On October 20, 2013, China National Radio exclusively reported on the illegal expropriation of 5,789 mu of land in Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. After the program aired, the Ministry of Land and Resources and the Shanxi Provincial Department of Land and Resources quickly launched an investigation and handling of the matter.

　　At a press conference held by the Ministry of Land and Resources yesterday, a relevant official said that the local land expropriation agreements signed with farmers have now been ordered revoked, and the administrative penalty decision has been fully implemented. Disciplinary action has also been taken against the county Party secretary and several other people.

　　However, the matter did not end there. Local villagers told reporters that although this illegal land expropriation case has been investigated, the land has not only not been returned to them; high-rise buildings have instead been built on the land that was expropriated.

　　The illegal land expropriation case in Wanrong exclusively reported by China National Radio involved the illegal expropriation of 5,789 mu of collective land, including 4,004 mu of cultivated land, but only 56 mu had obtained lawful land-use procedures, said Yue Xiaowu, deputy director of the Law Enforcement and Supervision Bureau of the Ministry of Land and Resources:

　　Yue Xiaowu: In May 2013, Li Yaolin, secretary of the Wanrong County Party Committee, chaired a meeting and decided to expropriate land from 10 villages for urban road construction and enterprise use, and instructed relevant departments to draft plans such as land expropriation compensation. In the same month, the Wanrong County Land Unified Expropriation, Acquisition and Reserve Center signed land expropriation agreements with 10 village committees, illegally expropriating 5,789.83 mu of collective land (including 4,004.78 mu of general cultivated land). Of the above expropriated land, only 56 mu obtained the basic lawful land-use procedures.

　　As of October 2013, nine roads built by the Wanrong County Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau and the Transport Bureau, as well as six projects including Kaifeng Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., had illegally occupied 787 mu of land, while the remaining 5,002 mu had not yet changed use. In addition, the Wanrong Chengbei Ecological Park, without approval, leveled 85 mu of land in preparation for building pavilions. Yue Xiaowu said that in accordance with relevant legal provisions, the Shanxi Provincial Department of Land and Resources has ordered the Wanrong County People's Government to revoke relevant documents such as the resolutions and meeting minutes on land expropriation, revoke the land expropriation agreements signed with farmers in the county, and return the land to farmers for continued cultivation.

　　Yue Xiaowu: Before approval, land cannot be controlled, that is, taking farmers' land and telling them they cannot cultivate it is not allowed, and leveling sites for construction is even less permitted. If these two situations occur, we determine it to be illegal land expropriation and occupation. In the case of Wanrong County, we require that before approval, farmers' land must not be controlled; if the land has been controlled, it must be returned to the collective or the contractor for cultivation.

　　But just last night, local farmers told reporters that they had not yet heard of any village having land returned; on the contrary, they had seen high-rise buildings begin to be built on part of the previously expropriated land.

　　Farmer: There is no explanation and no land has been returned to us. I asked several villages, and not one person has had land returned. Some land is still idle, and construction has already started on some; high-rise buildings are being built.

　　In response, Yue Xiaowu said that if the situation is verified by investigation, the Ministry of Land and Resources will continue to supervise the illegal land expropriation case in Wanrong, Shanxi.

　　Yue Xiaowu: Whether it is our ministry, the ministry's law enforcement bureau, the Beijing supervision bureau, or the Shanxi Provincial Department, all will pay attention to this case. We will continue to strengthen supervision over the implementation of this case. If there are situations where land is not returned to farmers as required, we will continue to supervise.

　　Yue Xiaowu disclosed that relevant departments have already imposed corresponding disciplinary penalties on four people including Li Yaolin, secretary of the Wanrong County Party Committee.

　　Yue Xiaowu: The Shanxi Provincial Discipline Inspection and Supervision Authorities decided to give Li Yaolin, secretary of the Wanrong County Party Committee, a serious warning within the Party; Li Yaozong, member of the Standing Committee of the Wanrong County Party Committee and executive deputy county magistrate, an administrative demerit record; and the director of the Wanrong County Land and Resources Bureau and the director of the county Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau administrative demerit records.

　　When will the land illegally expropriated in Wanrong, Shanxi, truly be returned to local farmers? China National Radio will continue to follow the matter.