In the depths of the vast grasslands of Inner Mongolia, a land storm in Shuangsheng Village, Jianhua Town, Kailu County, is affecting the hearts of thousands of people.
This seemingly ordinary contract land dispute actually reveals the deep-seated contradiction between the concept of the rule of law, the spirit of contract and grassroots governance, and triggers the public's in-depth thinking about the protection of rural land rights and interests.
Origin of the incident: saline-alkali land became fertile land, and the contract made waves
Back at the end of the last century, the 4,500 acres of barren saline-alkali land in Shuangsheng Village contained infinite vitality in the eyes of villager Lao Zhang.
He contracted the land at a low price and made a 30-year contract.
At that time, this saline-alkali land that was difficult to grow did not attract too many people's attention, but Lao Zhang firmly believed that "man will win the day" and was determined to water hope with sweat.
Twenty years have been like a day, Lao Zhang has devoted all his efforts to this barren land.
He introduced organic soil and organic fertilizer, repeatedly ploughed and improved, and after wind, frost, rain and snow, he finally turned the saline-alkali land into a fertile land.
The golden wheat waves and green corn fields have become the new business card of this land, and Lao Zhang's diligence and wisdom have brought rich returns, and also brought tangible economic benefits to Shuangsheng Village.
However, as land values soared, the days of peace were shattered.
At the village and town levels, he suddenly proposed that in view of the fact that the land had been changed from saline-alkali land to fertile land, Lao Zhang had to pay the contract fee according to the price of fertile land, otherwise he would be prohibited from continuing to cultivate, and even proposed to terminate the contract.
This request caught Lao Zhang off guard and sparked widespread controversy.
Escalating conflict: The deputy secretary shouted, and the bottom line of the rule of law was challenged
Faced with the sudden change, Lao Zhang tried to find a solution through communication, but what awaited him was a cold and hard barrier.
In the spring of this year, just as the curtain of spring plowing was about to open, Lao Zhang took agricultural machinery and equipment to prepare for sowing, but encountered unprecedented obstacles.
A certain deputy secretary of Jianhua Town personally attended the scene, and not only strictly forbade Lao Zhang to farm, but also said wildly: "Don't come to me! I don't know the law!"
These two deafening words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, causing an uproar.
The arrogance of a deputy secretary who is in a leading position at the grassroots level has openly declared that he "does not understand the law" is shocking in his rhetoric and arrogant attitude.
These remarks are not only a provocation to the dignity of the law, but also a severe torture of the construction of the rule of law at the grassroots level.
In the process, the involvement of the police has also aroused public concern.
Under the instruction of the deputy secretary, Lao Zhang was taken away from the scene, and whether this disposal method complied with legal procedures and whether there was a suspicion of abuse of public power became the focus of public opinion.
Entanglements of interests surfaced, and fairness and justice were questioned
As the incident fermented, more insider information gradually surfaced.
It turned out that the reason why Shuangsheng Village and Jianhua Town insisted on asking Lao Zhang to pay the contract fee was because they coveted the land value-added income.
In their view, Lao Zhang's personal efforts to turn saline-alkali land into fertile land have greatly increased the value of the land, and the villages and towns should get a piece of the pie.
This logic of "sitting back and enjoying the results" is undoubtedly a disregard and deprivation of the fruits of Lao Zhang's hard work.
What's more, it has been revealed that there may be a phantom of power rent-seeking behind this turmoil.
Some grassroots cadres have taken advantage of the opportunity of increasing the value of land to try to achieve some ulterior motives by adjusting the contract fee or terminating the contract.
These unconfirmed rumors, although they need to be further verified, have undoubtedly intensified public speculation about the complexity and seriousness of the incident.
Legal perspective: Adhere to the spirit of contract and defend the rights and interests of farmers
In response to this dispute, people in the legal profession have given a clear legal interpretation.
The lawyer pointed out that the contract signed between Lao Zhang and the village collective is legally binding, and both parties should strictly abide by it as long as the contract is still valid.
The value-added income brought about by land improvement should belong to Lao Zhang, who has paid for his labor, rather than the villages and towns that are trying to "sit back and enjoy the results".
Forcibly demanding the payment of back contract fees or the termination of the contract not only violates the spirit of the contract, but is also suspected of infringing on the peasants' right to contract and operate land.
Current Situation and Prospects: All parties are concerned and look forward to a fair solution
At present, Lao Zhang's contracted land is still idle, and the golden period of spring plowing is quietly passing.
All sectors of society have paid close attention to this matter, the media has continued to follow up and report, and relevant departments have intervened in the investigation.
People hope that the truth will come out as soon as possible, and that Lao Zhang's legitimate rights and interests can be protected in a timely and effective manner.
In the face of this land turmoil, we can't help but reflect: In the context of comprehensively advancing the rule of law, how to ensure that grassroots governance follows the track of the rule of law and avoid the recurrence of similar incidents? How to strengthen the protection of rural land rights and interests, so that farmers can work with peace of mind and share the fruits of reform and development? How to improve the legal literacy of grassroots cadres so that they can truly become the "last mile" to serve the masses and safeguard fairness and justice?
The contract land dispute in Kailu County is like a mirror, reflecting the pains and challenges in the process of rural land reform.
It warns us that no matter how the times change, the spirit of the rule of law and the principle of contract will always be the cornerstone of social order, and any attempt to cross this red line will be severely punished by the law and condemned by society.
We hope that under the sunshine of the rule of law, Lao Zhang's contracted land turmoil can be resolved fairly and reasonably, and we also hope that the reform of the rural land system in the mainland will be more stable and full of humanistic care.