Land deal legal, says local govt after death of villager

Pingdu government in Shandong Province on Sunday denied the illegal requisition of land in Dujiatuan village, where a tent fire killed one man and injured three others on Friday.

Pingdu government said on its Sina Weibo account Sunday that according to the city's land and resources bureau, "there is no such matter of illegal requisition or illegal demolition involved in the land requisition."

Geng Fulin, 62, burned to death and three others were injured after a tent they were in caught fire on Friday. Speculation that the fire was set deliberately has caused uproar online. Police said the cause is under investigation but admitted Saturday that they suspect arson.

One man with minor injuries was discharged from hospital, and two others were transferred to a bigger hospital.

The men had apparently pitched the tent in a bid to prevent developers from starting construction as they were unhappy with their compensation.

According to the Pingdu government's Weibo, compensation for the 8.36-hectare plot was paid in May 2013, with 3.4 million yuan ($546,040) for crops and 6.04 million for the land given to village leaders. Villagers received crop compensation in May, but relatives of the deceased told the Global Times on Sunday that land compensation has not been paid.

According to China's Land Administration Law, land compensation can be shared among villagers, or invested with any profits being divided equally.

Geng Fuchun, younger brother of the deceased, said some relatives were paid for crops, but neither his family nor his brother's received any land compensation.

"It's possible the city government paid the land compensation but village officials kept it. We're not in a position to ask about it," said Geng Fuchan.

Beijing-based lawyer Zhu Xiaoding, who has spoken with villagers, said they received 450,000 to 1.2 million yuan for one hectare of land. According to Pingdu land bureau website, the developers paid 18.4 million yuan per hectare.

Pingdu government Sunday disputed reports that the victim's body was taken by force, stating that the family moved the body with police present. The body was examined and cremated.