Society

Calm back to Suijiang after protest over resettlement

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-31 22:13

SUIJIANG, Yunnan- Authorities of Suijiang county in southwest China's Yunnan Province have calmed a protest by local residents who voiced their discontent over their resettlement to make way for a hydropower station.

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By Tuesday afternoon, the protesters had dispersed without violent incidents, according to a spokesman with the government of Suijiang.

Since Friday, more than 2,000 people, mostly farmers, had blocked several roads in the county seat to protest the resettlement policy.

The protesters dispersed after more than 2,000 officials in the county went to the streets and communities to publicize the resettlement policy and listen to protesters' complaints, said the spokesman.

"We are studying and finding a solution to their complaints," said the spokesman.

A Xinhua reporter saw that life in the county seat had returned to normal after roadblocks were cleared.

The construction of the Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station, the third-largest in China, began in 2006 and is expected to start operations in 2012.