video camera. Ones I left, two plain clothes police came and took me, very polity, tto the police station, asking if I was a journalist, I say, simple tourist and make me delete all the video I had filmed, then let me go on my tourist visit to that beatiful city. People was very ungry and sad, afther someone told me it was about land and official corruption.
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davidwhite:
"few manufacturing industries (many gone to China)"
- not for much longer.
The day manufacturing returns to the UK from China is the day Sarah Palin becomes qualified to the the President of the United States.
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I am a coleage student from a low-class family in china. you forengners are right. china need democracy, china need human right, china should make protest free.
but,but,it is not the this goverments' fault. you guys know little about china's history, china had been a feudal society for thoustands of years utill this party came to power.
every common people hate unfear privilege of goverment people, but everyone hopes to one of them. because, feudal culture in our blood and bones. I think maybe that's because we never exeprienced a industrial revelotion, and bring democracy to our society.
not communist party's fault
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fewer jobs = more protests. Isn't it also true for other party? James, do you think fewer jobs=less protests in UK? You clever!
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#27 manpet:
"Charter 08? Ridiculous charter! A group of ignorant people trying to make themselves famous."
You must be really educated and intelligent to be able to call lawyers and scholars ignorant.
By the way, have you by any chance read the charter at all? It wouldn't be right to call it ridiculous at all if that is not the case.
I suppose in China, nobody would want to become famous if it meant being locked up ni some godforsaken place, or better yet, not turning up for work the next day, eh?
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