Society

Seven in hospital after fiery protest

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-26 09:02

Seven people are still recovering in hospital after protesters ignited gasoline at the site of a disputed demolition in Sichuan province.

The incident followed a 20- minute standoff between protesters and police in Baoning village in Emeishan city on Thursday. Tensions escalated as villagers poured gasoline on themselves and the ground around them, according to an official who witnessed the scene.

The protesters said they had not received their expected compensation as their houses were about to be destroyed for a government construction project.

"It all happened suddenly. When we tried to cool down the crowd, one man walked a few steps forward and sprinkled gas on police. An officer attempted to stop him, but he lit the gas on fire," Gu Chaojun, Party secretary of Eshan township, which administrates Baoning, told the Beijing News.

"This is not an incident of group self-immolation," said Zhang Yong, deputy director of Emeishan city's public security bureau.

Firefighters on site quickly put out the flames. The injured - four villagers and three police - were sent to hospital.

Other villagers, however, continued protesting after the incident.

"The protest is not a reasonable appeal to the government. Instead, it happened because a handful of people threatened the government," said Zhang Jianhong, vice -mayor of Emeishan city.

Police last Friday arrested five protesters for interfering in public affairs or disturbing traffic. Another suspect was released on probation.

WANG HUAZHONG