China's Wen calls for better land protection

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called for better protection of the land rights of farmers during a visit to southern Guangdong province, where a violent land dispute in the village of Wukan had resulted in experimental elections just days earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported. Wen did not mention the events in Wukan in his speech on Saturday, but his comments appeared to be directed at supporting the provincial party secretary, Wang Yang, who has made significant concessions to the protesting villagers, including allowing some protest leaders to take up posts in village government. Wang is believed to be a top candidate for a position on China’s highest governing body, the Politburo Standing Committee, when the country undergoes a leadership transition later this year. Wen is one of the more outspoken voices within the government on protecting the land rights of farmers, who are sometimes inadequately compensated when local authorities seize their land for property development.