Calling the recent violent protests by farmers over land rights and pollution a sign of democracy, a top Beijing official who spoke with an honesty uncharacteristic of the government also said they are an inevitable outcome of China's fast-paced economic and social change, the South China Morning Post reported, citing Chen Xiwen, a central government official in charge of agricultural policy. Last month, at least six people were killed in Hebei province when hundreds of armed thugs attacked villagers who refused to cede land to a power company, while in April thousands of farmers fought police and officials over chemical pollution in Zhejiang province.
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