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February 1st, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda The first poll took place on Wednesday, in the village school, and, despite a small scuffle at the beginning over access for Hong Kong journalists, unfolded smoothly.
Orderly queues formed as villagers negotiated a complicated three-step voting procedure, designed to lend an air of gravitas to the proceedings.
The vote was to elect an eleven-man committee to organise the main election in March, but for most of the participants it was the symbolism of the event, rather than its purpose, that counted.
“We had to make a big thing, a big show, out of it to underline its importance and to guarantee that it was all fair and transparent,” said Yang Semao, one of the chief organisers.
“Wukan has been in the dark for so many years; its elections always manipulated. It is the first time we have done this so we want to do a good job,” he added. In the past few days, several academics and students have also arrived in Wukan, partly to observe the proceedings, and partly to offer advice to the villagers.
Large numbers of officials from the local government, including a contingent of police and a team of plain-clothes security officers, were on site and Mr Yang diplomatically praised them for helping to organise the event. While the village was excited about its day of democracy, it remains firmly loyal to the leadership of the Party.
“This is very meaningful,” said Chen Liangshan, 61, who used to work in one of the village’s temples. “I have already got the list of people I will vote for in my mind. I am glad to get the chance to choose people who will actually do something. This is the first time we have ever seen a ballot and we are excited about it.”
Mr Chen filled in his ballot, a sheet of A4 paper, at a table covered by a bright red tablecloth and deposited it in one of seven shiny aluminium ballot boxes. According to an official press release, he was one of 7688 eligible voters, with 1043 voting by proxy.
Another voter, 32-year-old Wang Huibing, said he hoped the new village administration would pay him the disability benefit that he has never yet been able to claim and would improve the village’s medical facilities. “We do not ask for much, and I am not sure what the outcome of this election will be, but I suppose it will be more fair and open.”
Meanwhile, Zhang Shuimei, 55, one of the 35 candidates in Wednesday’s vote, said he would work hard, if elected, to keep Wukan on a path to transparency and fairness.
“I have never seen a ballot until now, only government officials have had a say and they could appoint anyone they wanted without listening to anyone,” he said.
But, he warned, there was still much uncertainty in the village. “We do not know what benefits the elections will bring because the previous regime is still making great efforts to win over villagers to its side and that could be trouble.”
The village leaders said the results of the poll would be announced on Thursday, but that no celebration has yet been planned.
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