Local outrage reached boiling point in Ryanggang Province after the authorities increased demands for contributions towards the construction of the Wonsan Kalma Beach Resort project in Kangwon Province, according to a source. But local authorities have reportedly reduced their demands after residents in at least one instance lodged complaints over “non-tax contribution assignments.”
“People loudly complained about assignments requiring them to provide significant amounts of corn to authorities for the Wonsan Kalma project,” a source in Ryanggang told Daily NK on April 17. “They prepared concrete examples and presented their complaints at a local People’s Council meeting, leaving the authorities with no choice but to listen.”
“Only a few years ago, the authorities demanded unreasonably large contributions from people nationwide for the Paektusan Hero Youth Power Station and Samjiyon construction projects in Ryanggang Province. But while the authorities often call for ‘eliminating taxes’ in lectures, locals continue to complain as a result of these constant demands,” he said.
Recent assignments originally required each household to offer 15 kg of rice for the Wonsan-Kalma project, with the source reporting that the quota was reduced to around 300-500 grams in the end in response to widespread opposition.
“The difference now is that people can call their friends or relatives near the construction project location and check how much of their contributions actually made it to the intended recipient,” the source said.
“They are recording the specific differences between the amount they contributed and the amount received, and are using this information to support their complaints.”
A separate source in Ryanggang Province added that locals were emboldened this time around after being informed by relatives mobilized for construction projects in February that the boxes they filled for the 2.16 (Kim Jong Il’s birthday) assignments were “practically empty” upon receipt.
The box reportedly only contained 1 kg of roasted corn and one unit each of toothpaste, soap, laundry detergent, gloves, and work boots. “All of these items could actually be bought in a local market for only around 25,000 KPW – the cost of 10 kg of corn,” the second source said.
Originally containing 30 kg of corn per box (two households’ contributions), the missing contents prompted fury from residents who began to voice complaints that corrupt officials were stealing from the boxes.
The relevant district office under the People’s CommitteeNorth Korean people's committees are akin to local governmen... More responded by drastically reducing the burden from 15 kg of corn to 300 or 500 grams.
“The resulting comments from locals were, ‘We won because we were right,’ ‘The truth of cadres personally profiting from these assignments has been revealed,’ and ‘Justice is on our side,'” the second source said.
The people affected by the decision are apparently taking the victory to heart, gaining confidence in the power of speaking out against perceived injustices, according to the initial source.
“One local boasted to me that they no longer have to do whatever the Party says, and that people can now ‘act according to their own will,” he concluded.
