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Chief of China's rebel village Wukan 'admits taking bribes' Wukan, China: Villagers rally behind chief after 'confession'
(about 7 hours later)
The chief of a village in China which staged a high-profile revolt in 2011 over local corruption has appeared on TV saying he accepted bribes. Residents of a village in southern China that staged a revolt in 2011 over corruption have rallied demanding the release of the village chief.
Lin Zuluan, the democratically elected leader of Wukan in southern Guangdong province, was arrested on Saturday. Lin Zuluan was arrested on Saturday, later appearing on state television saying he had accepted bribes.
He was seen on Tuesday reading a statement on state television, but some residents say it was forced. But locals in Wukan, in Guangdong province, marched to express support, saying the confession was forced.
The so-called "rebel village" made headlines in 2011 for an uprising against illegal land grabs. Mr Lin was elected head of Wukan in rare open polls after a battle against illegal land grabs.
Since Mr Lin's arrest there have again been protests in the village while hundreds of heavily armed riot police have been deployed. His detention came days after he called for renewed mass protests over the land seizures which residents say remain unresolved.
Wukan's 2011 protests in pictures In the video, he says he took money in exchange for government contracts, calling it his "biggest criminal activity".
'He is innocent' Amid a heavy police presence, thousands marched around the village calling for him to be freed. Some held a banner bearing their signatures, others waved Chinese flags.
Mr Lin was arrested days after calling for renewed mass protests over the alleged land seizures which residents say remain unresolved. "When the video was spread around there wasn't a single villager who believed it. Every voice said, 'this can't be possible, I don't believe it,'" one villager told Associated Press news agency.
In Tuesday's video he is seen dressed scruffily in a checked shirt and sitting in front of two unidentified people in a padded room. Others suggested Mr Lin may have confessed to protect his grandson, who was detained the previous day.
He says he took money in exchange for government contracts, calling it his "biggest criminal activity".
Mr Lin's wife, Yang Zhen, said she believed the confession was forced, according to Reuters news agency.
"This is to deceive people," she said. "He is innocent."
Chinese authorities often release videos on state television of suspects admitting to crimes, in what rights activists say are forced confessions.Chinese authorities often release videos on state television of suspects admitting to crimes, in what rights activists say are forced confessions.
Wukan became a symbol of democracy after villagers banded together in 2011 to protest against what they said were corrupt officials selling their land to developers and failing to compensate them properly.Wukan became a symbol of democracy after villagers banded together in 2011 to protest against what they said were corrupt officials selling their land to developers and failing to compensate them properly.
After months of unrest the central government agreed to allow democratic elections in Wukan to end the protests. In 2012 Wukan elected Lin Zuluan, one of the leaders of the protest movement, as the village chief. After months of unrest the central government agreed to allow democratic elections in Wukan to end the protests, leading to Mr Lin's appointment.