Beyond that, some say that the case does damage to China’s image abroad. “We believe that whether or not the privately owned property of citizens can be protected and respected is a major condition for the development of a harmonious society,” says the letter.

Ren Guangming of Liuwan village in Jingbian county is 49 years old. From 1999 to 2001, he responded to the local government’s appeal for investment and lent over 4 million yuan to oil well number four. In 2003, when the government took the well back, he was given 1 million yuan and is now in debt for the remainder.

“I really want to jump off of a building right now. This money… I couldn’t pay it off in a lifetime,” says Ren, who now makes ten yuan a day doing odd jobs while his wife acts as a maid. In 2003, when Ren was still earning from the well, he made 3 or 4 million yuan a year.

“If the government can compensate us according to the second batch of standards and give me four or five million, I’ll be happy.”

Shi Xiucheng is 57 years old. He and his son invested 2 million yuan in oil well number eight, which produced ten tons of oil a day. They were given one million yuan by the government.

Shi says that he was originally a food and clothing retailer before investing everything he had into the wells. Now he is a bricklayer earning 30 yuan a day. “The lender is at the door every day, threatening to cut my arms and legs off.” He says that if nothing changes, it is inevitable that he one day end up in prison for his debt.

“We only hope to be fairly compensated,” he says. On June 5, Qi Fengfei, a representative of the investors, said that they wouldn’t oppose the nation’s reorganization of oil resources. The well has already been nationalized, so they don’t want it back.

Qin Linhui’s Secret Report 

“The right to take initiative is still Yanchang Oil’s hands,” says Qin Linhui, director of the Petrochemical Department of Yu Lin City. “We’ve been very serious about discussing matters of compensation.”

According to him, Yanchang Oil has already established special organs to deal with the Shanbei oil dispute.

According to our understanding, Qin is a pivotal character in the case, as he personally was involved in the planning of the well’s appropriation and the associated compensation schemes. After the dispute erupted, he would send reports directly to the governor’s office.

“After the CPPCC raised the motion, Qin Linhui had already been to the provincial governor to discuss compensation five times, and each time there was a letter involved, says one source.

Hu Xiao, an attorney at Mo Shaoping Law Offices, says that the government’s attitude is being adjusted and that after this year, there will be more big changes. Before, the government virtually didn’t discuss the dispute, saying “it’s already over.” Now, no one can be found saying this.