RP784 V 3 Public Disclosure Authorized Nanning-Guangzhou Railway Construction Project

Public Disclosure Authorized Social Assessment Report

Public Disclosure Authorized Drafted by: the West Development Research Center of the Central University of Nationalities China Minority Research Center of the Central University of Nationalities

Public Disclosure Authorized February 2009 in Beijing Table of Contents

1.Mission, methodology and procedure ...... 3

1.1 Mission and reference...... 3 1.1.1 Mission...... 3 1.1.2 Reference...... 4 1.2 Qualifications ...... 4 1.3 Research methodology ...... 8 1.3.1 Emphases and levels of field investigation ...... 8 1.3.2 Investigation procedure...... 11

2.Related laws, regulations and review mechanism...... 2

2.1 Nationality identification and the definition of “minority nationality” in China 2 2.2 Chinese policies and regulations on nationalities ...... 4 2.3 The definition of “minority nationalities” according to the World Bank policy 10 2.4 Comparison between China’s minority nationalities and the World Bank’s indigenous peoples ...... 11 2.5 Summary ...... 14

3. Land system ...... 15

3.1 The state basic land system ...... 15 3.2 Rural land system...... 18 3.3 Land system of the project area ...... 19 3.4 Summary ...... 20

4.Minority Nationalities ...... 20

4.1 Association of the project to minority nationalities...... 20 4.1.1 General introduction to the minority nationalities in the project area...... 20 4.1.2 Association of the project to minority nationalities ...... 21 4.2 Rural resources and livelihood ...... 22 4.3 Culture and livelihood of Zhuang society ...... 24 4.3.1 General introduction to Zhuang ...... 24 4.3.2 The livelihood of Zhuang people in the project area ...... 28 4.4 Relations and comparison between different nationalities in the project ...... 32 4.5 Summary ...... 33

5.Poverty and the sexes ...... 33

5.1 Poverty in the project area ...... 33 5.1.1 General introduction ...... 33 5.1.2 Analysis of the causes of poverty...... 34

1 . 5.2 Association of poverty to nationalities ...... 34 5.3 Women ...... 35 5.3.1 Women and traditional roles ...... 35 5.3.2 Association of nationality to the sex role and position...... 36 5.4 Summary ...... 36

6.Project impact analysis...... 38

6.1 Positive analysis ...... 38 6.2 Adverse impact ...... 38 6.3 Analysis of the differences of impact by the project on the nationalities...... 45 6.4 Summary ...... 45

7.Parties having an interest in the project ...... 46

7.1 The identification of the parties having an interest in the project...... 46 7.2 Analysis of the parties ...... 46 7.2.1 The Ministry of Railways ...... 46 7.2.2 NG company ...... 47 7.2.3 Guangxi Autonomous Region Government ...... 47 7.2.4 The city, county/district and Township governments ...... 48 7.2.5 The World Bank...... 49 7.2.6 The construction contractor ...... 53 7.3 Summary ...... 54

8. Conclusion and recommendation...... 55

8.1 Information exposure and support by the residents...... 55 8.2 The indigenous peoples’ policy of the World Bank (OP4.10) does not apply to this project...... 55 8.3 The RAP drafted for this project also applies to the Zhuang people...... 55

2 . 1. Mission, methodology and procedure

1.1 Mission and reference

1.1.1 Mission

According to the recommendation of the experts from the World Bank, at the end of August 2008, the Foreign Investment Utilization and Technology Introduction Center of the China Ministry of Railways (referred to as the entrusting party thereinafter) entrusted Professor Zhang Haiyang, director of the West Development Research Center of the Central University of Nationalities, and Associate Professor Jia Zhongyi, deputy director of the above center (referred to as the trustee thereinafter) to conduct social assessment for this project. On September 2nd, the two parties signed a contract, by which the trustee accepted the commission formally.

Through negotiation between the two parties, and after consultation with the related experts from the World Bank, it is clarified that the trustee should undertake the following tasks: a) As per operational policy OP4.10 of the World Bank and the appendixes, the trustee shall investigate along the route of Nanjing-Guangzhou Railway project, so as to understand clearly the actual distribution of minority nationalities in this area and identifying the potential positive and negative impact the project shall have on the minority nationalities. b) Through in-depth field investigation, the trustee shall learn the economic and social development status and the social cultural characteristics of the minority nationalities along the route, so as to tell whether the minority nationalities in this area comply with the “indigenous peoples” as defined in the operational policy OP4.10 of the World Bank. The trustee will then take the impact analysis of the project into consideration and decide whether it is needed to draft a “Minority Nationalities Development Plan” for the minority nationalities in the area. c) The trustee shall analyze the suitability of the related action plan (RAP).

3 . d) The trustee shall draft both the Chinese and English versions of “the Social assessment Report of the Nanning-Guangzhou Railway Construction Project”. If necessary, the trustee will help the entrusting party to draft the Chinese and English versions of the “Minority Nationalities Development Plan for the Nanjing-Guangzhou Railway Construction Project”. e) The trustee shall conduct field investigation and finish the “social assessment report” (and if necessary, the “minority nationalities development plan”) in a timely manner at the appropriate time based on the progress of the preparation work for this project. Timing for the above task starts in early September of 2008 and ends by mid February of 2009.

1.1.2 Reference

References that the social assessment investigation and report are built on are mainly the following three types: a) Related policies and regulations on minority nationalities right protection, land resources exploitation and major infrastructure construction by the central and local government of China; b) Security safeguard policy, particularly indigenous peoples policy by the World Bank (OP4.10); c) The “feasibility study report” (FS) provided by the entrusting party, the resettlement action plan (dated January of 2009) of the project, etc.

1.2 Qualifications

The team composition and qualifications of the trustee:

(I) Project leader and major experts

Mr. Zhang Haiyang, Han nationality, professor, Doctor in ethnology, director of the west development research center of the central university of nationalities, director of China minority nationalities research center.

4 . Specialized fields of Mr. Zhang include ethnology theory, methodology and application study.

Mr. Jia Zhongyi, Miao nationality of Guangxi, associate profession, doctor in ethnology, deputy director of the west development research center of the central university of nationalities. Specialized fields of Mr. Jia include history, culture and ethnic group relations of minority nationalities in South China;

The two project leaders have rich knowledge and application research experience. They have directed and participated in many social assessment tasks for World Bank loans, including reservoirs, roads, forestation, river basin management and railway projects in China. They helped the project owners draft the related minority nationality development plan. They are familiar with related policies and regulations by Chinese governments and the standards of World Bank. They have an in-depth understanding of the situation and needs of China’s minority nationalities as well as the linguistic and cultural characteristics of the local ethnic groups. Their recently-completed projects include: a) Minority nationality development plan for the water and soil reservation project of the upper reaches of Yangtze River/Pearl River(2004/052005/03); b) Social assessment and minority nationalities development plan for the adjusted route of Gui-Kun Railway (2005/09); c) Protection and development study of minority cultures of China with a small population (2006/07-08); d) Social assessment and minority nationalities development plan for the general project of Guangxi Forestry(2005/0102); e) Social assessment report and minority nationalities development plan for Gui-Guang Railway Construction Project(2007/052008/12); f) Social assessment and minority nationalities development plan for flood control and river basin management in Xining City(2007/112009/01);

5 . g) Resettlement and compensation system study of Chinese water and electricity construction projects in minority nationalities areas.

(II) Team members

Ms. Zhao Jianli, Miao Nationality of Hunan, deputy profession, expert on rural social security study in minority nationality areas from the humanities and development school of China University of Agriculture. She conducted several investigation and studies on rural issue project in Guangxi, Hunan, Yunnan among others.

Ms. Hu Yingzi, Zhuang nationality of Guangxi, with undergraduate and graduate certificates in ethnology from the Central University of Nationalities. She is now studying for the doctor’s degree in sociology. She also has working experience in several NGOs.

Ms. Wei Xia, Mongol nationality of Inner Mongolia, graduate of sociology from the Central Universities of nationalities. She is now studying for the doctor’s degree in sociology and working part-time for an NGO. She conducted rural investigation and study in Yao nationality area of Guangxi.

Mr. Liang Xining, Zhuang nationality of Guangxi, double degree in ethnology and ecology from the Central University of Nationalities. He is now studying for the graduate degree in ethnology. He participated in the investigation of resettlement for water and electricity construction projects and the drafting of related reports.

Ms. Liu Liu, Zhuang nationality of Guangxi, Graduate and Teaching assistant in Central University of Nationalities, majored in ethnology. She conducted field investigation and study in Guangxi and Guizhou.

Mr. Liu Fengshi, Han nationality of Henan, Graduate of sociology from the Central University of Nationalities. He worked as teaching assistant and participated in the Gui-Guang Railway project and Xining City flood control project.

Ms. Jia Zhen, Miao nationality of Guangxi, undergraduate in history from Xinyang Normal University. She participated in rural investigation of Miao, Tong, Zhuang, Yao nationalities.

6 . (III) Team strength

When setting up the team, we have the following priorities in mind:

First, familiarity with local language and culture. Zhuang is the biggest minority nationality along the route. They speak their mother tongue Zhuang Language as well as Cantonese (called “vernacular” by the locals) in daily life and this includes both Zhuang and Han people there. Therefore, the team includes 5 researchers from Guangxi. They are mostly from the project areas, have competent efficiency in Cantonese and understand Zhuang Language. This ensured barrier-free communication with villagers and thereby raised the investigation efficiency.

Second, to facilitate communication with the disadvantaged groups. To approach women, the elderly and teenagers, we enrolled five female researchers in the team. They played wonderful roles when we visited villagers’ home by gaining the villagers’ trust.

Third, diversified background. Majors of the team members are mainly ethnology and sociology but we also have history and ecology. This is to avoid the blind point that one or two major background could probably create. Fourth, rich experience. Aside from the leaders’ rich experience in similar project, nearly all team members have participated in field investigations several times. They can understand the project goal better and have mastery of the investigation tools.

(IV) Allocation of work a) Deputy professor Jia Zhongyi designs the investigation and study plan and develops investigation tools; b) Professor Zhang Haiyang and Deputy Jia Zhongyi are responsible for training of the team; c) Mr. Jia Zhongyi acts as the executive team leader and together with deputy professor Zhao Jianli, led the team in field investigation. The

7 . students help collecting documents, photo and video taping, taking minutes and household interviews and questionnaire investigation. d) Jia Zhongyi and Zhao Jianli are responsible for the drafting of study reports. The students assist sorting files and data analysis. e) Professor Zhang Haiyang directs and revises the drafting of the Chinese and English reports.

1.3 Research methodology

During investigation and assessment, the trustee mainly adopts Participating Rural Assessment (PRA) methods. Based on the holism theory and comparative study criteria of anthropology and sociology, we collect data through field investigation, which is to collect first-hand information by participating observation, focused discussion, and focused mass discussion, typical village and villager sampling. We collect local documents and statistics based on the document list. At the same time, we add to the depth and width of the research and the strength of the argument and of the reliability of the conclusion by drawing from the methods of historical document research and policy and regulation analysis.

1.3.1 Emphases and levels of field investigation

1.3.1.1 Scope and emphasis of investigation

Based on the common understanding between the entrusting party and the trustee on the missions, the following points will be taken into consideration: (a) The project area is the lineal area stretching from east to west and bordered by Guangzhou and Nanning; (b) Among the potential impact that project will have on the villages within the area, the most important and most direct ones are land acquisition and resettlement caused by the construction of roadbed, bridges, tunnels, stations and supporting facilities and the setting up of railway security control system. The next important import is the disturbance to the villagers around the construction sites; (c) The population flow caused by the construction may influence the behavior, mindset and interpersonal relations among villages along the route. There also exists the risk of the infection of various diseases. Therefore, it is decided that a screening will be carried out within 10 kilometers diameter along the route.

8 . Based on the field investigation results, knowledge and document research results by the trustee, and at the same time, drawing from the research results of the survey design and resettlement teams of the project, the following have been confirmed:

(a)There is no minority nationality village within the project area of Guangdong Province. Therefore, the social assessment will not cover this area.

(b)Zhuang and Yao are the two minority nationalities that have a time- honored residence in the 3 cities and 7 counties/districts within the Guangxi project area. But Yao villages are located outside the 10 kilometer diameter of the route and therefore will not be included in the social assessment report.

(c)There is no Zhuang village within 10 kilometer diameter in the section between Guiping and Wuzhou. Therefore, this section will enjoy less focus.

(d)There are 22 Zhuang villages or multi-nationality-resided (Zhuang and Han) villages within 10 kilometer diameter in the section between Binyang County of Nanning City and Gangbei District of Guigang City.

The trustee will put the emphasis of the social assessment on the 22 minority nationality villages in the section between Binyang and Gangbei.

1.3.1.2 Investigation levels

The trustee conducted investigation on two basic levels in the target area: villages and governments. Investigation on the village level covered administrative villages, natural villages, peasant households, and individuals. Investigation on the government level includes autonomous region, city, county/district, Townships. The team also visited experts and scholars from related institutes such as Guangxi Nationality Research Institute.

(I)Investigation at the village level

9 . Village investigation itself also has two levels, including colloquia with villager representatives, village grassroots data investigation, and household interview questionnaire and individual interview. Village investigation is mainly focused in the area between Binyang County and Heji Township on the west and the town Qintang of Guiguang city on the east. The 22 minority nationality villages to be impacted along the route are all located in this area. After considering the factors such as administrative regionalization, livelihood patterns, economic development levels, nationality composition, degree and types of the impart, and past experience, and upon consulting the representatives from the local governments, the team made field investigation in 8 villages (namely Dabang Village and Sanmin Village of Heji Township, Fengming Village and Qiming Village of Qintang Township, Huanglian Village and Zhangtuan Village of Huanglian Township, Daguo Village and Longling Village of Qintang Township). The team had 8 colloquia with the villager representatives, with a total of 94 participating villagers.

The village-level colloquia invited village cadres, women, youth, elderly, village teachers, elders of the villages, religious people and others. The main purpose is to learn about the natural resources, livelihood, population and its composition, social composition and ethnic group relations, social system and customs, economic status and development plan, villager’s knowledge of the project design and plan during the preparation, past experience, needs and suggestions for this project. The cadres and representatives helped distribute and collect the village baseline questionnaire.

Household interview investigation includes household questionnaire and individual in-depth interview. In choosing the household and village samples, we take many factors into consideration, including family composition, livelihood, economic situation, nationality, sex, experience, attitude to the project. 91 questionnaires are distributed and collected and 91 individuals are interviewed

(II)Investigations at the government level

Investigation at the government level take the form of colloquia with leaders from related functional areas and organization, which include the general offices, development and reform commissions/bureaus,

10 . nationality(religion) commissions/bureaus, women’s federation, offices of poverty alleviation of the autonomous region/city/country/district, and the railway construction office set up by governments of all levels for the project. Investigation with the Township government takes the form of interview with the Township leaders in charge of the railway construction within the jurisdiction. Content of the investigation on the government level include: (1)Challenges that the local governments face in the railway construction tasks;

(2)Relations between the project and the local development needs and plan;

(3)Progress of related work by local government in the implementation of the project, including laying down of related policies and regulations, organization building, publicity campaigns and mobilization, and coordination with designers and owners;

(4)Successful experience and lessons from past projects and prevention measures taken by this project;

(5)Villager opinions and requirements along the route collected by the local government;

(6)Assist to collect related policy and regulation booklet, statistics and documents according to the document list provided by the trustee.

The investigation by the trustee covered 3 cities, i.e. Nanning, Guigang and Wuzhou, 6 counties/districts, i.e. Binyang, Qintang, Guiping, Pingnan, Tengxian and Cangwu, and 13 Townships, i.e. Litang and Heji of Binyang County, Qintang and Huanglian of Qintang District, Xishan of Guiping city, Wulin, Da’an and Zhenlong of Pingnan County, Tanping, Tengzhou, Tang u of Tengxian, Dapo and Longwei of Cangwu County.

1.3.2 Investigation procedure

The social assessment investigation was executed on two-phrase basis by the trustee.

11 . 1.3.2.1 Village Investigation (I)Village investigation process and procedures

From Jan 20 to Jan 25, 2009, the trustee went to the basic village level to conduct field investigation in the 22 minority nationality villages that are potentially impacted adversely by the project. The purpose of this investigation is to verify the information obtained during screening period, more comprehensively understand the basic information, social and cultural characteristics of minority nationality villages within the project area, the understanding and supporting of the project by the villagers, opinions and requests in the different phrases of the projects. All of this was conducted via unlimited negotiation before the implementation of the project.

Having considered thoroughly the administrative regionalization, livelihood, economic development level, nationality composition, the degree and types of impact by the project and past experiences and other factors, the trustee selected 8 villages as samples with reference to the comments from the representatives from the local government, we conducted field investigation on a household interview basis. The procedure, forms and results of the investigation is as indicated in the table below.

12 . Table 1: Investigation implementation summary in minority nationality villages for the Nanjing-Guangzhou Railway Project Nation Investigation method County/ ality Township Community Time Household Individual Sample characteristics district compo Colloquia interview interview sition Cadre 5 Male 6 4% Rich 3 Combination area of town and countryopen to the Huanglian Villager 5 Female 3 Zhuan Morning Medium 4 outside world; rich project experience, impact by the Community Women 1 Cadre 2 g Poor 2 land acquisition and . Huanglian Youth 0 Re-settler 5 21 Township Cadre 5 Male 6 100% Rich 2 Multi impact by land acquisition, resettlement, and Zhangtuan Villager 7 Female 3 Zhuan Afternoon Medium 5 engrossment of road and river way; single-source Village Women 2 Cadre 3 g Poor 2 livelihood; rich project experience Qintang Youth 2 Re-settler 4 District Cadre 3 Male 10 98% Rich 3 Daguo Villager 7 Female 1 Multi-source and fine livelihood; impact by land Zhuan Morning Medium 5 Village Women 1 Cadre 1 acquisition and construction, rich project experience. g Poor 3 Qintang Youth 1 Re-settler 5 22 Township Cadre 1 Male 13 Combination area of town and country, high 15% Rich 4 Longling Villager 13 Female 1 commercialization of agriculture, fairly rich, multi Zhuan Afternoon Medium 7 Village Women 1 Cadre 1 impact by land acquisition, resettlement and g Poor 3 Youth 3 Re-settler 3 construction, some project experience. Livelihood is mainly from farming, animal husbandry, Cadre 3 Male 12 50% Rich 3 and doing work outside the village; major impact by Li- Fengming Villager 10 Female 1 Zhuan Morning Medium 8 Zhan Railway cutting-up and stations , having leftover Village Women1 Cadre 2 g Poor 2 problems, impacted by land acquisition and construction Litang Youth 1 Re-settler 3 23 of this project. Township Cadre 6 Male 17 85% Rich 3 Qiming Villager 11 Female 0 No project experience, impacted by land acquisition and Zhuan Afternoon Medium 12 Village Women 0 Cadre 3 construction. Binyang g Poor 2 Youth 3 Re-settler 7 County Cadre 2 Male 8 30% Rich 4 A lot of cultivable land, fine livelihood, impacted by Sanmin Villager 6 Female 0 Zhuan Morning Medium 3 land acquisition, resettlement, cross-village and Village Women 0 Cadre 2 g Poor 1 construction, operations, some project experience Heji Youth 2 Re-settler 3 24 Township 37% Cadre 2 Male 10 Rich 4 Multi-sources of livelihood; 1 entirely Han nationality Dabang Zhuan Villager 8 Female 0 Afternoon Medium 4 natural village (215 households) impacted by land Community g Women 0 Cadre 2 Poor 2 acquisition and construction; some project experience Youth 1 Re-settler 3 91 persons : 83 94 persons: 27 91 households: males8 Covering villages of all types of economic status, project cadres 67 26 rich ones, 46 females, 16 Total 4 8 52% 4 experience, nationality composition, degree of impact, villagers, 6 medium ones, cadres, size of population. women 13 youth 19 poor ones involuntary 33 re-settlers

1 . The basic procedure of the village investigation is:

(1)To explain the purpose of the investigation to the Township and village cadres. They assisted gathering about 10 persons such as the cadres, representatives of impacted villagers, representatives from rich, medium and poor households, women representatives, village elders, youth representatives. The colloquia were held in the village committee or in a nice villager’s house. The colloquia were open. Villagers were encouraged to speak up at any time;

(2)The trustee prepared paper and pens and other meeting necessities; candies and cigarettes were also there to create a relaxed atmosphere.

(3)Leader Jia Zhongyi introduced the team members in the appropriate language based on the linguistic competency and customs of the attendees, and then explained the background, goal, content, method and purpose of the investigation and also how the village could learn about the investigation results. The attendees were also specially assured that they were not subject to any legal responsibilities due to their statement, opinion and suggestion.

(4)The method is flexible. The trustee would start with a topic most dear to the attendee’s heart, and in the process, learn about the grass-root information and customs, how much the villagers were informed about the project. The trustee would listen to the past experience of the villagers, analyze the potential positive and adverse impact of this project, and then explain the measures and plans to offset the adverse impact. The villagers would discuss the issues, voice their different opinions and even argue with one another. The trustee would listen carefully to all of this;

(5)The trustee took careful note of the colloquia and asked the attendees to review and supplement it to their satisfaction as to the statement about their opinions and suggestions;

(6)The attendees signed on the note and were given compensation for their time;.

(7)The trustee left their contact to the cadres and attendees; (8)The trustee asked the attendees to help to choose the households and individual villagers to interview. The attendees would also bring the trustee to the chosen one.

(9)Thank the attendee and call it a day.

(II)Household interview and individual interview The main procedure of household interviews and individual interviews is as follows:

(1)The cadres, village representatives or youth led the trustee to the interviewees’ homes.

(2)To explain the purpose of the visit to the head of the household or the interviewees and give a gift.

(3)To explain the content, purpose of the questionnaire, ask for the language and environment request of the villagers and also state the confidentiality principle concerning the villagers and their privacy.

(4)Villagers finish the questionnaire by themselves or under the assistance of the investigators. Any questionnaire asked by the investigators will be reviewed and verified by the villagers.

(5)To conduct semi-structured interview with villager, so as to learn how much they had been informed of the project, to solicit their opinions and suggestions and to listen to the villager’s suggested solutions to the adverse impact of the project.

(6)To listen to their joys and worries over marriage, family, relations between neighbors, relations cadres and peasants, and what they saw and heard when working in the outside world.

(7)To leave the contact information and say goodbye.

The trustee conducted questionnaire investigation with 91 households of various types and interviewed 91 individual villagers of various kinds in 8 administrative villages.

1 . (III)Results of village investigation

From village investigation, household visit and individual interviews, the trustee draws the following conclusion:

(1)There do exist 22 multi-nationality (Zhuang and Han mixed) administrative villages residing along the project area. The percentage of Zhuang population ranges from 100% (Zhangtuan Village of Huanglian Township, Guigang City) to 4% (Huanglian Village). According to the memory of the village elders, this situation dates back to 5 or 6 generations. The only exception is Daguo Village of Qintang Township, which was a 100% Zhuang village and then became a Zhuang and Han resided village in 1950 when 10 Han migrant families moved in to construct the Pinglong reservoir.

(2)The 22 villages have different conditions and living standards. Per capita annual income of the poorest Zhangtuan Village is 2100 RMB Yuan. The figure for the medium-income Daguo Village and Sanmin Village and for the fairly rich Longling Village is over 4000 RMB Yuan and 5000 RMB respectively. With each village, the economic conditions of the household also differ. But the differences between villages and between villagers are not due to ethnic factors but due to natural geological environment, regionalization, resources, infrastructure and the like.

(3)Zhuang population can speak both Zhuang language and local Chinese vernacular, and speak Zhuang language mainly at home or in a mostly Zhuang populated village. They speak vernacular, Hakka and mandarin with guests. Aside from language, there are no pronounced difference between Zhuang and Han villagers, such as lifestyle, festivals, customs, belief, and mindset.

(4)Zhuang nationality has been living with Han nationality in the same area for a longtime. They have close communication, live in harmony with each other and marry each other. There is no much nationality consciousness.

(5)All villages, either Zhuang or Han, have patrilineal lineages spanning about 3 to 5 generations. The households in each lineage are closely related. They have the duty of helping each other on occasions of weddings,

2 . burial ceremonies, house construction and the like. But this close relationship also includes neighbors. It is not strictly blood relation and non-exclusive. Apart from this, there are no social organizations based on nationality or ethnic groups.

(6)The villages have no tradition of one blood line or ethnic group occupying a specific reach of forest or burial ground or other natural resources or cultural or geographic space. Since 1950, productive resources such as cultivable land, wildness, ponds have been utilized by the villagers collectively, and the ownership has always belonged to the state. Since 1980, the head of each household with villages of rural residence applied for contract for the managerial right on behalf of the individual household, and they enjoy long-term independent utilization rights; (for details, please refer to the related chapters on “land system”)

(7)Impact by land acquisition and resettlement is determined by the relations between their land, houses and the railway route and facility location. Therefore, Zhuang is not specially affected.

(8)There are no pronounced difference between Zhuang and Han local population in terms of language, education, sense of safeguarding rights, and social capitals. At the same time, since the current Chinese policies and regulations safeguard the minority nationalities’ rights in terms of language, culture, higher education, cadre cultivation, etc, and Zhuang is the mainstream nationality enjoying autonomous rights in Guangxi, Zhuang is not the disadvantaged or marginal group.

(9)Zhuang population of the villages under investigation were not discriminated against or isolated either during colloquia or individual interviews. They didn’t have more complaint about poverty than Han population. Neither did they ask for special relief or compensation for the Zhuang.

(10)Zhuang and Han populations in the villages under investigation say, information on the Nanjing-Guangzhou railway construction project was known to the residents along the rout in October 2008 at the latest through government publicity campaigns, village committee meetings and household interviews by the field survey team and the resettlement team from the designing departments. By the time of the second-phase field

3 . investigation in Jan of 2009, the entrenchment and wiring work of the whole route had been finished. Some villagers participated in the work. Therefore, villagers are well informed.

(11)The villages and villagers being interviewed say, Nanjing-Guangzhou Railway is a major state construction project. It will help improve the general transportation conditions, attract investment from outside, promote local economic development and facilitate the young people’s travel outside. Though it does have adverse impact, but they believe the government will give them reasonable compensation. So they accept and support the project. At colloquia, the support is 100%. In household interviews and individual interviews, the support is 96%, among which support by Zhuang people is 100%.

1.3.2.2 Screening

(I)Screening process

On 4 to 10 September, 2008, deputy professor Jia Zhongyi and deputy professor Zhao Jianli went to the project area in Guangxi and conduct screening along the route. The purpose of the screening is to understand the minority population, its distribution, relations to this project, social and cultural characteristics of minority nationalities and their social development status, ethnic group relations, and the potential positive and adverse impact of this project on the local minority population, and to tell whether the local minority nationalities comply with the key characteristics of the indigenous peoples policy as defined by the World Bank (OP4.10), and also to tell whether it is necessary to draft the minority nationality development plan. The screening is summarized in the following table:

4 . Table 2: Summary of the screening process Time Location Organization and person Investigation result Key leanings method 5 Morni Nanning Deputy Division Chief Zhuo, development Colloquia and 2 files; a list of working contact Nanjing-Guangzhou railway is the No. 1 project of Sept. ng and reform commission of the autonomous data collection Guangxi in 2008. The local government pays region (female) much attention to it. Aftern Zhang Chuang, section chief of industry, Same as above 1 file; the chief deligated related The local government has been looking forward to oon development and reform bureau of Nanning work to others the construction of the railway for a long time. city (female) 6 Morni Binyang Deputy director Zhou of the general office, Colloquia 1 file; learned about the request of The project is welcomed. They hope Litang station Sept. ng director Xiao of the civil affairs commission local government for this has the passenger transport facilities. Zhuang people (female, Zhuang), director Wei of the project, and general information have lived along the route for generations. Zhuang development and reform commission, deputy on the villages and ethnic groups and Han live here together in harmony and enjoy the bailiff Huang of Litang Township (Zhuang), along the route. same level of prosperity. Zhuang people don’t have a deputy bailiff Huang of Heji Township pronouncedly different culture. (Zhuang) Aftern Guigang Mr. Li, section chief of industry, development Interview 5 files; learned about the request The local government has smooth communication oon and reform commission, deputy director Xie of local government for this with the owner and the designer. Zhuang and Han of the civil affairs commission (Zhuang of project, and general information live together along the route in harmony, share Qintang) on the villages and ethnic groups almost the same lifestyle and customs and enjoy the along the route. same level of prosperity. 7 Morni Guiping Deputy director Li of the development and Colloquia 5 files; no minority nationalities They hope the owner and the designer leave the local Sept. ng reform bureau, director Xie of civil affairs that have lived along the route for people a fair prospect of future development, raise commission, deputy director Jiang of the generations. the compensation reasonably, and allocate another construction bureau, deputy bailiff Huang stretch of land for resettlement. of Xishan Township (Zhuang of Shilong Township) Aftern Pingnan Deputy director Lu of the general office, Colloquia 1 file; no minority nationalities The county government welcomes the project and oon director Li of development and reform that have lived within the hopes the designer and the owner leave the local bureau, director Zhuo of civil affairs construction perimeters along the people a fair prospect of future development, and set commission (Yao), Zhu Zesheng from Wulin route for generations. a one and only standard of compensation. Township, Liu Huiquan from Da’an Township, Chen Qingmao from Zhenlong Township 8 Morni Tengxian Deputy director Wei of the general office and Colloquia 3 files; no minority nationalities The county government enjoys smooth Sept. ng railway construction office, deputy director that have lived along the route for communication with the owner and the designer. Tang of the development and reform bureau, generations. They hope to be given another stretch of land for vice chairperson Huang of the political resettlement and have a one and only standard of consultative committee/civil affair compensation along the route. commission (female), deputy bailiff Zhu of Tianping Township (female), deputy bailiff Huang of Tengzhou Township, deputy director Xu of Tangbu Township Aftern Cangwu Deputy director Lin of the general Colloquia No minority nationalities that They welcome the project. There have been many oon office/railway construction office, deputy have lived along the route for construction projects in recent years and land director Xu of the development and reform generations. acquisition and resettlement happened often. 3 bureau, director Li of civil affairs villages of Dapo Township now have no land to commission, Chairman Li of People’s cultivate. The livelihood of the villagers needs to Congress of Dapo Township, Chairman Tong be arranged on a long-term basis. of People’s Congress of Longwei Township, 9 Morni Nanning Feng Daiyu, deputy director of Guangxi Interview Documents on history of local Zhuang, Han and Yao peoples have lived together Sept. ng Nationality Research Institute (Yao); Liu nationalities; learned about the along the route for generations. Since mid Ming Jialiu, associate researcher (Wuzhou, Zhuang) basic opinions of local scholars Dynasty, they interact with one another closely and on relations between different live together in harmony. They share similar nationalities in middle and east prosperity and customs. There are no pronounced Guangxi nationality characteristics.

1 . As indicated in the above table, this screening mainly takes the form of colloquia with related departments of all levels of local governments, and Township leaders along the rout. With the cooperation of the local governments, we hold 5 colloquia with leaders from cities, counties and Townships along the route, and 4 interviews. Attendees of the colloquia include the cadres in charge of the preparation work for the project within the local governments such as those from the development and reform commission/bureau, railway construction office (general office), civil affairs commission, and Township government. 6 of them are of minority nationalities and their ancestors have lived there for generations. The trustee listens carefully to their opinions and suggestions on the Nanjing- Guangzhou railway construction project, and learn about the views and opinions of the local residents on this project, distribution of minority nationalities in the Townships and villages along the route, impact on them by the project, special attentions that needed to be paid as far as the time- honored minority nationalities along the route are concerned, attitudes and reaction of minority residents to past transportation infrastructure project, past experience and lessons that this project should draw from, and also leftover issues that can possibly affect this project adversely. With the help of the colloquia attendees and interviewees, we collect the related written files.

(II)Result of screening

Through the screening, the trustee learns the following:

(1)Han, Zhuang and Yao are the nationalities that have lived for generations in the administrative areas in Guangxi Region along the project route. Yet, there are no Yao villages or Yao indigenous population within 10 kilometers on either side of the proposed alignment, which is the area to be affected by land acquisition, relocation and construction operations. Zhuang is the only indigenous group here.

(2)Within the 10 kilometers of each side of the alignment, it is clear that there is no Zhuang Village east of Guigang city (meaning villages with Zhuang as the main group or Han and Zhaung are mixed with Zhuang households more than 5%, and living here since late 1950 when registrations system started), and there are 22 administrative villages (Zhuang) between Guigang and Binyang where Han and Zhuang live together. Among them, 5 villages are in Heji Township and Litang Township respectively in Binyang County, 5 villages are in Huanglian Township of Qintang District and 7 villages are in Qintang Township in Guigang City. These 22 administrative villages will be affected adversely by land acquisition and/or resettlement by this project to different degrees. See Table 5-7.

(3)The percentage of Zhuang and Han populations in the 22 administrative villages differs. They have lived together in this area for more than a century and have in-depth reunification in both social and cultural aspects. They share same lifestyle and customs, marry each other, enjoy almost the same level of prosperity in the same village and live in harmony together.

(4)Almost all Zhuang people still speak their mother tongue Zhuang Language. They speak Zhuang language at home, in natural villages where Zhuang is the majority population, and with neighbors of Zhuang nationalities. But they speak Chinese vernacular mostly in social life (Cantonese or Hakka) and the youth tend to speak Chinese vernacular.

(5)Within the villages, villagers, either Zhuang or Han, have relative groups based on patrilineal lineages spanning less than 5 generations. Within each group, the members have the duty of helping each other on occasions of weddings, burial ceremonies, house construction and the like. But this close relationship also includes neighbors. It is not exclusively of one nationality. On public affaires, neighbor quarrels, individual right safeguarding, the authorities that villagers turn to are village committee or the complaint handling office, public security bureau, the justice and the like. The relative groups do not interfere with affairs like this.

(6)Land, forests, river basin and other natural resources are owned by the state and the villagers as a collective whole. Individuals with villager identity contract for the use right legally. There is no land or burial ground that belongs to a particular ethnic group within the project area.

1 . 2. Related laws, regulations and review mechanism

2.1 Nationality identification and the definition of “minority nationality” in China

Since ancient times, there have been many nationalities living together inside the borders of China. Early in the Qin Dynasty, Han lived in the middle of the land, and Rong, Di, Yi and Man lived in the west, north, east and south respectively. The central governments of all dynasties had adopted a soothing and tolerating policy towards the other nationalities along the borders. In the non-Han areas, the governments respected the local customs and ruled indirectly. In the Yuan and Ming Dynasties and early Qing Dynasty, the central government went beyond this policy of appeasement and established the “Tusi system”, in which the head of the ethnic group was chosen from among their own people to govern the area with political, economic, cultural power among others. Due to this “Tusi system”, the political, economic, cultural and social characteristics of the minority nationalities had been passed on over generations. In the mid- and late Qing Dynasty, although the central government wanted to reinforce its direct control over the borders and adopted the “centralizing” policy, it didn’t succeed in gaining more direct control because the central government had not much resources to spare due to the invasion of the western powers. As a result, multi-nationalities and a variety of economic and cultural patterns co-existed in China.

Since the founding of the new China in 1949, the ruling Chinese Communist Party laid down the nationality policies of the new China based on the ethnic theory and policy of Marxism, the historical experience and current situation of China, and the political consultation with other democratic parties, nongovernmental organizations and representatives from all walks of life. The new nationality policy of China is incorporated in the document “the Common Guiding Principles of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference” (passed on Sept. 29, 1949, referred to as the Common Guiding Principles), the first document that worked kind of like a constitution. In this document, article 9 states: “All the nationalities within the borders of China enjoy equal rights and duties.” Chapter 6 of the Common Guiding Principles defines the nationality policy. There are 4 articles in it, namely, article 50, 51, 52 and 53. Article 51 clearly says:

2 . Regional autonomy is practiced in areas where people of minority nationalities live in compact communities; in these areas organs of self- government are established for the exercise of the right of autonomy. Autonomous organs shall be set up in accordance with the size of the population and area. In the autonomous regions and in areas where multi nationalities live together, all nationalities in the area shall have a reasonable number of representatives in the government organs. Article 53 states: The people of all nationalities have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages, and to preserve or reform their own ways and customs. The state helps the people of all minority nationalities speed up their political, economic, cultural and education. ”

The basic nationality policy was thus set down. But since China had never defined, confirmed and identified nationalities within its borders in the real sense, what kind of people’s community could be called “nationality”. Aside from Han, how many other nationalities were there? What were the sizes of the other nationalities’ population? What was their distribution? What were their characteristics? These were the issues that needed to be tackled immediately theoretically and in policies. So the Chinese government started to identify nationalities. Starting from 1950 and ending in 1990 or so, identification of nationalities lasted nearly 40 years, with a few interruptions in between.

The identification of nationalities was carried out by experts and scholars of many principles such as ethnology, anthropology, sociology, history, and linguistics. The first criterion in identifying nationalities is the definition given by Stalin, that is, a nationality is a stable community formed in history sharing a common language, the same region, a common economic life and a common psychological quality as shown in a common culture. But the Chinese scholars were not limited by Stalin’s definition, but exerted much flexibility according to the actualities of China. In short, the identification of nationalities in China is to determine which nationality an ethnic group (that identifies themselves as a community) belongs to by large-scale investigation of its living area, name, origin, language, economy, material culture, ideological culture and ethnic self-identification and with reference to history, linguistic documents. The results of the investigation and study and the naming of the nationalities were discussed over respectively with representatives of each nationality and after gaining

3 . the representatives’ overwhelming consent, were then submitted to the central government for approval.

The first step of the identification was to distinguish between Han nationality and minority ones. The second step was to classify the minorities into f 55 individual nationalities. Although the 56 nationalities (including Han) had very different sizes of population and enjoy different levels of economic and social development, the Chinese government used the term “nationality” referring all of them. This is to manifest the government’s principle that all nationalities are equal.

In the Chinese language, what does “minority nationalities” means?

In short terms, the so-called “minority nationalities” are (1) those people communities that are traditionally self-identified and identified by others as not belong to the Han nationality; (2) those whose origin as non-Han can be verified, and/or whose language and religion and other characteristics are pronouncedly different from those of Han people. These non-Han nationalities each have their own names given by themselves or others and commonly accepted by the whole community, and these names have been approved by the central government as their official appellation But Han people cover over 90% of the whole population of the country and non-Han people only cover the remaining less than 10%. That is to say, compared with Han nationality, the other nationalities are all “minorities” either as a whole or individually. Therefore, they are by habit referred to as the “minority nationalities”. In China, the concept of “minority nationalities” means nothing about discrimination or inequality. It is a term established by traditional usage and refers to all the other nationalities that are not Han.

2.2 Chinese policies and regulations on nationalities

The economy of the compact regions where the minority nationalities live was relatively under-developed due to geographic condition, historical reasons, and poor infrastructure condition. Also, since they were minorities in terms of population, they tended to be marginalized in political and social life. To ensure the equality between Han nationality and the minority ones both in law and in the political, economic and social life, upon the

4 . founding the new China, the Chinese government laid down a series of special policies, laws and regulations for the minority nationalities and the compact regions where they lived. The purpose was to provide the policy and legal safeguard for the minority nationalities to actually enjoy the equalities that the state had given them, and to help promote the speed of their development. These policies have gained outstanding achievement over the past half century.

The Chinese legal and regulatory system comprises three parts: constitute law, basic law and other regulations.

(I) “The Constitution” (Promulgated in 1954 and amended in 2004)

The preamble of the Constitution states: The People’s Republic of China is a unitary multi-national state built up jointly by the people of all its nationalities. Socialist relations of equality, unity and mutual assistance have been established among them and will continue to be strengthened.

Chapter 1 article 4 stresses the equality of all nationalities. The state protects the lawful rights and interests of the minority nationalities and upholds and develops the relationship of equality, unity and mutual assistance among all of China s nationalities. Discrimination against and oppression of any nationality are prohibited; any acts that undermine the unity of the nationalities or instigate their secession are prohibited. The state helps the areas inhabited by minority nationalities speed up their economic and cultural development in accordance with the peculiarities and needs of the different minority nationalities. Regional autonomy is practised in areas where people of minority nationalities live in compact communities; in these areas organs of self- government are established for the exercise of the right of autonomy. All the national autonomous areas are inalienable parts of the People s Republic of China. The people of all nationalities have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages, and to preserve or reform their own ways and customs.

Article 30 defines he administrative division of the People s Republic of China. is as follows: The country is divided into provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government; Provinces and autonomous regions are divided into autonomous prefectures, counties, autonomous counties and cities; Counties and autonomous

5 . counties are divided into Townships, nationality Townships and towns. Autonomous prefectures are divided into counties, autonomous counties and cities. Among them, autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties are autonomous areas with legislative power.

Article 36 is about religion. Citizens of the People s Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion.

Article 48 is on women. Women in the People s Republic of China enjoy equal rights with men in all spheres of life, political, economic, cultural and social, and family life. The state protects the rights and interests of women, applies the principle of equal pay for equal work for men and women alike and trains and selects cadres from among women.

Article 112 states: The organs of self-government of national autonomous areas are the people’s congresses and people’s governments of autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties.

Article 113 and article 114 state: The chairmanship and vice-chairmanships of the standing committee of the people s congress of an autonomous region, prefecture or county shall include a citizen or citizens of the nationality or nationalities exercising regional autonomy in the area concerned. The administrative head of an autonomous region, prefecture or county shall be a citizen of the nationality, or of one of the nationalities, exercising regional autonomy in the area concerned.

Article 115 states: The organs of self-government of autonomous regions, prefectures and counties exercise the functions and powers of local organs of state within their own jurisdiction. At the same time, they exercise the right of autonomy within the limits of their authority as prescribed by the Constitution, the law of regional national autonomy and other laws, and implement the laws and policies of the state in the light of the existing local situation.

Article 116. People s congresses of national autonomous areas have the power to enact autonomy regulations and specific regulations in the light of

6 . the political, economic and cultural characteristics of the nationality or nationalities in the areas concerned.

Article 118. The organs of self-government of the national autonomous areas independently arrange for and administer local economic development under the guidance of state plans. In developing natural resources and building enterprises in the national autonomous areas, the state shall give due consideration to the interests of those areas.

Article 119. The organs of self-government of the national autonomous areas independently administer educational, scientific, cultural, public health and physical culture affairs in their respective areas, sort out and protect the cultural legacy of the nationalities and work for the development and prosperity of their cultures.

Article 121. In performing their functions, the organs of self-government of the national autonomous areas, in accordance with the autonomy regulations of the respective areas, employ the spoken and written language or languages in common use in the locality.

Article 122. The state gives financial, material and technical assistance to the minority nationalities to accelerate their economic and cultural development. The state helps the national autonomous areas train large numbers of cadres at different levels and specialized personnel and skilled workers of different professions and trades from among the nationality or nationalities in those areas.

Section 7, article 134. Citizens of all nationalities have the right to use the spoken and written languages of their own nationalities in court proceedings. The people’s courts and people’s procuratorates should provide translation for any party to the court proceedings who is not familiar with the spoken or written languages in common use in the locality. In an area where people of a minority nationality live in a compact community or where a number of nationalities live together, hearings should be conducted in the language or languages in common use in the locality; indictments, judgments, notices and other documents should be written, according to actual needs, in the language or languages in common use in the locality.

7 . (II)Law of the Peoples Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy and related regulations

“The Common Guiding Principles of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference” of 1949 and the Constitution of 1954 both state that autonomous region self-government shall be practiced in the compact regions when the minority people live. This system was first tried out in Inner Mongolia in 1947.In the mid 1950s, it was implemented in full in the minority nationality areas. The mainland China now has 5 autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures, 120 autonomous counties, and over 1200 autonomous Townships. In 1984, the Chinese National People’s Congress enacted the “Law of the Peoples Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy”, which was amended in 2001. This law of regional autonomy can be classified as basic law, lower than the Constitution, but higher than the Criminal Law and other laws and regulations. The Chinese government regards it as one of the three basic state systems, the other two being the national people’s congress and the Chinese people’s political consultative conference. The law of regional autonomy restates and elaborates on the rights of the minority nationalities and the minority regions given by the Constitution, and specially emphasizes the rights of aboriginals in the minority regions. The most important articles include:

Article 54 The resolutions decisions orders and instructions concerning national autonomous areas adopted by state organs at higher level should suit the conditions in these areas (Otherwisethese areas have the right to apply for temporary suspension).

Article 65 While exploiting resources and undertaking construction in national autonomous areas the state shall give consideration to the interests of these areas make arrangements favourable to the economic construction there and pay proper attention to the productive pursuits and the life of the minority nationalities there.

Article 66, provision 3: Any organization or individual exploiting natural resources in the national autonomous areas shall protect and improve the living environment and the ecological environment and shall prevent and control pollution and other public hazards.

8 . To safeguard the implementation of the law of regional autonomy, the State Council of China promulgated “Several Provisions of the State Council on the Implementation of the Law of the People’s Government of China on Regional Autonomy by Ethnic Minorities” in 2005:

Article 5. Government organs and functional areas of higher levels shall listen to the opinions of the national autonomous areas and the nationality affairs organizations when developing mid- and long-term economic and social plans, support and help the national autonomous areas to construct infrastructure, cultivate human resources, optimize economic structure, exploit natural resources reasonably, enhance ecological construction and environment protection, speed up the development of economy, education, science, culture, health, sports and others, according to the characteristics and needs of the national autonomous areas, so as to achieve all-rounded, balancing and sustainable development.

The above two law and regulation have given the minority nationalities and the national autonomous areas the following rights:

1. The administrative head s of the national autonomous areas must be chosen from the local minority people. The administrative head s of the national autonomous areas shall be chosen in the sequence that the name of the nationality appear in the official name of the area and in the sequence of the size of the population of the nationalities.

2. The national autonomous areas enjoy special rights given by the central government in administration funds, development funds, construction projects, poverty alleviation funds and other economic benefits.

3. Education and medicine organizations of the national autonomous areas can apply for financial support to the local civil affair commissions. The children of the minority people enjoy policy favor in terms of entrance scores when applying for higher education. When facing serious difficulties in education and medicine, local residents can apply for subsidies to the local civil affairs commission.

4. Governments of the national autonomous areas have the right and the duty to promote the use of the local national language. The minority

9 . residents have the right to believe in the national religion and use the national language. This right is best practiced in legal proceedings.

5. The minority residents’ privileges are most practically manifested in the marriage age limit, birth control policy, language, religion and lifestyle, including national holidays.

6. Guangxi is one of the 5 provincial autonomous regions of China. Zhang is the mainstream nationality in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. In the 3 cities and 7 counties that this project covers, the majority of the population are Zhuang and Han. Zhuang enjoys autonomous rights in this area.

2.3 The definition of “minority nationalities” according to the World Bank policy

The World Bank has always been attaching great importance to the social benefits of its investment projects, especially the protection of the rights of residents affected by the projects. Minority nationalities and other disadvantaged groups are given particular attention. The World Bank drafted the operational policy OP4.10 (regional people) for this purpose. Due to the complicated nature of indigenous peoples in the third world, and the differences in the definition of minority people in different countries, the World Bank does not provide a clear-cut definition of the indigenous peoples. But according to the policy:

In this policy, the term “indigenous peoples” is used in a general sense, that is a unique and disadvantaged social and cultural group with the following characteristics:

(a) Self-identified as a member of a unique minority ethnic group. And this self-identification is supported by others.

(b)They depend on the living area with unique geographic nature or the land passed down by their ancestors, which are located inside the project area, and on the natural resources of the living area or the land.

10 . (c)They have a unique traditional culture and economic, social and political system, different from the mainstream society and culture.

(d)They have a language different from the official language of the country or the local place.

If these people are, due to forced separation, deprived of the living area with unique geographic nature or the land passed down by their ancestors, which are located inside the project area, they will qualify for the principles laid down in this policy. To determine whether this policy can apply to a certain group, opinions of the experts may be needed (see para. 8).

According to the above, the “indigenous peoples” that the World Bank policy focuses on have three characteristics: (1) Self-identification. The indigenous peoples have the self-consciousness of distinguishing their own ethnic group from the mainstream ones. And the other peoples and ethnic groups agree with this distinguish. (2) Objective differences. The indigenous peoples have their own traditional culture, economy, social and political systems, unique from the mainstream. And they have their own unique language, different from the official one. (3) The regional people must be attached to the living area or the land passed down from their ancestor, which have unique geographic characteristics. They are also attached to the natural resources to the area or land mentioned above. These are the basis of maintaining their traditional culture and economy and the social and political systems. If the land and natural resources are touched or occupied otherwise, the indigenous peoples will be deprived of the basis of their uniqueness.

2.4 Comparison between China’s minority nationalities and the World Bank’s indigenous peoples

China’s minority nationalities and the World Bank’s indigenous peoples have one thing in common: It is firstly a matter of self-identification and this identification is also agreed to by others. But there some major difference in the two definitions:

11 . (1)The World Bank’s indigenous peoples have a objective and fundamental characteristic, that is, they are a unique social cultural group, possessing a traditional cultural, economic, social, and political system, which distinguishes itself from the mainstream society and its culture. And obviously, the World Bank stresses the current distinction. But in China, the minority nationalities are called minorities, either because they still possess a unique social culture in some degree, such as the Uygur, Tibet, Li, Miao and the like, or because they used to have a unique social culture and the uniqueness can be verified through historical documents, relics and information orally passed down from the ancestors, but it is no long apparent now or have disappeared, such as Tujia, Manchu, Yu and others. The others include those have been scattered into different parts of the country or have lived together with other nationalities for a long time, and hence have lost their uniqueness, such as Muslins in the southeast coastal areas and minority people in the cities. In short, the World Bank stresses the current characteristics and special situation of the indigenous peoples, whereas China looks to the historical facts and the legal identity that can be passed down through generations, but is not referring to how well they are faring now.

(2)The World Bank stresses that the indigenous peoples are disadvantaged groups. They are disadvantaged because of their small population and their unique economic, social and political systems. On the one hand, they find it difficult to share the opportunities of the mainstream society. On the other hand, they will be easily assimilated by the mainstream society and culture. Therefore, they show disadvantage and vulnerability in maintaining their own uniqueness and in obtaining development opportunities. Whereas the minority nationalities of China have their own representatives on every level of the state political life, enjoy autonomous rights in compact provinces, prefectures, counties, and Townships, develop the national economy and culture, get policy and financial favorable support from higher governments and the state, as per the Constitution of China and the Law of Regional National Autonomy. The minority nationalities of China are not disadvantaged groups either in the state or in the local political, economic and social life.

(3)The World Bank stress that the indigenous peoples are attached to the living area or land passed down from their ancestors and this area or land has unique geographic characteristics. They are also attached to the natural

12 . resources there. In other words, the indigenous people are concentrated in the living area with unique geographic characteristics or in land passed down from their ancestors and they all rely on the natural resources there for living as a group, and thus are able to maintain their unique traditional culture and social, economic or political systems. In China, different nationalities live together over vast areas while some live in individual concentrated communities in small areas. On all levels of areas such as the province, prefecture, county and Township, it is seldom seen that one particular nationality or ethnic group live exclusively by themselves. Even in villages, there are mostly still several nationalities living together. And by Qing Dynasty at the latest, most minority nationalities of China adopted the private ownership in terms of land and other basic means of production. Only some wildness, lakes, wood at the headwaters of rivers and certain holy mountains or water were seen as owned by the village collectively. In the 1950s, land resources were taken over by the state and since then have been owned by the state and collectively. The use right of the land owned collectively are also controlled collectively. It was after the 1980s that it is contracted to the villagers. That is to say, for the past century, the minority nationalities of China do not possess and use the natural resources in their living areas with the nationality or the ethnic group as a unit.

(4)The World Bank also indicates that the indigenous peoples usually have a language different from the official language of the country or the local place, and also this is the current language situation, not history. The idea here is complicated. It does not only means that the language of the indigenous people is the communication toll between members of the people, the binding of mutual identification with one another, important carrier of the ethnic culture, and hence an important part of the traditional culture that needed to be maintained and passed on by the people living together. It also means that because of the dependence on the language, most or some of the indigenous people lack the opportunity to learn and use the official language and thus find it difficult to communicate with the mainstream society smoothly. It is a hindrance to their right to know and to participate. This language hindrance increases the degree of mutual dependence upon one another among the members of the indigenous people and manifested their disadvantaged position when coming into contact with the outside world. In China, it is also one of the criteria for identifying a minority nationality whether not or they have (use) a language different from the official language of the country or the local place. But it is not a

13 . must and not necessarily the current situation either. Most Manchu, Yu, Tujia, Muslins, Qilao, Bai, Hezhe, Daur and etc, and some of the Mongols, Miao, Zhuang Yao Buyi and etc do not use the language as a criterion when identifying the nationalities, especially for those who live together with other nationalities and those who are scattered into other parts of the country.

2.5 Summary

In summary, the indigenous peoples that the World Bank stresses are very different from the minority nationalities of China. The latter is a much broader term than the former. Many minority nationalities of China do not have the characteristics that the World Bank cares. Therefore, the indigenous people policy of the World Bank cannot be applied to the minority nationalities of China in a simple manner. In-depth investigation and analysis are needed to determine which of the minority nationalities of China can meet the requirements of the World Bank operational policy OP 4.10?

14 . 3. Land system

3.1 The state basic land system

The basic land system of China is best defined by the Law of Land Administration of the People’s Republic of China (referred to as the Law of Land Administration thereinafter). The Law of Land Administration was enacted in June 1986 and revised three times since then, in 1988, 1998 and 2004 respectively. The latest version of the Law of Land Administration (2004 amendment) clearly states:

Article 2 The People’s Republic of China resorts to a socialist public ownership i.e. an ownership by the whole people and ownerships by collectives, of land.

In ownership by the whole people, the State Council is empowered to be on behalf of the State to administer the land owned by the State.

No unit or individual is allowed to occupy, trade or illegally transfer land by other means. Land use right may be transferred by law.

The State may requisition land owned by collectives according to law on public interests.

The State introduces the system of compensated use of land owned by the State except the land has been allocated for use by the State according to law.

Article 3 To cherish and give a rational use to the land as well as to give a true protection to the cultivated land are seen as a basic principle of land use in the country. The people’s governments at all levels should manage to make an overall plan for the use of land to strictly administer, protect and develop land resources and stop any illegal occupation of land.

Article 4 The State is to place a strict control on the usages of land.

The State shall compile general plans to set usages of land including those of farm or construction use or unused. A strict control is to place on the turning of land for farm use to that for construction use to control the total amount of land for construction use and exercise a special protection on cultivated land.

"Land for farm use" refers to land directly used for agricultural production, including cultivated land, wooded land, grassland, land for farmland water conservancy and water surfaces for breeding; "land for construction use" refers to land on which buildings and structures are put up, including land for urban and rural housing and

15 . public facilities, land for industrial and mining use, land for building communications and water conservancy facilities, land for tourism and land for building military installations. The term "land unused" refers to land other than that for agricultural and construction uses. Land should be used strictly in line with the purposes of land use defined in the general plan for the utilization of the land whether by units or individuals.

Article 5 The land administrative department of the State Council shall be unifiedly responsible for the administration and supervision of land in the whole country.

The setup and functions of land administrative departments of people’s governments at and above the county level shall be decided by the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities under the direct jurisdiction of the central government (hereinafter referred to as "municipalities" for short) according to the relevant provisions of the State Council.

Article 8 Land in urban districts shall be owned by the State.

Land in the rural areas and suburban areas, except otherwise provided for by the State, shall be collectively owned by peasants including land for building houses, land and hills allowed to be retained by peasants.

Article 9 Land owned by the State and land collectively owned by peasants may be allocated to be used by units or individuals according to law. Units or individuals using land shall be responsible for the protection, management and a rational use of the land.

Article 10 In lands collectively owned by peasants those have been allocated to villagers for collective ownership according to law shall be operated and managed by village collective economic organizations or villagers’ committee and those have allocated to two or more peasants collective economic organizations of a village, shall be operated and managed jointly by the collective economic organizations of the village or villagers’ groups; and those have allocated to Township (town) peasant collectives shall be operated and managed by the rural collective economic organizations of the Township (town).

Article 11 People’s government at the county level shall register and put on record lands collectively owned by peasants and issue certificates to certify the ownership concerned.

People’s government at the county level shall register and put on record the use of land collectively owned by peasants for non-agricultural construction and issue certificates to certify the right to use the land for construction purposes.

16 . People’s government at the country level shall register and put on record uses of land owned by the State by units or individuals and issue certificates to certify the right of use. The State Council shall designate specific units to register and put on record State-owned land used by central government organs.

Certifications of ownership or use right of wooded land and grassland and the uses or of water surface and beach land for breeding purpose shall be managed according to related provisions of the "Forest Law of the People’s Republic of China", the "Grassland Law of the People’s Republic of China" and the "Fisheries Law of the People’s Republic of China".

Article 12 Changes of owners and usages of land, should go through the land alteration registration procedures.

Article 13 The ownership and use right of land registered according to law shall be protected by law and no unit or individual is eligible to infringe upon it.

Article 14 Land collectively owned by peasant shall be contracted out to members of the collective economic organizations for use in crop farming, forestry, animal husbandry and fisheries production under a term of 30 years. The contractees should sign a contract with the correspondents contractor to define each other’s rights and obligations. Peasants who have contracted land for operation are obliged to use the land rationally according to the purposes agreed upon in the contracts. The right of operation of land contracted by peasants shall be protected by law.

Within the validity term of a contract, the adjustment of land contracted by individual contractors should get the consent from over two-thirds majority vote of the villagers’ congress or over two-thirds of villagers’ representatives and then be submitted to land administrative departments of the Township (town) people’s government and county level people’s government for approval.

Article 15 Land owned by the State may be contracted out to units or individuals for farming, forestry, animal husbandry and fisheries operations. Land collectively owned by peasants may be contracted out to units or individuals who are not belonging to the corresponding collectives for farming, forestry, animal husbandry and fisheries operations.

The contractees and contractors should sign land use contracts to define each other’s rights and obligations. The contracted term for operation is to be agreed upon in the land use contracts. Contractors for the land operation are obliged to protect and use the land rationally according to the usages specified in the contracts.

Whereas a land collectively owned by peasant is contracted out for operation to ones not belonging to the corresponding collective organizations, a consent should be got

17 . from the over two-thirds majority vote of the villagers’ congress or over two-thirds of the villagers’ representatives with the resulted contract being submitted to the Township (town) people’s government for approval.

Article 16 Disputes arising from the ownership or use right of land shall be settled through consultation among parties concerned; should consultation fails, the disputes should be handled by people’s governments.

Disputes among units shall be handled by the people’s government at and above the county level; disputes among individuals or between individuals and units shall be handled by Township level people’s government or people’s governments at the county level or above. Whereas parties concerned refuse to accept the decisions by related people’s government the dispute may be brought before the people’s court within 30 days after the notification on the decision is received.

No party shall change the status quo of the land before the disputes over ownership and use right are settled.

3.2 Rural land system

China rural land system is clearly defined in the Law of Land Administration, i.e. the land resources in rural areas are owned collectively. The ownership of land in rural areas belongs to the villagers collectively, but the land use right was transferred to individual household through contract with remuneration linked to output since 1980. The Chinese government laid down laws to safeguard long-term legal possession of land in rural areas by peasants. “The Law of the People's Republic of China on Land Contract in Rural Areas” (effective since March 1, 2003) defines:

Article 4 The State protects in accordance with law the long-term stability of the relationship of land contract in rural areas.

Article 9 The State protects the legitimate rights and interests of the owners of the collective land and the right of the contractors to land contractual management which no organizations and individuals may infringe upon.

Article 10 The State protects the circulation of the right to land contractual management which is effected according to law on a voluntary basis and with compensation.

Article 20 The term of contract for arable land is 30 years. The term of contract for grassland ranges from 30 to 50 years. The term of contract for forestland ranges from 30 to 70 years; the term of contract for forestland with special trees may upon

18 . approval by the competent administrative department for forestry under the State Council be longer.

Article 24 After a contract goes into effect the party giving out the contract may neither modify nor revoke the contract due to the change of the representative for the party giving out the contract or the responsible person concerned or due to the split or merger of the collective economic organization.

Article 26 During the term of contract the party giving out the contract may not take back the contracted land.

Article 27 During the term of contract the party giving out the contract may not readjust the contracted land.

Article 32 The right to land contractual management obtained through household contract may according to law be circulated by subcontracting leasing exchanging transferring or other means.

Article 42 For the purpose of developing the agricultural economy the contractors may of their own free will jointly pool their rights to land contractual management as shares to engage in cooperative agricultural production.

3.3 Land system of the project area

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is a provincial administration area of regional national autonomy with Zhuang as the mainstream nationality. Article 4 of the Law of Regional National Autonomy states:

The organs of self-government of national autonomous areas shall exercise the functions and powers of local organs of state as specified in Section 5 of Chapter III of the Constitution. At the same time, they shall exercise the power of autonomy within the limits of their authority as prescribed by the Constitution by this Law and other laws and implement the laws and policies of the state in the light of existing local conditions.

On the issue of land resources management, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, based on related laws, has promulgated the following: Provisions of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Implementing the Land Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China (amended in 2006), Regulations of administration by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Rural Land Contract Agreement (enacted on May 29, 1999), Regulations of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Agriculture Environment Protection (amended on June 3, 2004), Regulations of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Land Supervision (enacted on May 28, 1996) and others. The purpose is to articulately define the issues on the ownership and

19 . use right of the land resources in rural areas, models of exploitation and use, acquisition, compensation standards and administration supervision. These regulations are reiteration and elaboration of the state laws and provisions and keep all the principles and basic concept.

3.4 Summary

By carefully going through the related legal documents on land system, we can see the public ownership of land in China. There is no land that can be passed down from the ancestors. And there is no land or other natural resources that are possessed by a nationality or an ethnic group. The land in rural areas are owned the village collectively. In areas where only one nationality lives or where one ethnic group is concentrated, collective ownership appears to be group ownership. But the actuality is the land is owned by the village collectively and the land use is contracted by individuals legally on a long-term basis. In China, different nationalities live together over vast areas while some live in individual concentrated communities in small areas. In Townships, administration and natural villages, there are mostly several nationalities living together. Therefore, all the land and natural resources are owned collectively by the members of the villages. No land or natural resources are owned exclusively by one nationality or ethnic group.

4. Minority Nationalities

4.1 Association of the project to minority nationalities

4.1.1 General introduction to the minority nationalities in Guangxi Region

Guangxi is one of the 5 provincial-level autonomous regions of China. Guangxi has 14 cities, 113 counties (12 of them are autonomous, and 3 of them enjoy autonomy benefits), 1321 Townships (58 of them are autonomous). The region has a high concentration of Zhuang and has the largest population of minority nationalities. 12 nationalities have lived together in the region for generations namely Han, Zhuang, Yao, Miao, Tong, Mulao, Maonan, Muslin, Jing, Li, Shui and Gelao. By then end of 2003, the region had a population of 48.57 million, among which 18.5214 millions are of minority nationalities, covering 38.13% of the total population.85.79% of the minorities are Zhuang, i.e. 15.89 million, compactly living in 6 cities including Nanning, Liuzhou, Laibin, Baise and Hechi. Yao people, 1.5002 million, cover 8.1% of the minorities population, distributed mainly in 6 cities including Liuzhou, Guilin, Hezhou, Baise, Hechi and Laibin. Miao, 470 thousand, covers 2.52% of the minorities population, distributed mainly in counties/autonomous counties like Rong Shui and

20 . Longlin. Tong, 320 thousand, covers 1.73%, compactly living in 3 autonomous counties, namely Sanjiang, Ronghui and Longsheng. Mulao, 170 thousand, covers 0.92%, compactly living in Hechi City. Maonan, 70 thousand, covers 0.38%, compactly living in Hechi city. Muslins, 31 thousand, are distributed mainly in Nanning, Liuzhou and Guilin. Jing, 21.5 thousand, are compactly living in the Wanwei, Wutou and Shanxin Isles in Jiangping Township of Dongxing city. Only Guangxi has Jing nationality. Li, 7.2 thousand, are distributed mainly in Longlin, Napo and Xilin counties/autonomous counties. Shui, 13.5 thousand, are mainly distributed in Rongshui, Yizhou, Huanjiang and Nandan counties/autonomous counties (cities). Gelao, 2.8 thousand, are mainly compactly living in Longlin Ge autonomous county.

4.1.2 Zhuang ethnic minority nationalities in counties along the project line

In the project area, namely cities and counties like Binyang,Guigang, Guiping, Pingnan, Tengxian, Cangwu and Wuzhou, the minority nationalities that have lived there for generations are only Zhuang and Yao. Judging from the statistics, persons of other nationalities have moved into this area because of work or marriage.

Binyang County has a minority population of 200 thousand, which is 20% of its whole population. Among the minority population, 98% are Zhuang, mainly distributed in Litang, Heji, Wangling Townships. In the construction area of the project (ie. 10 kilometer diameter along the railway route), there are no Yao people who have lived there for generations. The railway crosses Litang and Heji Township. Zhuang and Han people live together in 5 villages of Litang Township (namely, Maozi, Fengming, Qiming, Xinxu, Longsheng) and 5 villages of Heji Township (namely, Pingqiao, Dabang, Sanmin, Xinan, Yanshan). There are 4 thousand Yao people living compactly in Bailian administrative village of Zouxu Township. But it is not in the project area.

In Guigang, Zhuang is the only minority nationality who has lived there for generations. They are distributed in Qintang and Huanglian Townships along the route. In all the 12 administrative villages that the railway crosses, Zhuang and Han live together.

In Guiping, the population of minority nationalities who have lived there for generations is 120 thousand. 95% of them are Zhuang. And about 6000 of them are Yao. Yao are distributed in Zijingzhenmushan and Yuanan administration villages, both of which are outside the project area. Zhuang are mainly distributed in Shilong and Mengxu Townships in the north of the city. In the 30 villages of the 8 Townships along the route, there are no Zhuang who have lived there for generations.

21 . Pingnan County has a minority population of 92596. 81463 are Yao, 10800 are Zhuang and the other 333 have moved in because of marriage or work. Zhuang and Yao are the nationalities who have lived there for generations and they are distributed in Malian Yao Township, Guoan Yao Township, Dapeng Township (which enjoy autonomous benefits) south of the Dayao mountain in the north of the county. There is a Zhuang natural village in Zhenlong Township. There are no minorities within the project area along the route who have lived there for generations.

Tengxian has a minority population of over 6000, mainly distributed in Dali Township. Over 400 of them are Zhuang and the rest are Yao. There are no minorities within the project area along the route who have lived there for generations.

Cangwu County has a minority population of about 5000. Yao and Zhuang have lived there for generations, mainly distributed in 4 administrative villages. Yao villages include Shanping of Liupu Township, Daochao and Mupi of Shizai Township. Sihua of Guangping Township is Zhuang village. There also exist 10 other minority nationalities of very small population, who have moved in because of marriage or work. There are no minorities within the project area along the route.

4.2 Rural resources and livelihood

The project area is an important agriculture area of Guangzhou. The rural residents mainly rely on the land for livelihood, which takes the form of farming and animal husbandry mainly due to the lack of gathering, fishing, hunting and forestry resources. Rich agriculture resources promote the rapid growth of the population. There are many immigrants in this area. High population density leads to poor land use ratio per capita. Currently, cultivable land per capita is between 0.5 and 0.8 acres. Villages of different locations have different amount of cultivable land. And the proportion of paddy land and dry land also varies. On the whole, 60% of the land is paddy land and 40% is dry. A few villagers open up some small stretch of land in the front or behind the house or in the wasted corners of the land and grow green onion, ginger, garlic, melons, etc. Undeveloped wilderness and other utilizable land resources are little.

Which crops to grow depends on whether the land is paddy or dry. In paddy land, hybrid rice is most commonly seen, yielding two crops a year with a yield per unit of 400-600 kilograms. The market price of rice is 1.8-2 RMB Yuan. The cost per acre is around 500 RMB Yuan (including the cost of seeds, fertilizer, pesticide, tractor ploughing fees, irrigation fees, etc) Some villagers grow rice at the first crop in the spring to provide food for the family (average need per capital is 400 kilograms of rice) and grow cash crop in summer, such as chufa, locus roots and vegetables, whose value is higher than rice. In dry land, sugar canes and corns are most commonly seen. Some soybeans and peanuts can also be seen. Villagers grow them for the oil for the family or to sell for cash. A few villagers grow potatoes and cassavas. The project

22 . area is an important sugar can production location. The local government encourages the villager to grow sugar canes. The sugar manufacturers sign contract with the villagers. Net income from one acre of sugar cane is around 600 RMB Yuan.

Farming seasons for the villages along the route are: from Lantern Festival to early February of the Chinese lunatic month (peanuts, corns, and sugar canes); February (ploughing, harrowing, rice transplanting); May (field caring); June (summer harvest and summer ploughing), July to September (cutting off sugar can leaves, field caring, and surplus labor working in neighborhood towns); October (harvest); November to February of next year (reaping sugar canes and surplus labor doing temporary jobs in other places).

Pig breeding is the most important part of animal husbandry. Villagers raise both pigs and sows. The price for pig feed and grice has risen. And the work needs a lot of manpower. Since many strong laborers are working outside, hands are short, especially during the busy farming seasons. Therefore, almost half of the villagers are no longer raising pigs. Only households with hands to spare can afford to raise pig all year round. About one fourth of the households raise no work animals. Work animals are mainly water buffalos and there are also some scalpers and horses. Most households raise chicken, ducks and geese. These animals are for the family’s table on festivals. A few household sell poultry for petty cash.

In the mid and late 1980s, the surplus labors in the rural areas began going to Guangdong to work. Working out of home becomes the main source of income for most households. The age of the peasant works ranges from 17 and 18 to 40 or so. The destination is usually Guangdong. 90% of the peasant workers from the project area go to Guangdong. The rest are in the Yangtze Delta such as Shanghai and Zhejiang. They mostly work in private-owned factories, and foreign companies, and mostly in sections such as electrical toy manufacturing, garment manufacturing, food processing, and construction. The average salary is some 1500 RMB Yuan. Young people with little working experience and female works earn less. 5% of them earn their living by contracting construction projects, contracting cultivation land, wholesaling smallware and the like. The annual income of these people is around 30 to 50 thousand RMB Yuan. Two or three turn rich with assets of the value of more than 1 million RMB Yuan.

The income structure of the villagers is roughly: 30%-50% farming, 40-50% working out of home, and 5-10% others. Difference is large between villages and villagers. Villages close to towns and with convenient transportation conditions, develop cash farming usually. In these villages, relatively few work out of home. Farming, animal husbandry and others bring in a large proportion of the income. Such villages include Longling and Daguo of Qintang Township, and Dabang of Heji Township. The closed-up villages distant from the town rely on working out of home mostly, such as Zhangtuan of Huanglian Township, Qiming of Litang Township. Whereas Sanmin of

23 . Heji Township and Fengming of Litang Township have relatively plenty of cultivation land, and farming and animal husbandry bring in a large proportion of the villagers’ income.

Among the expenses, general consumption covers 40% of the total, production cost covers 20%, and socializing expenses cover 5-10%. Education expenses vary. Some households have no education expenses. Some pay 50% of their total expenses on education. And a few are even pay their children’s high school or higher education on debts. Medical expenses cover 10%. All villagers in the project area take part in the new rural cooperation medical fund developed by the government. Treatment of serious diseases is basically no longer a problem. The heaviest burdens of the villagers are houses and weddings of their children. It usually takes more than 10 year to save enough money for a house. The wedding of a child, especially a son, will often cost years’ savings of the whole family. (Please see table 3 below for the rural livelihood structure of the project area.)

4.3 Culture and livelihood of Zhuang society

4.3.1 General introduction to Zhuang

According to the statistics of China’s 5th census in 2000, the population of Zhuang is 16.1788 million, among which 22.37%, that is 3.6197 million, are urban residents and 77.63%, that is 12.5592 million, are rural residents.

Zhuang people are distributed in all the 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. Aside from Guangxi, provinces with more than 100 thousand Zhuang population include Yunnan and Guangdong. Those with more than 10 thousand Zhuang population are Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan and Hebei.

By the end of 2007, there are 16.50 million Zhuang people in Guangxi, 33% of the Guangxi’s population, and 90% of the whole Zhuang population. They are mainly distributed in Nanning, Liuzhou, Baise, Hechi, Laibin, Congzuo, Fangchenggang, Guigang and Qinzhou cities.

Zhuang has a long history. They were the aborigines of South China. The mainstream opinion in the academic field is that Zhuang is stemmed from the ancient “Yue” in the south. Zhuang is especially close to the “Xiou” nad “Luoyue”, both branches of Yue. Zhuang has more than 20 branches such as Buzhuang, Bunong, Buyi. In 1950, they were given one name “Zhuang”.

Traditionally, the main livelihood of Zhuang is farming. They are good at growing rice and raising poultry. Fishing, hunting and gathering are relatively under-

24 . developed. Livelihood patterns and economic development level of Zhuang are almost the same with those of Han in the same area. They usually choose their living area in plains with nice irrigation conditions and valleys with rich natural resources. In plains and hills, they often live together with the Han people, and occasionally live by in small compact natural villages. In mountains, they often live together with Yao, Tong and Miao, and occasionally live in small compact administrative and natural villages.

Zhuang people in the same village usually have both blood and regional relations. They take care for one another in production and in daily life. But the blood lines are not clan-like. Monogamy is practiced in marriage. It is the custom for the bride to live in her own family until before the birth of her child. They marry with Han and other nationalities in the neighborhood. Nuclear families and extended families are most common.

Zhuang people have their own language, but speak Chinese vernacular mostly when communicating with other nationalities. Zhuang language belongs to the Zhuang-Dai branch of Zhuang-Tong tree of Sino-Tibetan family. It has the northern dialect and the southern dialect. Their ancestors created the block words of Zhuang in imitation of the Chinese characters. They are used for recording the lyrics of songs. In the 1950s, the central government appointed experts to coin Zhuang words with Latin letter. In Guangxi, there are fixed Zhuang language TV and radio programs, and newspapers, magazines and other publications.

Zhuang culture and art are rich and diversified. Zuoyanya fresco is Zhuang’s artistic treasure created two thousand years ago by their ancestors. The singing parties on festivals and on ordinary occasions are called “Gexu”. The fame of Gexu travels far.

Zhuang’s traditional houses are houses projecting over the water and one-story houses of brick walls and tile roofing. They do not possess pronounced national characteristics. In the 1980s, multi-story building of concrete and bricks came into fashion. The traditional clothing of Zhuang are trousers and short-sleeve shirts made of dark cyan cloth spun, woven and dyed by themselves. They now usually buy ready- made clothes from the market. National clothes are seldom seen.

Major festivals include: Spring Festival, March the Third, Zhongyuan Festival (or Ghost Festival), etc.

They are polytheists, worshiping demons and ancestors. Burials often take two ceremonies. The folk believe in Fengshui. Taoism and Buddhism also enjoy some popularity.

25 . Table 3: Summary of resources and livelihood as per field investigation Population of the village(persons) Resources(acres) Industry Income (Yuan) Persons Annual Persons working net Village with Percentage Cultivable paddy Dry Monthly Population household outside farming husbandry others income labor of Zhuang land land land income the per ability region capita Rice, sugar Huanglian 5170 1100 2400 4% 1100 2300 1700 600 Pig, grice business 1400 2250 cane, corn Rice, sugar Zhangtuan 2590 440 1300 100% 400 1200 800 400 pig / 1300 2100 cane, corn Rice, Pig, grice, sugar scalper, Handcraft, Daguo 6400 1450 3200 98% 1800 4200 3200 800 1500 4000 cane, water business potato buffalo Rice, lotus Multi- roots, dimensional: Handcraft, About Longling 6337 1520 3500 15% 1000 3650 3500 150 1600 water Pig, duck, business 5000 chestnut, fish vegetable Rice, Fengming 6580 1370 4000 50% 1370 5800 3700 2100 sugar / / 1500 2400 cane,

26 . lotus roots Rice, sugar Qiming 4258 990 1800 85% 500 6100 2100 4000 Pig, grice / 1600 3800 cane, vegetable Rice, sugar Pig, water Sanmin 5326 1200 2700 30% 2000 7200 3600 3600 cane, / 1500 5000 buffalo vegetable, longan Rice, sugar Pig, grice, cane, scalper, Dabang 3051 725 1600 37% 400 3056 1800 1250 Business 1300 3056 vegetable, water tobacco buffalo leaves

27 . 4.3.2 The livelihood of Zhuang people in the project area

The Zhuang population in the project area is about 330 thousand. Most of them live together with the Han people. They only live compactly in 10 and plus natural villages. Their lifestyle, customs, economic status and production skills are almost the same with those of Han people.

We will describe the economy and cultural status of Zhuang people in the project area by the example so Daguo and Fengming villages.

(I)Daguo Village1

Population and society

Daguo village comprises 8 natural villages, with over 1450 households and 6400 villager, who are divided into 42 production groups. Daguo village has 3300 adults with labor capacities and 63 CPC members. It used to be a 100% Zhuang Village. Han people moved in as part of the resettlement of the Pinglong Reservoir (1958) project. Now 80 Han immigrants live together here with the Zhuangs.

Family names of the village include: Huang, Wei, Zeng, Yi, Chen, Li, Meng, He, Lu, Qin, etc. Huang is the largest one. Meng, He and Wei follow. There is no kinship ancestral temple in the village. There are no large kinship clans either. On Tomb- sweeping Day, each family will sweep the tomb of their own ancestors, instead of all the kinship doing this as a big family. The families of the same name and of the same ancestor do help one another more readily. But other villages and the neighbors also come to help.

The young people marry at an older age. They do not want to have many children, boys or girls. After giving birth to one or two babies, they will have the sterilization operation. The typical family has 3 or 4 and if larger, 5 or 6 members. Grandparents live together with the family. When choosing the life partners, they attach more importance to mutual affections and hardworking quality than their nationalities.

Public affairs of the village are handled by the village committee. Disputes among the villagers are also settled by the village committee. The members of the village committee are selected by the villager representative meetings as per the provisions of the Organic Law of the Villages Committee (promulgated in 1998). Those issues that the village committee cannot solve, will be transferred to the Township government. When the parties concerned do not accept mediation, they can choose to go through the legal procedures at the local justice.

Resources and livelihood

The land area of the village is over 5000 acres, including paddy land and dry land. There is no forest, wildness or grassland. The area of paddy land is 4200 acres and that of the dry land is 800 acres. There are a few stone mountains in the

1 The data are drawn from the 1st-hand information gathered during field investigation on Jan 22nd 2009.

28 . neighborhood, difficulty for plants to grow. The other year, a businessman from other areas wanted to open a quarry there producing stones, lime and cement. The villagers agreed after discussion and contracted the mountain to the business.

Before the liberation, i.e. before 1950, most of the land in the village belonged to a few landlords. The average villagers either only have a little land and barely made a living, or had no land at all and worked for others. After the liberation, the government distributed an equal share of land to each peasant for them to manage themselves. In 1957, the policy of cooperative society was put into force and the ownership of the land was taken by the collective. After the autumn harvest in 1980, the land was measured and allocated to each household through production-related contracting. The allocation is based on the number of heads in each household whose livelihood were in the rural area. And each head got an equal share, male or female, old or young. Since then, each household has been working on their own land. No adjustment has been done. When the senior person dyed or the daughters married off to other villages, their share was still in this household. And his household will end up with more land for each head. But for the household with more sons and no senior persons, the sons grow up, marry and have children, and consequently, there will be less land for each person.

The paddy land is mainly used to grow rice. Sugar canes used as fruit are also grown in paddy land. Corns, peanuts and melons are grown in dry land. The yield of one crop per unit is 500-700 kilograms or so (including 18 fine types such as the early indica, oily indica, Guihua indica, Tailand). Two yields are produced each year. The price of dry whole grain is 2.8 Yuan per kilogram, and that of rice is 4 Yuan per kilogram. After the rice is harvested, potatoes are grown, yielding 1.5-3 thousand kilograms (using non-till technique; the price is 0.4-0.5 Yuan per kilogram). The cost of one acre paddy land for one yield is: pesticide8-100 Yuan, fertilizer 100 Yuan, seeds about 50 Yuan and mechanical ploughing 80-100, water fees 28 yuan per year, and reaping fees 80-100 Yuan. The cost of one acre dry land involves less pesticide cost, about 40 Yuan every one yield, and the rest are almost the same with those of the paddy land. The cost of growing corns is less than that of peanuts because peanuts are more likely to be harmed by pests and thus cost more.

The typical household also feed pigs, and more often sows. Since pig feeding needs a lot of manpower, those with fewer adults of labor capacities cannot feed pigs. The growth cycle of pigs for meat is about 4-6 months. Raising one pig will earn a few hundred Yuan. Piglets are usually sold after 90 days, weighing 25 kilograms or so. The price of one kilogram of piglets is 6 Yuan (2007-08). One brood has 10-12 piglets. The income for each brood is around 1500 Yuan. Villagers also raise cattle, more often water buffalos and some scalpers. They are used to plough the land. Aside from this, villagers also usually feed chicken, ducks and geese.

Net annual income per capita in this village is around 4000 Yuan. Most part of this income is earned by those working out of home, whose monthly income is 1500 Yuan or so on average. Usually, men are paid better than the women. But men also spend more. Women earn less but are more thrifty.

The houses in the village are mostly of 2 or above stories. 15% households are still living in houses of one story made of bricks and tiles. There are 60 household living

29 . on government subsidies, 10 households enjoying the five guarantees, 5 orphans. In total about 100 persons are enjoying subsidence allowances. The actual number of persons needing the allowance is 300.

More than 1800 persons of the village are working out of home. They left home after the land was allocated to each household. More left home after 1990. They work in different industries such as manufacturing, construction, transportation, vegetable planting, etc.

Culture and customs

This village attaches much importance to education. More than 10 students from this village are enrolled by universities each year, 15 in 2004, the best in history. 60% of the young people have finished high school. Illiteracy is basically the past.

The most important festival is the Spring Festival. The holiday celebration is to watch the young playing basketball. Sometimes, two teams from their own village compete and sometimes this village team plays with the neighboring villages. On other occasions, the young usual do no live at home, and therefore there less activities going on. The villagers also regard the Ghost Festival (Zhongyuan Festival) as important. It is another big occasion.

The local farming activities are usually arranged according to the lunatic calendar. Once the Spring Festival is over, the young people leave home to look for jobs elsewhere. Those who stay at home begin to prepare for the spring ploughing. First it is the sugar cane. Peanuts, soybeans and corns are grown in February. Rice seeds are sowed in early march, and then transplanted in the end of the month. From April to June, it is the so-called leisure time. The work at the field is general management. Those between 20 and 50 at home do temporary jobs in the neighborhood. From the end of June to early August, it is harvesting (peanuts, corns, rice, etc) first and then ploughing again. From mid August to mid October, it is leisure and general management again. People do temporary jobs in the neighborhood when they have the time. At the end of October, it is harvesting again and vegetables and potatoes are planted. They will grow in the winter. From the mid November to the Spring Festival, villagers again have time to spare and do temporary jobs.

No one wears traditional clothes, not even before the liberation.

The villagers speak the Zhuang language at home. But the local Zhuang language is a little different from that of Wuming and Liuzhou. But they can understand each other.

There are no religious people and no temples or other religious facilities in the village. Each household has a memorial tablet for their ancestors inside the house. On festivals, villager burns incense and provide sacrifice before the tablet. On Tomb- sweeping Day, each household sweeps the tombs of their ancestors. When an old man dies, the first burial is temporary. After 3 or 4 years, their remains will be collected and buries a second time. If the burial ground is within the boundary of a construction site, the tomb will be relocated. There are no fixed burial grounds in the village. Villagers usually look for a place of all “fengshui” to bury the dead.

30 . (II)Fengming village2

Population and society

Fengming village has 1370 households and 6580 villagers, who live in 6 natural villages and are divided into 42 production groups. 60% of the population are adults with labor capacities and 63 CPC members. Zhuang and Han people each cover 50% of the total population. Family names of the village include: Lu, Liu, Gu, Wu, Zhang, Wei, Huang, Qin, Su, Lu, Shi, Chen, etc. Lu (about 200 households), Liu (about 150), Gu (about 150) and Wu (about 150) are among the largest ones. There is no kinship ancestral temple in the village, whether Zhuang or Han. In 2000, the natural villages set up a coordination committee on their own, which include all names in the village. The responsibility of the committee is to organize affairs such as road maintenance, bridge construction, digging water channel, wedding and burial ceremonies, etc. External affairs are dealt with by the village committee.

Resources and livelihood

The land area of the village is over 5800 acres, including over 3700 acres of paddy land and the rest being dry land. The woodland is ecological public welfare forest and is managed by the forestry bureau. Each village has one or two fishing ponds, with a total area of dozens of acres.

The paddy land is mainly used to grow rice, lotus roots, green onions (some household grow green onions in the latter half of the year). Two yields are produced each year. The yield per unit for rice is 400 kilograms or so, that of the lotus root is about 1500 kilograms (the wholesale price in 2008 is about 1 Yuan) (one yield each year). The yield of green onion per acre is about 2000 kilograms (The purchase price at local place is 1.6 Yuan per kilogram in 2008. Judging from the local experience, with a price of 6 Mao per kilogram, there will be some benefits. ) The dry land is used to grow corns (Yield per acre is 350 kilograms. Two yields for each year. The price is 1.5 Yuan per kilogram.), peanuts (In small quantity. They are grown for the oil. Each acre produces 250-300 kilograms of dry peanuts. The price of peanut oil is 16-20 Yuan per kilogram.), and sugar canes (The average yield of each acre is 4 tons. The purchase price is 280 Yuan per ton). The production cost of each acre for rice is about 450 Yuan (fertilizer, pesticide, mechanism ploughing, seeds, plastic film, water fees and manpower cost), that for lotus roots is 2000 Yuan, that for peanuts is 200 Yuan and that for corns is 150-200 Yuan.

Farming seasons: After the Spring Festival, to grow peanuts, corns, and sugar canes; February, to plough; from mid March to mid April, to transplant rice; June, summer harvest and summer ploughing; July to September, cutting off sugar can leaves; October, autumn harvest; From November to February of next year, reaping sugar canes. Sugar canes need care the whole year around. There is nearly no leisure time.

Working out of home: On average, each household has one person working out of home. But it has not been very stable in recent years. People come back and go away.

2Based on the first-hand information collected during the field investigation on Jan. 23, 2009 by the trustee.

31 . The monthly income of working outside is around 1500. Those with a lot of experience earn more. The net income per capica is 2000 on a monthly basis.

Culture and customs

Han and Zhuang peoples have lived together in the village for many years. They marry each other. They are either relatives or friends. Zhuang people speak Zhuang language at home and most speak Hakka in social life. The young speak the Chinese vernacular, Hakka and Mandarin. They speak less of the Zhuang language. Their lifestyle and customs are similar. There are no distinctive differences between the two nationalities.

There are no believers of Christianity, Catholics, Buddhism or Taoism and no religious facilities in the village. Each household has a memorial tablet for their ancestors inside the house. On festivals, villager burns incense and provide sacrifice such as fresh fruit and home-cooked meal before the tablet. On Tomb-sweeping Day, each household sweeps the tombs of their ancestors, squibbing firecrackers and offering sacrifice. When the dead are buried, it is unlucky to remove their remains again. “Fengshui” is important. If absolutely necessary, they will first choose another place and move the remains of the dead after a ceremony. It is the same with the customs of the neighboring villages.

4.4 Relations and comparison between different nationalities in the project

Zhuang is the aboriginal of the project area. Han moved here from the central plains of China starting from Qin and Han dynasties as part of the Lingnan development plan of the governments. There were also merchants and poverty-stricken people who migrated to Guangxi for a living. The two ethnic groups have lived together here for a long time. The present pattern was formed in late Qing and the early time of the Republic of China at the latest. After studying the public appraisal, local documents, academic research and confirmed by field-investigation, we have verified that the two nationalities have always been living in harmony, and the villages and villagers communicate with one another closely. They marry each other. The sense of being of different ethnic groups is weak. People seldom attribute the status of the village, household or persons to the factor of ethnic background. There is no discrimination and prejudice against any ethnic group. Cultural amalgamation has also gone deep. The difference between the two nationalities is no longer obvious.

From the comparative angle, the biggest difference between Zhuang and Han people is that Zhuang has its own language, Zhuang language. Zhuang language is spoken at home and in natural villages where Zhuang residents are the majority or the only nationality. Zhuang people speak the local vernacular, Hakka or mandarin during external communication. In aspects of livelihood, customs and religious belief, Zhuang and Han are almost the same. As for land system and grassroots political and organic system, they are totally the same. In short, over the past half century, Zhuang people in the project areas have blended into the mainstream society and culture. Their uniqueness as a different nationality is melting away.

32 . 4.5 Summary

In summary, the trustee believe, Zhuang people in the project area are regarded as the minority nationality in China, but their livelihood, population character, social structure, political system and culture are not different from those of Han people, but have blended into the local mainstream society and culture. They don’t comply with the definition of the “indigenous people” described in the World Bank OP4.10. This project will not impact them differently than the Han people here.

5. Poverty and Gender

5.1 Poverty in the project area

5.1.1 General introduction

Guangxi is a relatively under-developed province in China in terms of economy. 28 counties in it are priorities of the state’s poverty alleviation work, 21 counties are priorities of the region’s poverty alleviation work. The poorest areas include the autonomous counties in the north, west and northwest of Guangxi, and the counties along the karst mountain area such as Baise and Hechi. By the end of 2005, 860 thousand were barely fed or clothed, and 3.26 million are below the poverty line, which is 7% of the total population. In 2008, the number of people receiving the state subsidence allowances was 1.628 million, 4% of the total population. According to the statistics of the governments of all levels, the number of people in the region who qualify for the five guarantees is 339.8 thousand3.

The project area is a relatively rich place in Guangxi compared with other rural areas in the region. The rural residents can meet their basic needs. Although the income per capita in some villages is about 2000, there are few who are barely fed and clothed. According to the data obtained by the RAP team through field investigation, there are 10395 poverty-stricken households in the project area, with about 50 thousand population. The percentage of poverty-stricken population is less then 1/10,000. That is to say, poverty is not a major issue here.

Table 4: Disadvantage people in the villages being affected along the Nanjing- Guangzhou railway route Persons Poverty- Households Prefecture County enjoy the Disabled Province stricken with women (city) (district) five persons households as the head guarantees Gangbei Guangxi Guigang 274 581 1479 1287 District Guiping 844 1201 2940 3033 city

3 To meet the basic needs of the households enjoying five guarantees, the autonomous region provide each one of them a monthly subsidy equal in value to 15 kilograms rice, 30 Yuan cash and 0.5 kilogram food oil.

33 . Pingnan 353 295 984 775 County Qintang 199 405 1600 494 District Binyang Nanning 135 281 582 525 County Cangwu 243 389 702 983 County Wuzhou Tengxian 1598 2317 2108 804 County Total 3 7 3646 5469 10395 7901 Note: The data in table 4 were collected and sorted by the RAP team through field investigation. Special thanks to RAP.

5.1.2 Analysis of the causes of poverty

According to the information learned by the trustee during field investigation, the causes of poverty for this part of the population are:

(1)They have little cultivation land per head. The food that their land produces cannot is not enough to support the whole family. They have no grains left to feed animals for cash. No grains, and therefore no cash. No cash and less grain. It is a vicious circle. Little cultivation land—lack of food—difficulty in feeding animals—little investment in the land—poor yield—less food. They have little cultivation land because their family has grown fast since the land was allocated to each household based on the contract system with remuneration linked to output. The new members of the household have not been allocated a share. This phenomenon is common in the rural areas. According to the statistic analysis of the data, the expenses on food for households in the project area cover 20-30% of their total income. Even with the income from working out of home, a large part of their income is used to feed the family instead of being invested in reproduction.

(2)They have few adults with labor capacity. In the project area 30-50% of the household income comes from those working out of home. Some of the households have no manpower to carefully grow their land, not alone to work out of home, because the members are either too old, two young, ill or disabled. There are at least 2 or 3 such households in each village. They are among the poorest.

(3)They become poor because of the large expenses on medicine or education. Among the expense of the households in the project area, medicine and education cover 25% of the total on the average, and all in cash. They become a heavy burden. The state is vigorously promoting the new cooperative medical system and the compulsive 6-year or 9-year education. The above situation is expected to be alleviated recently.

5.2 Association of poverty to nationalities

In the project area, poverty is not associated with minority nationalities.

34 . Generally speaking, there is no inner link between the nationality structure and the economic status and residents’ income of the villages. According to the investigation results by the trustee on the situations of the 8 administrative villages (see table 10 below): Zhangtuan Village of Huanglian Township of Guigang city is a 100% Zhuang village and its income per capita is about 2100 Yuan. Huanglian village’s majority population are Han people and its income per capita is also only about 2200 Yuan. The neighboring Daguo village of Qintang Township is almost a 100% Zhuang village, but its income per capita is about 4000 Yuan. The majority population of Longling village in the neighborhood are Han people and the income per capita in this village is 5000 Yuan. The differences between the 4 villages and the 2 Township are due to their locations. Huanglian Township has almost no industry at all. There is only one small town with 20 thousand population and a passing second-tier road. Its radiation effect is limited. The net income per peasant in this Township is only about 2200 Yuan. In Huanglian village on the borders of the town and Zhuangtuan village 3 kilometers away from the town, traditional farming is the main livelihood. Working out of home is an addition. But since the villagers have always been doing traditional farming, they are only qualified for jobs with low technical requirement and hence with less income, such as simple operations in tailoring and electrical toy manufacturing production chains, or for the physical work on construction sites. Whereas Qintang district government is located in Qintang Township. The Township has convenience transportation conditions by railway, roads and river. The urban population is over 100 thousand. There are more factories and companies here. The second and third industries are well developed here, which promote the commercialization of agriculture. The net income per peasant in this Township is 4500 Yuan. Daguo and Longling, taking advantages of their closeness to the town, develop cash farming and the benefits are ok. Some villagers run restaurants, stores, wholesale vegetables, provide transportation service, drive taxis in the town. They have many sources of income. Those who work out of home are mainly renting the local farming land to grow fruit and vegetable for sale in Guangdong and other places. The others drive taxis, run shops, contract construction projects in big cities. So they have high income. Both Daguo and Zhangtuan are Zhuang villages, but the income per capita of the former is twice of that of the latter. The income per capita of Huanglian is also only half of that of Daguo. Although the nationality structures of Daguo and Longling are quite different, the incomes are close to each other.

As for the income of the individual household, there is on obvious difference between Zhuang ones and Han ones. At the colloquia, the cadres and villager preventatives all tell us that there are no much difference between Zhuang households and Han ones when talking about rich, medium and poor households. When analyzing the causes of poverty, what they speak of is basically what is written above in section 5.1.2. Poverty has nothing to do with nationality.

5.3 Women

5.3.1 Women qualities and traditional division of labour

According to the results of field investigation, women in the project area, especially working women, are generally less educated than the men. The traditional role for women is doing household chores, taking cares of the old and the young, and working together with men in the field. They are expected to do little outside the household. If

35 . their husbands are home, the women do not generally volunteer to participate in village affairs, such village councils or gatherings. In the past two decades, with the rise of labor and service economy, men between 20 and 50 and unmarried women have been either working out of home or doing temporary jobs during leisure seasons. Housewives are not only doing all the household chores, but also doing most of the farming work. Women farm and manage the household, whereas the men earn cash working out home. This has become the general division of labor between men and women.

In the project areas, there are no distinct differences between Zhuang and Han women in their general qualities, division of labour, roles in the family and social status.

5.3.2 The project and women

Given the model of “husbands managing outside affairs while wives managing internal affairs”, the project should pay particular attention to and emphasize on the participation of women in all phases of the project, without any constraints of information sharing. This is not only because of the traditional division of labour and lack of pro-activity, but also because women stay home engaged in hours chores, but may be more sensitive to negative impacts of the project, such as construction disturbances, change of access road and safety for older people and children, Therefore it is suggested,

¾ The project will promote and advocate for women to participate and make sure women are present at information sharing sessions. ¾ The project should make sure that women participate in the consultations during the project preparation, implementation and operation. Their views on the method of participation should be respected. ¾ The project should put more emphasis on the vocational training. Local governments in the project areas should start training programs and consider the particular needs of women and make corresponding arrangement. Special training should be arranged for women if necessary. ¾ Local governments, when considering participation of women, should listen to the women’s union and seek their advice.

Because of the little difference between Han and Zhuang women in social roles and personal qualities, the above recommendations for women also apply to Zhuang women.

5.4 Summary

In summary, there are almost no differences between Zhuang and Han peoples in the project area in terms of production and living skills, and economic status, and in aspects like income per capital and the size of poverty-stricken population. There are no obvious differences either between Zhuang and Han women in terms of social status, roles and situation. It is confirmed that Zhuang nationality has blended into the mainstream society and culture. The social, cultural, system and political factors that could isolate Zhuang people and place them at a disadvantage do not exist.

36 . 37 . 6. Project impact analysis

6.1 Project benefits

The field surveys and investigations indicate the project will bring about the following positive impacts to the local areas

(1) The project is a railway of high capacity and high speed, both freight and passenger transport. Stations will be built at different locations along the route. It will be a fast, secure, convenient and reachable transportation means for the surplus laborers along the route to travel to Guangdong and the coastal areas to earn a living. This will alleviate the tight demand of land resources by the large population.

(2) With convenient transportation means, those working out of home can return to help during the busiest farming seasons. This will reduce of possibility of leaving some or all the land unused due to the lack of manpower, or the possibility of missing the right timing and having to give up some of the farming activities. With this railway, the limited land resources will be fully utilized.

(3) The railway will bring more people and more resources flowing into the area, creating more business opportunities and attracting investment. This will promote the development of the local economy and develop the second and third industries, offer more jobs and entrepreneur chances. Consequently more peasants will be less dependent on the cultivable land.

(4) Better transportation and prosperous market will stimulate the commercialization and specialization of agriculture along the route. Villagers will gain more benefits by farming.

(5) The support facilities of the infrastructure and the prosperity of the local economy will add value to the limited land resources of the peasants and increase their wealth.

Aside from this, when farming becomes profitable, the peasants will be motivated to explore more ways to more efficiently utilize the land. The development of rural areas in the suburbs and the prosperity of peasants there provide a successful example for all.

Field investigations indicate, through focus group discussions with villagers, household surveys or individual interviews, that Zhuang and Han people in local areas have the same expectations for the benefits under project. This also indicates the closeness in their existing living conditions, life experiences and cultural backgrounds.

6.2 Adverse impact

In the interactions with local Zhuang and Han villagers, they have also expressed the following concerns:

38 . (1) The project involves permanent acquisition of some cultivable land in the project area. More land is needed for house sites for resettlement. All this will reduce the absolute quantity of usable land. The tight demand for land by the population will be more obvious.

(2) The land to be acquired by the project has been contracted to individual household. The degree of dependence of the households on the land varies. But the flexibility of the compensation policy is limited. The village as the collective cannot readjust the arrangement of the land to balance the allocation of risk. This will increase the livelihood risk of those highly dependent on land for a living.

(3) The economy in the project area is currently under-developed. The production value of cultivable land is limited or the added value is large. Compensation is calculated based on past yield and the current capacity of the local finance is very limited. As a result the compensation that the villagers receive shall be lower than it should be.

(4) With the decrease of the total area of cultivable land, the local households need to send more people to work out of home or earn a living through means other than farming. The labor market is very sensitive to the economic status, especially in the industries of low technology content that the villagers from this area are engaged in. The decrease of the total area of cultivable land adds to the risk of the villagers’ livelihood.

(5) With the decrease of cultivable land, the villagers will pay more attention to the maintenance and production of the land. Boundary and irrigation water sources will become more sensitive dispute issues between the villagers and between the villages. Mismanagement will directly interfere with the normal production activities and the life of the residents.

(6) The project needs some cultivable land temporarily. If this land is not restored in a nice manner and produces less in the coming years, the villagers will burden the loss again.

(7) If the project does not restore the damaged farming infrastructure that in a reasonable manner or provide substitute during the construction or after the completion, it will directly effect the production activities and benefits of the villagers adversely.

(8) To minimize land use, the project will try its best to limit land acquisition to the minimum. But since the railway will cross the cultivable land, inevitably, after the acquisition of most of the land, the left are all small stretches unfit for farming any more. Or when the big stretch of land is incised by the railway, the villagers need to cross the railway to and fro when farming on this piece of the land. If this is not taken into account, the villager will also burden some loss.

(9) Flood hazards are often in the project area. If the waste of the project and other facilities are mismanaged, they will interfere with flood passage, drainage, irrigation and thus affect the cultivable land and crop yield adversely.

39 . The above concerns over negative impacts under the project vary in terms of priority in attention and focus due to differences in areas and village experiences. But regardless of Han and Zhuang, their concerns are basically the same. This indicates the level of acculturation of Zhuang into the main social groups and cultures, and Zhuang villagers have no ethnic difference with Han villagers in their ability in assessing external impacts.

40 . Table 5: Impact of permanent land acquisition by the project on the villages of minority nationalities along the route Unit: acre County/district Township Village total Area of cultivable land Garden woodland grassland pond Construction plot other Unused land subtotal Paddy Dry Vegetable land land land field Xinxu 355.2 130.85 32.95 95.4 2.5 0 184.95 41.8 0.95 0 6.15 2.5 Maozi 78.144 28.79 7.25 20.99 0.55 0 40.69 9.20 0.21 0 1.35 0.55 Litang Qiming 85.248 31.40 7.91 22.90 0.6 0 44.39 10.03 0.23 0 1.48 0.6 Township Fengming 92.352 34.02 8.57 24.80 0.65 0 48.09 10.87 0.25 0 1.60 0.65 Longsheng 99.456 36.63 9.23 26.71 0.7 0 51.79 11.70 0.27 0 1.72 0.7 Subtotal 710.4 261.7 65.9 190.8 5 369.9 83.6 1.9 12.3 5 Binyang Yanshan 149.141 99.03 27.81 70.36 0.85 0 38.28 1.58 3.25 0 0.95 6.05 Sanmin 157.914 104.85 29.45 74.50 0.9 0 40.54 1.67 3.44 0 1.01 6.41 Heji Huiliang 166.687 110.68 31.08 78.64 0.95 0 42.79 1.77 3.63 0 1.06 6.76 Township Dabang 193.006 128.15 35.99 91.06 1.1 0 49.54 2.05 4.20 0 1.23 7.83 Pingqiao 210.552 139.8 39.26 99.34 1.2 0 54.05 2.23 4.58 0 1.34 8.54 Subtotal 877.3 582.5 163.6 413.9 5 225.2 9.3 19.1 5.6 35.6 Total 1587.7 844.2 229.5 604.7 10 0 595.1 92.9 21 0 17.9 40.6 Daguo 422.55 335.34 201.04 134.3 0 17.76 0 27.95 0 0 20.51 20.98 Yaoshan 225.36 178.85 107.22 71.63 0 9.47 0 14.91 0 0 10.94 11.19 Qintang Longling 239.445 190.02 113.92 76.10 0 10.07 0 15.84 0 0 11.62 11.89 Township Guluo 253.53 201.20 120.62 80.58 0 10.66 0 16.77 0 0 12.31 12.59 Liuwu 267.615 212.38 127.32 85.06 0 11.25 0 17.70 0 0 12.99 13.29 Subtotal 1408.5 1117.78 670.12 447.67 0 59.21 0 93.18 0 0 68.38 69.94 Kuixin 110.67 83.90 44.05 39.85 0 1.18 0 5.58 0 0 0.21 19.80 Qintang Zhenshui 102.765 77.91 40.90 37.01 0 1.09 0 5.18 0 0 0.19 18.38 Panchen 118.575 89.90 47.19 42.70 0 1.26 0 5.98 0 0 0.22 21.21 Huanglian Huanglian 86.955 65.92 34.61 31.31 0 0.92 0 4.39 0 0 0.16 15.56 Township Jushi 94.86 71.92 37.76 34.16 0 1.01 0 4.78 0 0 0.18 16.97 Yaoling 134.385 101.88 53.49 48.39 0 1.43 0 6.79 0 0 0.25 24.04 Zhangtuan 142.29 107.87 56.63 51.24 0 1.51 0 7.18 0 0 0.27 25.46 Subtotal 790.5 599.30 314.63 284.67 0 8.41 0 39.87 0 0 1.50 141.42 Total 2199 1717.09 984.75 732.34 0 67.62 0 133.05 0 0 69.88 211.359

Table 6: Impact of temporary land acquisition by the project on the villages of minority nationalities along the route Unit: acre

41 . ty County/District Township Village Total Cultivable land Garden Woodland Grassland Pond Construction Unus plot Other Subtotal Paddy Dry Vegetable land land land land field anning Xinxu 260.55 88.95 0 88.95 0 0 171.6 0 0 0 0 0 Maozi 62.532 21.348 0 21.348 0 0 41.184 0 0 0 0 0 Litang Qiming 67.743 23.127 0 23.127 0 0 44.616 0 0 0 0 0 Fengming 57.321 19.569 0 19.569 0 0 37.752 0 0 0 0 0 Longsheng 72.954 24.906 0 24.906 0 0 48.048 0 0 0 0 0 Binyang Subtotal 521.1 177.9 0 177.9 0 343.2 0 0 county Yanshan 52.479 12.257 0 12.257 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40.22 Sanmin 55.566 12.978 0 12.978 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 42.58 Heji Huiliang 58.653 13.699 0 13.699 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 44.95 Dabang 67.914 15.862 0 15.862 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 52.05 Pingqiao 74.088 17.304 0 17.304 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 56.78 Subtotal 308.7 72.1 0 72.1 0 0 0 236.6 tal 829.8 250 0 250 0 343.2 0 236.6 uigang Qintang Daguo 53.24 47.608 25.058 22.55 0 0 5.632 0 0 0 0 0 District Yaoshan 58.08 51.936 27.336 24.6 0 0 6.144 0 0 0 0 0 Qintang Longling 41.14 36.788 19.363 17.425 0 0 4.352 0 0 0 0 0 Guluo 43.56 38.952 20.502 18.45 0 0 4.608 0 0 0 0 0 Liuwu 45.98 41.116 21.641 19.475 0 0 4.864 0 0 0 0 0 Subtotal 242 216.4 113.9 102.5 25.6 Huanglian Kuixin 96.6 32.802 0 32.802 0 0 3.304 0 0 0 0 60.49 Zhenshui 103.5 35.145 0 35.145 0 0 3.54 0 0 0 0 64.81 Panchen 89.7 30.459 0 30.459 0 0 3.068 0 0 0 0 56.17 Huangliancun 69 23.43 0 23.43 0 0 2.36 0 0 0 0 43.21 Jushi 110.4 37.488 0 37.488 0 0 3.776 0 0 0 0 69.13 Yaoling 138 46.86 0 46.86 0 0 4.72 0 0 0 0 86.42

42 . Zhangtuan 144.9 49.203 0 49.203 0 0 4.956 0 0 0 0 90.74 Subtotal 690 234.3 234.3 23.6 432.1 Total 932 450.7 113.9 336.8 0 49.2 0 432.1

Table 7: Impact of resettlement by the project on the villages of minority nationalities along the route city County/district Township Village Households Persons Area of rural residential houses to be removed Factory C removed removed (square meters) and School Total Bricks Bricks Earth Lightly company houses r and and and structured houses concrete timbers timbers houses Nanning Xinyu 2 7 188 159.8 9.4 18.8 Maozi 20 65 4166 3541.1 208.3 416.6 Litang Fengming 11 40 2998 2548.3 149.9 299.8 Longsheng 1 4 96 81.6 4.8 9.6 Subtotal 34 116 7448 6330.8 372.4 0 744.8 Yanshan 10 36 1451 1233.35 72.55 145.1 Binyang Huiliang 12 42 4089 3475.65 204.45 408.9 Xinmaxiang 2 7 1128 958.8 56.4 112.8 Heji (group) Laoshibei (group) 7 25 1283 1090.55 64.15 128.3 Laomaxiang 23 72 7438 6322.3 371.9 743.8 646 (group) Subtotal 54 182 15389 13080.65 769.45 0 1538.9 0 646 Total 88 298 22837 19411.45 1141.85 0 2283.7 0 646 Guigang Qintang Qintang Daguo 26 83 4686 3983.1 234.3 468.6 Yaoshan 20 65 2772 2356.2 138.6 277.2 Tongling (farmer 22 71 4908 4171.8 245.4 490.8 group)

43 . Longe(farmer 20 73 4693 3989.05 234.65 469.3 group) Liucun (farmer 10 42 2756 2342.6 137.8 275.6 group) Pangwu (farmer 11 43 1707 1450.95 85.35 170.7 group) Liwu(farmer 17 56 4514 3836.9 225.7 451.4 group) Guanpu(farmer 6 20 947 804.95 47.35 94.7 group) Changtang(farmer 4 18 1207 1025.95 60.35 120.7 7669 group) Huili(farmer 5 23 505 429.25 25.25 50.5 group) Subtotal 141 494 28695 24390.75 1434.75 0 2869.5 7669 0

44 . 6.3 Analysis of the differences of impact by the project on the nationalities

Between the Zhuang and Han people in the project areas, there are no obvious differences in terms of the project impacts, either positive or adverse or in the degree, scale and pattern of impact.

As for the potential adverse impact, the land acquisition and resettlement are directly associated with the route and the positioning of the railway. The association between the location of the houses and cultivable land, and the route is accidental. In addition, Zhuang and Han people live together. Their houses and the land they contracted are mixed together. The possibilities of the Zhuang and Han people being impacted by land acquisition and resettlement are the same. At the same time, since the land system along the route is all the same. And the livelihood, working skills, incomes and economic status of Zhuang and Han people are also almost the same. Therefore, the adverse impact that the project has on them cannot have obvious differences, and their capacities and measures to counteract the impact cannot be different either. As for the impact of the project has on the local transportation and water resource facilities and the impact on the environment and daily life by the construction work, there cannot be difference between the two nationalities either, because the local residents are basically the life in terms of customs and lifestyle. During the field investigation, the trustee finds that the residents all raise similar hopes, requests, suggestions and concerns, at colloquia, and at household and individual interviews. This confirmed the fact that Zhuang and Han people do not have obvious nationality differences.

In the same token, the positive impacts of the project on the villages and villagers along the route, mean the same to both Zhuang and Han people, including better transportation conditions and employment opportunities to be brought about by the local economic development. The Huanglian village (Han) and Zhangtuan village (zhuang) of Huanglian Township are relatively poor because of their disadvantaging location, whereas Daguo village (Zhuang) and Longling village (Han) of Qintang Township develop faster because they enjoy better location conditions. This is a good proof that Zhuang and Han are the same in seizing external opportunities for their own development.

6.4 Summary

This chapter compares Zhuang and Han nationalities in terms of the potential positive and adverse impact of the project on them. The conclusion is that because China has a uniform land system and because Zhuang and Han people in the area are almost the same in aspects of land system, livelihood, economic development, working skills, customs, etc, they are the same in terms of taking the potential adverse impact, seizing the opportunities, counteracting the adverse impact. Zhuang people are not disadvantaged by its identity as a minority nationality.

45 . 7. Stakeholders

7.1 Stakeholder identification under the project

Based on the feasibility study document compiled jointly by China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co. Ltd., China Railway Engineering Design Consultation Group Co. Ltd and China railway 4th Survey Design Group Co. Ltd., the project identify the following parties/groups as of interest in the project:

Ministry of Railways: owner of the project, the investor, the borrower of the World Bank loan.

Nanjing-Guangzhou Railway Co. Ltd. (Referred to as N-G Company): the organization that the Ministry of Railways set up for the execution of the project construction.

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: one of the owners of the project. Its investment is the local funds for land acquisition, resettlement and resettlement.

Governments of the cities, counties/districts, Townships: responsible fore the actual implementation of land acquisition, resettlement and resettlement.

The World Bank: the main provider of the loans invested in the project.

Local population in the project area: including Han and Zhuang ethnic minority population and the affected people.

Construction team: the contractor of the construction work of the project

7.2 Analysis of the parties

7.2.1 The Ministry of Railways

The Ministry of Railways is the highest administrative authority in charge of railway transportation construction and management. In this project, the Ministry of Railways is the investor and the borrower of the World Bank loan. It also supervises the construction of the project. It will set up the NG Company to construct the Nanjing- Guangzhou railway and to manage its operations.

The Ministry of Railways is a state administrative organ. Its administrative behavior represents the will of the state and is disciplined by the state legal system. The Chinese Constitution and the Law of National Regional Autonomy are the basis and guideline for the Ministry of Railways to exercise its administrative functions. Its goal is to construct the project in a scientific and reasonable manner within the framework of the state policies and legal system. It will not make any discriminating policies or take any such measure as far as the residents of different nationalities in the area are concerned.

46 . 7.2.2 NG company

The company is a dedicated organization set up by the Ministry of Railways for the construction and operations of the Nanjing-Guangzhou railway project. Its responsibilities include: bid tendering for the construction of the project; supervision of the construction activities by the contractor; to coordinate the local governments of all levels and related organization to complete the land acquisition, resettlement and resettlement work; operation and maintenance of the railway after the completion of the project

From the social assessment perspective, land acquisition, resettlement, resettlement and construction are among the major activities within its responsibilities. All these are closely related to the welfare of the villagers in the project area. On the one hand, it must carefully exert its supervision power and keep a close eye on the safety and standardization of the contractor’s construction activities, and protect the production and living facilities of the villages and villagers along the route. If the facilities are occupied by the construction, they should be returned to the original status at the earliest time and reasonable compensation shall be paid. If damaged, they need to be restored with quality and in a timely manner. On the other hand, the company shall consciously be supervised by the Ministry of Railways , the local government and the residents along the route. The purpose is to ensure the company shall exercise its functions according to the state and local policies ad regulations. Also the company shall consciously respect the principle of negotiation based on unlimited information ahead of time, and handle the issues related to the benefits of the residents along the route during the different stages of the project construction and operations. The goal is to safeguard the benefits of the residents in the project area and to build a nice public image for the project at the same time.

The activities of the NG Company shall be supervised by the Ministry of Railways, the local governments and the residents along the route. The precondition for the NG Company to carry on the project construction smoothly is to well handle the relations between the project construction and the production and living activities of the residents along the route, and to maintain the normal social order in the area along the route. Since the impacts by the project on the Zhuang and Han people along the route are almost the same, and there are no differences between the two nationalities in terms of the organic forms, legal means and actual capacities of safeguarding their own rights and benefits, NG company shall not make any discriminating policies against any nationality in compensation and immigrant resettlement.

7.2.3 Guangxi Autonomous Region Government

The autonomous region government is one of the investors of the project, its share being the investment from local budget in land acquisition, resettlement and resettlement. It is also a beneficiary of the project. It is not only responsible for the cost of land acquisition, resettlement and resettlement, and the smooth progress of the construction activities by the contractor in its jurisdiction, but also the important duty of safeguarding and developing the rights and benefits of the villages and villagers in the area. Therefore, it must try its best to coordinate the relations between the contractor and the residents along the route, to solve the possible disputes between them, to distribute 100% of the compensation fees for land acquisition, resettlement

47 . and resettlement to the relevant households in a timely manner, and to allocate new house sites for the resettlement in the appointed time. The autonomous region government shall strengthen its coordination function and to negotiate a competent solution to the sensitive issue of compensation standard, which concerns the benefits of all companies and residents to be affected. As for the leftover issues possible to interfere with this project, the autonomous region government needs to pay much attention to them, hold discussion with all related parties and bring forward a solution, so as to clear the road for the local grassroots governments.

The trustee learns from field investigation that in the past two decades the autonomous regional government has implemented or assisted to implement many major projects such as railways, roads, HV power transmission lines, oil pipes, etc., and has accumulated rich experience. It set up a provincial/regional railway construction office to meet of needs of the preparation work. This office will continue to contribute to the project because it has built a team familiar with and experienced in the relevant work.

Guangxi is a provincial-level administrative unit, with Zhuang as the mainstream nationality. According to the Law of national regional autonomy, the chairman of the autonomous region government, the director of the peoples’ congress and other head of the regional authorities are chosen from Zhuang people. That is to say, on the regional government level, the Zhuang people in the project area have their representative and spokesman. Therefore, they shall not be discriminated against in this project.

7.2.4 The city, county/district and Township governments

The governments of the cities, counties/districts and Townships are all beneficiaries of the project, and they take many major responsibilities as the local governments, including the implementation of land acquisition, resettlement and resettlement, the distribution of compensation, the maintenance of the normal order of construction progress in their jurisdiction, coordinating for the disputes rising during the construction, maintaining the local social order and safeguarding the rights and benefits of he local enterprises and residents to be affected by the project, etc. They have limited power but huge responsibilities. No one would like to be in their shoes. Therefore, one the one hand, they shall perform their duties with justice according to the state and local policies and regulations; on the other hand, they will do coordination, intermediation, and dispute settling work because they are familiar with both the local customs and the laws and regulations. In addition, they have a deep understanding of the policies, too.

During field investigation, the trustee finds that the local government so all levels, especially the cadres sent by them to assist the work of the project, are all very familiar with the project and foresee the potential risks and difficulties in their duties. They have a deep understanding of the opinions and requests of the local people and know well the residents of the villages to be affected by the project. They also have the trust of the residents. This is an important condition for them to contribute to the project.

48 . The local governments are the local organs under the autonomous region. They exert their power according to the state laws and are controlled by the autonomous region. At the same time, Zhuang nationality has its representatives in each of the local governments. These representatives can bespeak the will and request of Zhuang nationality, and safeguard the rights and benefits of their nationality. Therefore, the Zhuang residents in the project area are not marginalized.

7.2.5 The World Bank

The World Bank is the provider of the loan for the project. But the contributions to the project by the World Bank are not the loan only. They help the owner in pushing the construction forward smoothly. To reduce the risk of the loan, the World Bank set up a dedicated project team, supervise and direct the preparation, implementation and operation management of project based on the operational policies and rich international experience of the Bank. The World Bank insists that its security and safeguard policies be implemented all through the project, which contributes to the project by enhancing the policy and operational standardization and reducing the potential risks.

The indigenous peoples’ policy of the World Bank bespeaks its emphasis of respecting the rights and benefits of the minority nationalities. It will not allow discrimination against the minorities, let alone exercise such discrimination.

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7.2.6.1 Local population in the project areas refer to both urban and rural residents in the project areas. They can be further grouped into urban/rural residents, urban dwellers, employees in enterprise and institutions, Han and ethnic minority population and people affected under the project. They would benefit from the improved transportation and local development. At the same time, some of them would also be subject to the adverse impacts of the project construction.

Project field investigations indicate that local population along the project alignement, particularly the Han and Zhuang people have had experiences under similar earlier projects and are generally aware of the project impacts, both positive and negative. They have confidence in local governments and responsible officials and hope to resolve all possible conflicts and grievances through consultation. They also believe the village committees can represent their opinions. The understand government and legal procedures of grievance redress. They generally understand and support the project. Issues that they pay more attention to include whether compensation can be delivered timely and in full amount, whether house plots can be allocated timely and appropriately, whether their living standard can be maintained and improved, whether relevant information can be timely disclosed and their opinions are respected and adopted, whether the project would leave behind any problems to their livelihoods etc.

49 . Fengming Village in Litang Township of Binyang County and Zhangtuan Village in Huanglian Township of Guiguang City have raised issues that should be given priority attention. They are summarized below from field investigation notes.

(I)Fengming Village (Han and Zhuang mixed)

Lizhang railway was built in 1970 and Fengming station was built in the village. The railway went through the village, not only cutting the village in half, but also separating the productive areas into two parts. There is only one access opening to the other sied, 1.8 meters wide. There are dozens of trains coming and going everyday, and most of the time the red light is on. This access opening is not only for livelihood of the villagers in this village, but also for several villages around here. Otherwise, they have to go around for a few more kilometers. During the passing time, traffic and people would rush, often causing jams. Children going to school will cross the railway and sometime they climb through under the trains, very dangerous. In busy seasons, the railway administrations do not consider the situations in the village and the number of trains does not reduce. Sometimes, trains at the stations are too long, blocking the access opening. Villages are very anxious. With speed acceleration, trains are longer and faster, the impacts are bigger as well. Every village committee has discussed this issue with the railway administration and local government, but it has not been resolved yet.

Picture Village report to Yuling railway Picture 2- Village Report to Nanning

50 . Picture 3 Access opening at Fengming Village

Picture 4- Railway blocked access opening, villagers passing with difficulty

(II) Zhangtuan Vilalge(Zhuang)

Zhangtuan River lies in front our village. Though its flow is small, it could be big and rapid in rainy season, and often threaten the village and the farm fields on both sides. Water level could rise up over the knees. It is a big problem for us. We hear a railway bridge will be built with one support pier in the river. We are concerned that such design could affect flood release. Township government and the village have both reported the problem. We are wondering the design has been adjusted. All villagers are concerned about this issue and hope it can be properly addressed.

51 . Picture 5- Zhangtuan River.

Picture 6 – villagers and the SA team on site visit

It needs to be explained that the issue of pier at Zhangtuan Village is not common, but needs attention. It is hope that the design institute could discuss with the villagers and reach a design scheme that can mitigate the risks and address villagers’ concern. As the SA understands, this type of problems occasionally appears in railway designs in projects before 1980.

7.2.6.2 Ethnic minority population in the project areas

Ethnic minority population. Their opinions, wishes and request are the same as the other groups. They don’t specifically highlight their own special issues for the

52 . project owner, government and spcialists’ attention. And they are not of the view that this project could impact particular interest of their ethnic group. Neither do they believe they are the vulnerable groups in local politics and communities.

7.2.6.3 Adversely affected population

Local population affected through land acquisition and resettlement. The SA team has paid particular attention to this group, both urban and rural, particularly the affected ethnic minority groups. The SA team has covered these groups through meeting, discussions and individual interviews. Apart from general issues of attention, they are particularly concerned over compensation rates, timely and sufficient delivery of compensation funds. Allocation of house plots (area, site, cost and procedures), timing for construction of new houses and whether they can maintain or improve their livelihoods etc. There are no differences in the questions and requests between Han and Zhuang groups.

7.2.6.4 Other vulnerable groups

They include the poor, old, women, young and disable. They would receive special attention. It needs to be explained.

(1) most of the young and strong labourers in rural areas are working outside. The team was not able to meet with their representatives. (2) given the high percentage of young labourers working outside, over 50% of the participants in the discussions are middle or old aged people. The project report did not specifically record the number of old participants. (3) generally women do not make decisions in the family in the project areas, and they have heavy chores. Some communities did not have women representatives participate in the discussions. But the team noticed that views, wishes and requests of those women who participated in the discussions are more or less covered by male villagers.

The team found through field investigations that old people and women pay more attention to land acquisition, relocation, and whether construction and future operation could cause inconvenience to their production and livelihood activities, whether they are likely to relocate away from their relatives and friends, whether there would be any risks for children going to school and playing, whether land acquisition could impact their future life, and whether widowed people would have difficulties in restoring life with the compensation.

The team has noticed that the project owner and local governments have given consideration to the above issues. Railway construction and operations have minimized the safety risk through technical design, standardize construction, monitoring, improving lighting signals and fences and education measures in local areas.

7.2.7 The construction contractor

At the present, the project is at the preparation stage. The owners indicate that a qualified contractor will be selected to do the construction work of the project though

53 . public bidding according to the relevant policies and regulations of the state and the related departments, and the supervision and control over the contractor shall be strengthened. The owners also indicate, they shall ask the contractor to give priority to the qualified surplus manpower from the project area in recruiting and to the enterprises and products of the villages along the rout in purchasing raw materials.

The construction activities of the contractor are under the supervision of the Ministry of Railways s and the governments of all levels in the project area, under the control of related policies and regulations of China and at the same time, monitored by the residents along the route. Since Zhuang and Han residents are the same in terms of the potential positive and adverse impact on them by the construction, the capacity of raising appeals, and the capacity, measures and means to safeguard their own rights and benefits, the potential relations between the contractor and the Zhuang and Han people are also almost the same. There is on need and no possibility to adopt different policies for the different nationalities when dealing with the residents along the route.

7.3 Summary

When combining the analysis of the parties of interest, the trustee believes: Although in this project, the interest relations between the different parties and the residents in the project area are complicated, the parties do not have the motivation and the tendency to infringe upon the rights and benefits of the Zhuang population in the area and to disadvantage the Zhuang residents. Nor will the relevant laws and policies of China allow such things to happen.

54 . 8. Conclusion and recommendation

8.1 Information exposure and support by the residents

The governments of all levels and the residents along the route have been looking forward to the project for a long time. In January 2007, the Ministry of Railways, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region and Guangdong Province jointly drafted “the examination report of the feasibility study of the Nanning-Guangzhou Railway construction.” After this, the governments at all levels started to publicize the project to the society through various means such as TV, radio, newspaper and the official websites of the governments. In 2008, the survey and design, resettlement and social assessment teams had board contact with the villages and villagers along the route through various means. The local government, resettlement team and the social assessment team adopted the negotiation method of the limited information exposure and talked with the villages to be affected. As a result, the whole population in the project area gained a deeper understanding of the project. The villages and villagers in the project agree to and support the project vigorously. When the social assessment trustee was conducting field investigation, the support rate is 100% at the colloquia with villager representatives, and it is 96% at household and individual interviews.

8.2 The indigenous peoples’ policy of the World Bank (OP4.10) does not apply to this project

This report analyzes the policies and criteria that China uses in identifying “minority nationalities” and then compares them with the relevant provisions of the World Bank of indigenous peoples’ policy. It makes comparative study of the land system, cultural tradition and current status, livelihood, social and political system of Zhuang nationality and their relations with the mainstream society and culture. This report also discusses and analyzes the association between poverty and social sex, the impact on different nationalities by this project, and the relations between the residents of the project area and the related parties of interest. Based on this, the trustee makes the following conclusion: The Zhuang people in the project area have been highly blended into the mainstream society and culture. They do not have obvious national characteristics and are not disadvantaged in this project. They do not comply to the definition of “indigenous people” described in the World Bank’s operational policy OP4.10. Therefore, the trustee suggests there is no need to draft the minority nationalities development plan for the Zhuang people.

8.3 The RAP drafted for this project also applies to the Zhuang people

The RAP of this project has made in-depth investigation and study of the potential positive and adverse impact of the project, and after combining the economic and social development status of the project area, the relevant state policies and regulations, and the wish and request of residents along the route, put forward the policies and measures for compensation and resettlement. The trustee believes that the

55 . statistics and data that RAP used are reliable, its analysis are reasonable, and the basic conclusions are credible, and the solutions and measures RAP suggested to alleviate and compensate for the adverse impact and to reinforce the project’s benefits, are targeted and feasible. RAP also applies to the Zhuang residents in the project area.

——the end——

56 . 57 .