HONG KONG — A village official in southeastern China, whose detention over the weekend set off protests, admitted to taking bribes in a videotaped confession released on Tuesday. But the man’s wife said she believed that the confession was forced, and it was unclear if its broadcast would have any effect in dispelling demonstrations in the fishing village of Wukan.

Wukan, in Guangdong Province, became the focus of international attention five years ago when residents took to the streets to protest the sale of communal lands, temporarily forcing the local authorities out of the village of 15,000. After a compromise arranged by provincial officials, Wukan residents voted in new local leaders. Lin Zuluan, one of the protest organizers, was elected the Communist Party secretary for the village.

Mr. Lin was detained late Friday on suspicion of receiving bribes and abuse of power. But some residents believed that he was being targeted because he planned to hold a public meeting on the unresolved issue of the land sales and to petition higher authorities for help solving the long-simmering issue.

Thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday and Monday, waving Chinese flags and calling on the police to release Mr. Lin, who is in his early 70s.