(Broadcast on November 16, 2002)
The CCP 16th Congress has come to an end. When the Congress was in session, we hardly heard of any news concerning the protest of workers and farmers. Do the Chinese workers and farmers really see hopes for the future with the 16th Congress, just like what the People's Daily said? Be it yes or no, what did the provincial governments do to make sure that no demonstrations of any kind took place so that the façade of social stability could be maintained? And how do the Chinese workers see the new leadership of the CCP in the 16th Congress? What do they expect from the leadership? The following is my dialogue with a listener in Hefei, Anhui Province.
Listener:
On November 9, I was near the entrance of the Provincial Government Office, and saw a group of people standing there, talking to the public. I walked closer to them, and heard something about workers
something about labour disputes. Then, after about 5 minutes, some police cars from the Public Security Bureau arrived, and those workers were dragged into the cars without warning. Don't do this
No protest, the police officers said. Do you know what you are doing at this present moment? This refers to the 16th Congress. What they mean is that at this critical moment, all protests would be banned, no matter what they were about, including those petitions of workers and farmers.
Han Dongfang [Han]:
Do you know which factory they come from?
Listener:
Im not sure. It seems that they are from a state enterprise
a medium-scale state enterprise in Hefei.
Han:
What were they talking about?
Listener:
Should be something about lay off! In these years, the factory has given them about 100 RMB a month. They said that they had to raise their kids and take care of their parents, and couldnt bear the financial burden.
Han:
How old are they?
Listener:
Probably in their forties and fifties.
Han:
Are they men or women?
Listener:
They were all men.
Han:
Did they panic after the arrival of the police?
Listener:
No
No. But there was scuffle with the police.
Han:
Scuffle?
Listener:
Yes. Yes.
Han:
Any violent act from the police?
Listener:
The police? You could say no, but you could also say yes. Anyway, the police dragged them into the cars forcefully and left. .
Han:
How many protesters were there?
Listener:
More than ten.
Han:
More than ten?
Listener:
Right. At that time they were in the garden right opposite to the Provincial Government Office. They were complaining to the crowd about their situation. Then several police cars came and took them away. I really dont know what happened to them afterwards.
Han:
Did they carry any banners?
Listener:
No. No banners. But they were indignant. After the police left, the crowd talked about this event. They were concerned about the unemployed workers lives in the future, as the government now doesnt take care of them, and their petitions are prohibited. The public were discussing these issues.
Han:
Were there many people around?
Listener:
Many. About a hundred people. The pedestrian and even the bicycle path were all crowded with people.
Han:
What do you know about the situation of workers in the state enterprises in Hefei?
Listener:
Well, basically those large state enterprises in northern Hefei no longer exist.
Han:
And how about the workers?
Listener:
They all lost their jobs.
Han:
How about their lives then?
Listener:
They have to rely on the unemployment subsidies.
Han:
Can they receive those unemployment subsidies on time?
Listener:
Hmm
not really. Anyway, the workers collect their payment not from the factories, but from the social security department. The staff at the department would tell them, The money hasnt yet arrived come collect them later. For those who manage to get the subsidies, there is only little money - about 150 RMB a month. In spite of the recent increase in the amount of unemployment subsidies in Hefei, for these unemployed workers, it is still far from enough.
Han:
How did you learn about all these?
Listener:
Because there are the Hefei Farm Pesticide Factory and Hefei Transistor Factory in my neighbourhood. Those workers had blocked the road due to these issues.
Han:
What did the Hefei workers expect from the new leadership in the 16th Congress?
Listener:
Hmm, let me put it this way. Ive asked people questions like this: If Jiang Zemin steps down and Hu Jintao takes the helm, what will happen? They replied, Ha, they are from the Communist Party, like old wine in a new bottle it doesnt make any difference. We dont concern what policies are being implemented in the 16th congress. We would be satisfied if our basic needs were solved. Whats the point of talking about entering the age of small prosperity? When we havent yet solved the problem of our basic needs, how can we enter the stage of small prosperity? Now the leaders in the factories spend their money in restaurants and sauna houses, but they are not paying the workers. Whats the reason then? Simply Corruption! Thats it. The conflicts between the workers and bosses in the state enterprises have been increasing.
Han:
If you have an opportunity to make suggestions to the new leadership, what would you stress?
Listener:
First is to provide jobs for the laid off workers, solving their problem of basic needs. Second, to fight against corruption! It is because corruption has become a tumour of the society. Now in those five-star hotels in Hefei, very few private entrepreneurs go there to have meals only bosses in the state enterprises do so. No doubt they are the tumours of our society. Unless we get rid of these tumours, it is pointless to talk about small prosperity".