Wenchuan highlights human rights efforts

Zhang Tongrong, the magistrate of Wenchuan county, Sichuan province gave a speech at the "Assessment Meeting of the National human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-2010)" in Beijing on Tuesday. Following are excerpts:

Wenchuan county had a small population of 100,000, and about one third were killed or injured in the earthquake three years ago. The scars have undoubtedly left their mark, but new homes have already risen from rubble.

The principles that were adhered to throughout the process of reconstruction were: safeguarding the people's right to live, improving their living environment, respecting their faith and culture and endowing them with the power to make decisions. These all demonstrate the country's efforts to implement the Action Plan.

Saving people's lives took priority after the earthquake. During the worst of times, the wounded, the elderly and children, hospitals and schools, had priority access to food, medicine and other resources that were in short supply. More than 13,000 victims were rescued from the rubble and all were well sheltered. No famine or epidemic was ever reported.

Up to 1,000 kilometers of road have been paved, connecting the county with numerous villages that used to be isolated. Meanwhile, more than 20 elementary schools and 100 health stations and waterworks have been created, all of which have changed local people's lives for the better.

In late July 2008, just 78 days after the earthquake, the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Sichuan Province made a decision, encouraging families that lost their only child in the disaster to consider having a second child. A one-stop service project was launched and families' expenses for medical checkups, treatment and surgery were covered. Some 289 families benefited from the incentive policy and most of the couples now have a baby.

Dubbed a "village in the clouds", Luobo village has a history of more than 4,500 years and its groups of yellow-mud buildings have been described as the earliest epitome of modern cities. However, most of these buildings were ravaged in the earthquake.

The preservation of local culture formed a key part of the reconstruction project. About 20 million yuan ($3.1 million) was allocated to rebuild the village, and after more than three years of reconstruction, residential buildings, shrines and temples have been repaired. A museum has also been set up, dedicated to the preservation of local cultural relics.

In post-disaster reconstruction, house building is an important issue. Previously, the government used to dominate the whole rebuilding process, but in this case, local residents fully exercised the power of decision.

For instance, residents were able to choose among the designs offered by different construction companies and were able to decide which companies to employ and what kinds of building materials to use. The people's power of decision helped guarantee transparency and expedited the rebuilding process.

The achievements of the Wenchuan rebuilding process demonstrate China's concern for the well-being of its people and its relentless efforts to advance the cause of human rights.

China Daily

(China Daily 07/15/2011 page8)