Friday, October 12, 2012

land grab in China

According to Amnesty International, expropriation and home demolitions in China have risen dramatically, as local governments have been trying to cope with structural budget deficit since the reform of the tax system in the 1990s and pay off enormous debts by selling off land rights, often secretly, to real estate developers.

Moreover, China’s ruling Communist Party leaders defend those who contribute to economic growth, even at the expense of the poorest, as a necessary step of country’s modernisation process. According to the report, the “public interest” often constitutes an excuse for local officials and property developers to increase their revenue and profit. Projects aiming at China’s high-speed expansion of cities and infrastructure often lead to the eviction of hundreds of families who usually are not offered alternative accommodation or adequate compensation.

Residents who try to seek redress have little hope of gaining justice. Collective protests have emerged as the only way to oppose coerced evictions of people from their homes.

 http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/10/report-accuses-china-of-mass-forced-evictions/

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