When the Excavators Came to the Rice Fields

文字-A A +A

In the eyes of farmers, their land is like life itself, painstakingly farming and protecting the land. Sadly, they are sometimes faced with terrible treatment.

In order to develop Jhunan Science Park, MiaoLi County government located in central Taiwan, plan to expropriate the farmland in Dapu.  The government valued the land using the government assessed and publicly announced land value of the price, a sum of money that falls far below the market value.  Some local farmers do not want to accept this expropriation order and naturally unwilling to hand over land rights.

On the 8th June 2010, a rather queer atmosphere extended over the whole of this simple village.  Police put concrete roadblocks in place cutting off any entry or exit form the village.  The full strength of the police stealthily made their way into the residential community and forbid the entry of anyone except local residents. In the early hours of the morning of the 9th of June, out of the blue 20 excavators made their way into the rice fields, which were on the verge of harvesting, and began to run amok in a rampage of destruction, annihilating the richly laden rice fields in the blink of an eye.

Farmers tried to obstruct the excavators by standing in their way, pleading with them not to destroy their crops in such a callous way.  However no matter whether it was elderly farmers or women holding babies in their arms, all were dealt the same harsh and unforgiving treatment by police.  One woman sobbed in tears as she said, “I fell to my knees in front of the excavators begging them not to destroy my farmland, but they just wouldn’t listen to me.” Excavators drove all over the fields, completely destroying the rice that was ready for harvesting, leaving only a pile of muck in their wake.  Farmers could only look on in bewilderment at the destroyed rice fields, speechlessly looking to the heavens for the reason why.

In reality, the vast majority of Taiwan’s science parks are lying idle.  However in order to develop industry, local governments are running roughshod over people, employing an uncompromising attitude to treat those farmers who view their land as an important asset.  In the past, Miaoli County Commissioner Liu Zheng-hong personally promised that he would ensure farmers would receive premium compensation.  In 2010 Miaoli County Legislative Assembly also made decisions without first reaching a consensus with local residents, postponing the expropriation process, yet in the name of preparing the land, drove excavators into the fields of those farmers who were still contesting the expropriating decision. 

There has been almost no response from Taiwan’s media with regards to this issue.  One reason is that local journalists often work together with the government and so have extremely good relations giving this kind of negative issue no opportunity to surface in the media.  Another reason is that farmers stand in a vulnerable position, and destined to be sacrificed by financial groups looking to obtain land. 

The only means for this story to reach the public has been through local people, citizen journalists, who have been on the scene to record and broadcast this rough and cruel process over the internet, bringing this harrowing story to the people, allowing even more citizens the opportunity to witness the tears and anguish of these farmers. 

'When the Excavators Came to the Rice Fields’, the issue of Dapu’s farmland being expropriated is an epitome of what could happen anywhere in Taiwan.   Farmers have no voice and need the people of Taiwan to show their concern and extend out a helping hand.

When the Excavators Came to the Rice Fields
URL: http://www.peopo.org/portal.php?op=viewPost&articleId=57987

以下為中文原文

農田對於農民來說,像是生命一樣重要,他們用心守護著土地,但有時卻得面對殘酷的對待。 

FB留言板

PeoPo 討論區

回應文章建議規則:

  • 文章屬於開放討論空間,回應文章的議題與內容不代表本站的立場
  • 於明知不實或過度謾罵之言論,本站及文章撰寫者保留刪除權
  • 請勿留下身份證字號、住址等個人隱私資料,以免遭人盜用,本站不負管理之責
  • 回應禁止使用HTML語法
改革救下一個受害者

當怪手開進良田,大埔農地的徵收問題是一個縮影,類似的情況在台灣各地都有可能發生,農民的聲音很微弱,需要更多人一起相挺與關心。

類似的情況在台灣各地都有可能發生

The Unspeakable Truth in Taiwan

In Taichung, one of the three biggest cities in Taiwan, something beyond imagination yet
absolutely real has happened.

Three construction companies form a new
property development consortium, target one
piece? of land and force the local residents to
move.

One household denies moving, then weird
things start to happen...

Again and again, trucks, from nowhere, damp
waste material or earth into? the inhabitant of
the household.

Journalists question the city
government/authorities, whose uniform reply
is: it's just a mistake, or something is wrong
during the disposal process.

After the "incident" was disclosed on TV,
neither the police nor the mayor show any
concern about it; how about the president?
where is the president of Taiwan?

This is the unspeakable truth in Taiwan!!!

鄉民幫農民!!!?

how shamful to the goverment !?

希望政府重視這樣的問題...?
我開始擔心住在嘉義的阿公阿嬤了......
台灣怎麼會變成這樣子啊?
難道他們沒有任何親人務農嗎?
當別人欺負咱們的時候,
怎麼連自己人都開始欺負自己人了?
七百萬的人民,你們到底做了什麼決定啊??

幸好我不住台中~不然阿公田地也被倒廢土?

Some powerful syndicates which contain our government are? just like bullys!

Julia

已經修改了
感謝指正

Julia

小農民

文章內容有誤,"政府單位用的是公告地價加上四成的價格"
政府是用公告地價徵收,並沒有加四成.而此公告地價遠低於市價.

小農民

上面URL:連結網址好像無法正確連到正確網址.

2

加入時間: 2010.04.21

weekly review

加入時間: 2010.04.21
1,750則報導
4則影音
0則OnTV

誰推薦本新聞

作者其他報導

Zuozhen Lantern Festival

2024-03-19
瀏覽:
2,119
推:
1
回應:
0

A home for buffalos in old age

2024-03-19
瀏覽:
2,311
推:
1
回應:
0

Recycling of coffee grounds

2024-01-10
瀏覽:
8,021
推:
0
回應:
0

Robotics Workshop Stimulates Children's Enthusiasm for Learning

2023-11-29
瀏覽:
1,702
推:
0
回應:
0

50-year-old ancient footpath reborn in Miaoli to protect the coast

2023-11-29
瀏覽:
5,098
推:
0
回應:
0

Tainan Try Shoot+ Meets Earth Art Festival

2023-11-29
瀏覽:
2,867
推:
0
回應:
0

Where is home? The life stories of the homeless in Wanhua

2023-09-21
瀏覽:
3,204
推:
0
回應:
0

When the Excavators Came to the Rice Fields

搜尋表單

目前累積了186,482篇報導,共12,754位公民記者

目前累積了186,482篇報導

12,754位公民記者