More on the Zhushan Riots (inc pictures)

At a time when the National People's Congress, China's ruling council is meeting to discus building a "harmonious society", it would appear that some parts of China still have a long way to go. The latest sign of cracks in China's facade, riots in the village of Zhushan, Hunan province. Where an demonstration again transport prices by an estimated 20,000 people has, this week, been put down by the army.

Problems began during the Spring Festival holiday, when the new operators of Anda Transport, an area bus company, raised ticked prices on an important bus route between Zhushan village and Yongzhou city. Increasing prices to from 5 Yuan to 7 Yuan and then to 9 Yuan plus an additional baggage charge (some reports put the fair rise has high as 15 Yuan), but failed to lower them again once the holiday was over.

In response to the price hike, local residents, said to be a mixture of students and their families, farmers, and unemployed laborers, began gathering outside the main area government building on Friday 9, accusing government officials being corrupt, and of collaborating with the bus company's leaders in order to squeeze more money out of people who relied on the route.

The protests began peacefully, but faired up into violence when Anda's leader refused to listen to demonstrators and threatened to withdraw the service. Resulting in demonstrators attacking and overturning four of Anda's buses

Demonstrations continued on to the next day, and once again flared up with protectors setting the bus station. Police attempted to intervene in the situation and to disperse the crowds clubs, but tactics only increased local anger. The situation was also further inflamed by Anda's leader, who returned that day with a detachment of privately hired mercenaries, and threatened to set about the village if residents didn't return to their homes.

Protests continued throughout Sunday and into Monday, when the number of demonstrators is reported to have reached as high as 20,000. At this time, local authorities were reinforced by a regiment of soldiers the Guangzhou Military Command, in neighboring Guangdong province, along with approximately 400 members of the Changsha security forces; whom had been specially trained in putting down local uprisings.

According to witnesses, security forces were heavy handed throughout the incident, targeting everybody who was in the area over the course of the demonstration, and not distinguishing between rioters, peaceful protesters, or bystanders.

According to China watcher Boxun.com, one of those caught up in altercations, a local middle school student, suffered multiple injuries during a flareup on Sunday, and died some time on Monday.

Area Sanitization

As is standard practice in China, a news blackout was put in place, preventing local and national media from reporting on the incident without state permission. Security forces also constructed roadblocks around the areas preventing civilians from leaving, and journalists entering.

Official Response

Speaking after the event, Chinese officials denied that the incident was serious, or that the police used unnecessary force. Instead, describing events as being "a very simple civil dispute between a bus company and the public", without mention of the details or true scale.

According to CCTV, China's state controlled media agency, the incident was not serious, and primarily consisted of a small number of people setting fire to cars and buses, in protest at price rises, before being arrested. As with other official accounts, CCTV failed to mention the scale of the incident, or that it was only quelled when troops were sent into the area. Instead saying only that the 公安, the de facto Chinese police force, handled the incident. CCTV expressly denied that there had been any casualties.

tags: china  zhushan  riot  rural unrest  troops  crush  

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