China reveals report on violence in South (Xinhua) Updated: 2005-12-11 09:15
SHANWEI, Guangdong, December 10 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of villagers incited by
a few instigators violently attacked a wind power plant on December 6, and
assaulted the police, the Information Office of the city government of Shanwei
in south China's Guangdong Province said Saturday.
In an investigation report of the incident, the office called the armed
assault a serious violation of law.
According to the official recount, the instigators led by Huang Xijun
engineered and organized some villagers in Dongzhoukeng and Shigongzhai to
illegally besiege and attack a local wind power plant at noon on December 5 and
December 6.
The first assault on December 5 caused a seven-hour suspension of the plant's
power generation.
In the second onslaught, over 170 armed villagers led by instigators Huang
Xijun, Lin Hanru and Huang Xirang used in the attack knives, steel spears,
sticks, dynamite powder, bottles filled with petroleum, and fishing detonators.
Police moving in to maintain order were forced to throw tear shells to break
up the armed besiege, and arrested two insurgents.
However, Huang Xijun mobilized over 300 armed villagers to form a blockade on
the road to Shigongzhai Village to obstruct the return passage of the police, in
attempt to threaten the police to release the arrested insurgents.
For a moment, many besiegers intended to quit following the persuasion
shouted by the police. However, they were forced to stay in protest under the
threat reinforced by the instigators, according to the report.
Instigator Lin Hanru shouted through a loudspeaker that they would throw
detonators to the police and blow the wind power plant, if the police refused to
retreat.
It became dark when the chaotic mob began to throw explosives at the police.
Police were forced to open fire in alarm. In the chaos, three villagers died,
eight were injured with three of them fatally injured.
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