On March 4, 2013, the state-sponsored Global Times published an English language article entitled "
Shanxi NPC Deputy, 84, Under Fire for Record Re-Election." Some excerpts:
Shanxi authorities have defended the reelection of a veteran deputy to the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) in response to public accusations that the 84-year-old's record return to the top legislature was symbolic.
Shen Jilan, a villager from Pingshun county and NPC deputy since 1954, has long been recognized as a national model worker. She is the only representative to be consecutively elected as an NPC deputy 12 times. However, Shen's role as a deputy was questioned last year when she admitted she had never opposed a proposal during the NPC sessions.
Hu Suping, director of the publicity department of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said on Saturday that Shen was widely supported and re-elected by local villagers, stressing that she represents a voice for the grass-roots majority.
On March 5, the Global Times published a Chinese language editorial by He Hui (何辉) entitled "
Attacking Shen Jilan Serves No Constructive Purpose in Building a Political Culture" (攻击申纪兰无益政治文化建设). Some excerpts:
What I mean to say is, if these people's representatives are in fact not elected based on people's true wishes, then we should be asking, what power is causing representatives to be selected that the people do not want selected. According to the Measures on the Election of People's Representatives, the people's representatives for counties, cities, townships, ethnic villages, and counties are chosen by direct elections. That is to say, the representatives in China's National People's Congress have to be coming from the direct elections at the basic level.
Every vote is in the hands of the people. Why is it that the people are not satisfied with their chosen representatives? This indicates that there are some factors interfering with voting. What are these factors? It could be the influence of power, the lure of money, or perhaps it is a general indifference. But it must be said that, regardless of the reasons, if there is a problem with elections, it is either because some people do not cherish the vote in their hands, or because they are unable to cast their votes in accordance with their own rational will.
笔者想说，如果有些人民代表确实不是人民真心选举出来的，那么我们应追问，是什么力量促使人民选出了不想选的代表。按照人民代表的选举办法，县、不设区的市、市辖区、乡、民族乡、镇的人民代表大会代表由选民直接选举。这就是说，我国全国人民代表大会的代表一定是源自于基层直接选举的。
每一票都在人民手中。为什么会有人民不满意的代表会被选出？这说明有些因素会干扰投票。这些因素是什么？可能是权力的影响，是金钱的诱惑，也可能是无所谓的默然态度。应该说，不管受到哪种因素的影响，如果选举出了问题，是因为有些人没有珍惜手中的一票或者无法做到按照自己的意志理性地投票。
These screenshots were taken on March 6, and show that Baidu bans users from establishing PostBar (贴吧) forums under the following headings:
- Two Sessions (两会)
- People's Congress Representative (人大代表)
- The People (人民)
- General Elections (普选)
- Elections (选举)
- Democracy (民主)
In each case, Baidu tells users "Apologies, in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and policies, this forum cannot be opened at this time." (抱歉，根据相关法律法规和政策，本吧暂不开放。)
