Hundreds of agents to take village where residents are holding Communist officials
Guangzhou (AsiaNews) Police is back in force in Dongzhou, the village where a year ago residents revolted against the local Communist leadership and paid a heavy price for their courage (20 dead). Radio Free Asia reports that hundreds of anti-riot police have surrounded the village near the southern port of Shanwei (Guangdong) to "free" eight government officials held by residents who are protesting the arrest of a local activist.
A local witness who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the police blocked the highway and their ranks are getting thicker and thicker
The latest protest began on November 9 when police arrested Chen Quian, a local activist, for pasting anti-corruption posters around the village. His fellow villagers tried to get him out but failed. They then took eight local middle-ranking Communist officials to exchange them for the man in police custody. But the offer was rejected.
One of the abductors said that "it was an act of symbolic protest. We wanted to release them right away, but the authorities refused. Now we'll hold them; we treat them well".
A local Public Security Bureau official declined to comment saying "I cannot comment on the situation. Leaders are discussing the situation. I am not clear on the details."
Phone lines and internet access to the whole area have been cut. Contacted, a villager explained the authorities "do not want news about what is going locally to get out."
Another resident said locals fear a repeat of last year's bloodshed when, on December 6, the authorities unleashed a thousand agents against the people protesting their leaders' corruption.
Because of the great media coverage, local officials were force to admit that agents had opened fire and killed three people by mistake. Residents instead insist that the number of dead was more than 20.
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