Businesspeople in China's Tongxiang Zhejiang clash with riot police

383 字
2009 年 6 月 30 日 22:05
BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific
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Text of report by Hong Kong Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy on 29 June

[Hong Kong Information Centre for Human Rights & Democracy report: "500 Business Owners in Tongxiang Zhejiang Attack Government Building, Bloody Clash With Riot Police"]

(29 Jun) - This Centre has learned that this morning at "Jing Du Ming Yao" [as published, with quotation marks; literally, "scenic capital famous medicine," apparently the name of a shopping centre] in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, 500 business owners attacked the government building and were involved in a bloody clash with riot police in which 10 people were injured. The incident involved problems with the quality of a building. Two local police stations have confirmed for this Centre that a demonstration did take place. The collapse of a 13-story building in Shanghai has set off a strong reaction nationwide, and the number of demonstrations over building quality will increase sharply in the future.

This Centre has learned that at Tongxiang City's "Jing Du Ming Yao" a series of problems with quality was caused by a building contractor's shortage of funds. Not only was the final finishing work never completed, serious safety problems exist with the electricity circuits and equipment and facilities to go with them in that district. The Shanghai building collapse incident has prompted strong concern on the part of "Jing Du Ming Yao" business owners about "Jing Du Ming Yao's" interests. Business owners and their family members began assembling at the Tongxiang City government building today, and as of 1100 hours, more than 500 had gathered there. The business owners charged through a riot police line in front of the city government building and tried to force their way inside. Ten people were injured. Tongxiang City's Zhendong and Wutong police stations confirmed for this Centre that a demonstration by business owners did take place. The Wutong [Road] police station said the incident is currently being dealt with. Most of the business owners had dispersed by 1300 hours because the city's mayor has said he will go to "Jing Du Ming Yao" and meet with representatives of the business owners.

Source: Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Hong Kong, in Chinese 29 Jun 09