December 20, Yang Weijun was reviewing the materials of villagers' appeals at home. In January this year, at the demolition site of Hanjiawan Village in Fuhai Community of West Mountain District in Kunming.
Yang Weijun
Born in March 1922, Kunming, Yunnan Province. Graduated from the Political Department of Yunnan University in 1945, joined the China Democratic League (CDL) in the same year. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as the Secretary General, Deputy Chairman and Central Committee Member of the CDL Yunnan Provincial Committee, Vice Chairman of the Fifth and Sixth Sessions of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and a delegate to the Sixth National People's Congress.
After his deeds for the people were spread on the Internet, netizens called him "the most adorable official."
Report by reporter Huang Yu Hao: On December 17, Yang Weijun, former vice chairman of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the CPPCC at the age of 89, led the way for 12 representatives of farmers who had lost their land in a government-dedicated vehicle, taking them to the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the CPPCC to reflect issues.
Yang Weijun said that those villagers were all from Hanjiawan Village in Fuhai Community of West Mountain District in Kunming. The issue they wanted to reflect was that the government's demolition and resettlement policy was unreasonable.
According to Zhang Guixian, a farmer representative, there are eight natural village groups in Hanjiawan Village in Fuhai Community of West Mountain District in Kunming that need to be demolished, with 1700 mu of cultivated land to be requisitioned. Their houses were ordered to be demolished at the beginning of this year, but the government did not show the requisition procedures, and the 250,000 yuan per mu requisition fee has not been distributed. With winter approaching, there is still no sign of the resettlement housing.
Zhang Guixian said that he and the villagers had made more than 80 visits, going to the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, the Provincial People's Congress and CPPCC, and the District and City Governments, but the matter made no progress.
On December 17, more than 400 villagers from Hanjiawan Village went to the community street office, demanding that the government show the relevant procedures for land requisition and demolition, but were refused.
Zhang Guixian said that among the villagers, there was a university graduate from Yunnan University who called Yang Weijun, a retired provincial-level official, to report the issue.
On December 17, after hearing about this from the villagers, Yang Weijun borrowed a staff member from the old cadre department of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the CPPCC and took a special car to rush to the scene.
Upon arriving at the scene, Yang Weijun ordered someone to take photos and videos as evidence, and then took the villagers to the Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, saying, "The CPPCC can supervise the government. Without my leading the way, the farmers definitely wouldn't be able to get through the gate."
On December 18, when the reporter interviewed Yang Weijun at his home, a section chief from the old cadre department of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the CPPCC visited. He debated with Yang Weijun for more than two hours about the issue of leading the villagers to appeal. The section chief believed that Yang should not have brought the appealing farmers into the courtyard of the Provincial Committee of the CPPCC in his capacity as the former vice chairman, stating that farmers with grievances should follow normal channels to reflect problems.
Yang Weijun responded, "Why can't I, as a retired cadre, reflect the problems for the masses?"
■ Dialogue
"You've taken away the farmers' land and houses, and you don't properly resettle them. How are they supposed to live?" The 89-year-old elder held up a report material reflecting the illegal demolition encountered by Fuhai Community in West Mountain District of Kunming, saying that he would certainly investigate this matter thoroughly.
"To speak for the common people, I am blameless"
Yang Weijun believes that using government cars only for sightseeing trips is an abnormal phenomenon.
"The Department of Land and Resources promised to immediately investigate"
Beijing News: Why did you lead the farmers to appeal to the Provincial Committee of the CPPCC?
Yang Weijun: At the time, I learned about the situation of these landless farmers and felt very sorry for them. Their land and houses had been requisitioned by the government, but all kinds of procedures were missing, and there was no news about the resettlement housing. They had appealed everywhere, to various relevant departments, but it was all being passed around like a hot potato, from the province to the city, from the city to the district, and the district said they had no authority to make decisions. Since I am the retired vice chairman of the Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, if the masses come to me, I have the obligation to reflect this situation to the Provincial Committee of the CPPCC. Doesn't the CPPCC have the responsibility to supervise the government?
Beijing News: Why did you personally take them? Do you think there's any difference between you leading them and them going alone?
Yang Weijun: If they go alone, they won't even be able to get into the gate of the CPPCC. There are security guards, and the leaders won't see them. I have a rank, and my assigned car can smoothly bring them in. It can attract the attention of some leaders. If ordinary people go to appeal, it might take forever before anyone pays attention. The farmers are too pitiful. Some officials treat the feelings of the masses too lightly, too coldly.
Beijing News: What happened after you led the farmers to the Provincial Committee of the CPPCC?
Yang Weijun: The farmers drove two minivans, with 12 farmers sitting inside, following my special car. The security guards recognized my special car, so no one stopped us.
At the Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, we first found a deputy secretary general in charge of the old cadres department and said we wanted to go to the petition office to reflect the problems of these farmers. This deputy secretary general said that we needed to consult with the leadership and go through the approval process. I got angry at that moment. How could we delay matters of life and death? So, I led the farmers straight to the petition office, but there wasn't a single person in the entire office. It was Friday morning, which was very abnormal. At 11:30, I let the farmers go home, and I directly went to the Provincial Department of Land and Resources to submit the reflection material.
Beijing News: What was the response from the Department of Land and Resources?
Yang Weijun: A deputy director said that they would send a patrol team to understand the situation. If they procrastinate and do nothing, I will sue both the Department of Land and Resources and the local government.
Beijing News: Is the response from the Department of Land and Resources related to your special identity?
Yang Weijun: It might be related. When I submitted the accusation material to the office of the Department of Land and Resources, I mentioned my identity. The office staff said that the Provincial Office needed to coordinate with the leadership of the Department of Land and Resources. Then I contacted the Office, and later a deputy director of the Department of Land and Resources called to promise to immediately form an investigation team to understand the situation.
"Some people advised me that meddling in others' affairs could get me killed"
Beijing News: Did you think that someone from the CPPCC would blame you for leading the masses to appeal?
Yang Weijun: I really didn't think about it. So when a section chief from the old cadres department came to my house to criticize me for driving a government-assigned car to lead the masses to appeal to the government, I was quite indignant. As an old cadre who has worked for the masses and the government for many years, it is perfectly acceptable to use my remaining energy to empathize with the people and reflect the hardships of the masses. I think that the people have trained a cadre for so many years, and if the cadre doesn't know how to repay their breadwinners, what's the difference from animals?
Beijing News: What did they criticize you for?
Yang Weijun: They criticized me for driving a government-assigned car to lead the farmers in their appeals. I said, show me the policies and regulations, which article stipulates that the government-assigned car cannot be used for the research of retired cadres? Since the government's annual work report needs to consult the opinions of old cadres, I have the obligation and right to conduct research and reflect the hardships of the masses to the government departments.
Beijing News: But it is indeed rare to use a public car to appeal for the people.
Yang Weijun: Rare is abnormal. Shouldn't the official cars of cadres be used for eating, drinking, and playing? Shouldn't the assigned cars of retired cadres be used for traveling and enjoying leisure time? That's not the attitude of serving the people. The car assigned to me by the government is the treatment given to me by the people. I will use it to do more beneficial things for the people.
Beijing News: Does the criticism from this section chief mean that the organization does not recognize your behavior?
Yang Weijun: I don't think so. It might just be a certain leader or a group of people. They may dislike my actions, thinking that I'm meddling in other people's affairs. It might also touch upon the interests of some individuals. But I am speaking for the common people. I have no regrets, and I am open-hearted. I am telling the truth and reflecting the real hardships of the masses.
Beijing News: Do you have any concerns about telling the truth?
Yang Weijun: I don't have any concerns. But the Yunnan University student who reported the situation to me heard that he was summoned by government officials, asking him to persuade me not to inquire about this matter, otherwise warning him to be careful. I also received multiple warnings from intermediaries after submitting the petition materials of the masses to the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, threatening me to be careful of being silenced, but I never retreated. Throughout my political career, I hung self-written and self-encouraging words in my room: "Dedicate my heart to millions of people, willing to endure hardships but unwilling to conform."
Beijing News: You are just one person, and there may be many petitioners in Kunming. Can you solve all the problems?
Yang Weijun: I think there are still problems with the system. Why are there so many landless farmers? Why are there so many people appealing? Why are violent forced demolitions and bloody conflicts continuing? I think it's because some rulers do not prioritize people's livelihood issues but pursue visible achievements. Therefore, there is excessive demolition and construction everywhere. The nationwide "farmers moving into buildings" movement is typical. Village renovations leave villagers without autonomy, putting farmers' lives and employment in difficulty. Many officials only obey superiors, only seek power, only seek money, and only seek achievements, forgetting that the masses are our breadwinners.
"Even if I were still in office, I would still speak out for the people"
Beijing News: How do you share your views with society?
Yang Weijun: This year, I asked my daughter in Beijing to open a blog for me. I post my views on the blog, hoping that more officials, scholars, and the public can participate in discussions and contribute ideas for the development of democracy and economy in the country.
Beijing News: Your blog is named "Straightforward," and in the blog posts, you criticize some phenomena. Some netizens feel that you dare to say these things because you are retired?
Yang Weijun: No, I am almost 90 years old. According to convention, I should be growing flowers and grass to enjoy my retirement like many retired cadres, but I always feel that I can still do something for the people. Speaking frankly and fighting corruption is something I have been doing all my life. Even when I was in office, if I encountered such farmers, I would still understand the situation. If it is the responsibility of the government or a certain department, I would still personally drive my official car to plead for them. Occupying an official position without doing anything for the people is a crime against the people.
Beijing News: After your act of leading the way with an official car to plead for the people became widely known online, many people called you the "cutest official." Did you expect this kind of sensation?
Yang Weijun: No, as a retired cadre, it is nothing praiseworthy to reflect the demands of the masses. If it caused a sensation among netizens, it can only mean that there are fewer and fewer officials who truly serve the people and are full of affection for the people now. I have also met some cadres who are haughty towards the masses and indulge in luxury when they go out. These officials have already distanced themselves from the masses.
Beijing News: How do the people around you view your actions?
Yang Weijun: Many cadres, whether in office or retired, admire and approve of this approach. Of course, there are also some people who may not agree internally, thinking that it's better to avoid trouble. Those opposing officials, I think, are mostly those who only obey superiors and do not care about the people. Different values lead to different actions.
By reporter Huang Yu Hao