I oppose: The legendary participation in politics of a NPC representative

Author: Zhu Ling
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: Yao Lifa, male, born in 1958, staff member of Qianjiang Experimental Primary School. Starting in 1987, he broke the unwritten internal nomination rules for local people's representatives and began campaigning for the position of Qianjiang City People's Representative as a common citizen. Over 13 years and three election cycles, he faced numerous setbacks but persisted, finally being elected as the fourth People's Representative of Qianjiang City in 1999—becoming one of the few representatives to succeed in the election without being an official candidate. During his tenure as a representative, he submitted 187 suggestions, opinions, and criticisms to the government and courts, conducted countless inspections and researches on behalf of the people, and traveled extensively across the cities and villages of Qianjiang, earning the affectionate title of "Representative Yao" from the public. Yao Lifa is a democratic warrior who challenges the old order.
—Commentary by The Washington Post
He is working hard, fully utilizing all the powers granted to people's representatives by the constitution and laws.
—Commentary by Nanfangfang
Yao Lifa, an endless topic in public opinion, will continue to be discussed because he has become a symbol and a representation of social progress in grassroots democratic elections in China.
—Commentary by Southern Daily
Yao Lifa loves to stick to the details, nitpicking legal provisions, driven by selfish motives, and eager for fame!
—A Deputy Director of Qianjiang City Civil Affairs Bureau
Yao Lifa's motives are impure!
—A Secretary-General of Qianjiang City Government
Representative Yao is not the kind of representative who sits on the toilet without doing his job. We rest assured!
—A Voter in Qianjiang City Education Election District
He broke his nose and became a backbone. Yao Lifa devoted himself to Chinese democracy with all his heart.
—Netizen "Yao Lifa Phenomenon" on
Essentially, the "Yao Lifa Phenomenon" is a conflict between the awakening of grassroots democratic awareness and the ruling level.
—A Staff Member of Hunan Provincial People's Congress
Representative of grassroots democracy in China—Yao Lifa—his actions tell people that everyone is born with inherent rights, and only action can change survival.
In 2003, he received the title of "Star of the New Era in China—25 Most Reform-Oriented Rural Reform Figures in China"; in 2004, he was named the annual public welfare figure of the Nanfangfang magazine and became a news sensation reported by hundreds of domestic and international media. Over 12 years of arduous self-nomination campaigns, he repeatedly spoke out with "I oppose" in the People's Congress meetings, actively reported to voters, opposed the retirement of the head of the People's Congress, and strongly demanded to be a full-time People's Representative to represent the people and supervise the government without compromise. A common primary school teacher became the "Yao Lifa Phenomenon," a sensation in China and even the world. This book tells the story of a "non-traditional People's Representative" with a legendary political journey: he self-nominated for 12 consecutive years, never giving up despite repeated failures; he courageously shouted "I oppose" many times in the People's Congress meetings, representing the people and supervising the government without hesitation; he made friends with the poor, actively reported to voters, and demanded to be a full-time People's Representative, opposing the retirement of the head of the People's Congress. A primary school teacher, he created a clear narrative of the development of grassroots democracy in contemporary China.