MORE PICTURES 1, 2, 3
Officials are claiming that the riot in Chongqing's Wansheng district, which reportedly saw more than 10,000 angry residents and police clash in the streets on Tuesday and Wednesday, has finally been brought under control, although the extent of the violence reported by the government has been called into question.
The incident began on Tuesday as a peaceful but vocal afternoon demonstration over the forced merging of Wansheng district and Qijiang county in the sprawling megacity of Chongqing in China's southwest where the former party secretary Bo Xilai was forced from office last month. An anonymous official confirmed to the Associated Press that Wansheng residents objected to the amalgamation, which they believe will exacerbate the district's economic woes.
By Tuesday night, the protests turned violent as thousands of residents reportedly retaliated against what they perceived as heavy-handed tactics by local police. The clashes continued deep into Wednesday as more residents joined organized efforts to block the highway amid rumors that the government had deployed troops to quash the unrest.
On Thursday morning, the state news agency Xinhua released an article acknowledging a two-day protest but said that "social order had been restored" by Wednesday night. The article also said that Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan had personally rushed to the scene to call on protesters to disperse, while the municipal government had issued a guide which promised smooth economic development and preferential policies to local residents.
The government's mouthpiece added, "No one died in the rally though there were small clashes between the police and protesters. Those who suffered minor injuries in the clashes were all sent to hospital."
Xinhua's statements over the extent of the violence are seemingly contradicted by other media reports and internet photos purportedly posted by locals at the scene. Although the government reportedly blocked search terms such as Wansheng, Qijiang and Chongqing on microblogging sites, this did not stop dozens of photos from being uploaded, showing the streets filled with protestors clashing with swarms of riot police, smoke bombs, overturned police cars, faces streaked with blood and people lying on the ground.
One local internet user said the district was sealed off and said the skies were filled with smoke from burning vehicles and smoke bombs or tear gas. "Some bystanders were watching excitedly but others were clearly frightened," he wrote.
Continue reading - Official reports downplay violence in Chongqing
2012年4月10日下午，重庆市万盛区数千名市民和学生打着「还我万盛区」、「我们要吃饭」横幅游行示威，抗议政府强迫万盛区和綦江县合区，引致万盛经济持续下降，市民福利、医保减少。
由于前重庆市委书记薄熙来刚被免职，时机敏感，当局出动大批警察暴力镇压，打伤很多学生和老人，传学生被打死。
血腥镇压引起民愤，成千上万的万盛人民上街游行、围攻警察，区委书记也被打伤。当局派出过千武警增援，并发射催泪弹驱散群众，警民冲突一直持续至深夜。
学生向市民发送传单，号召第二天(4月11日)早上7时去堵高速公路。大批部队已开到万盛，以防事态扩大。
薄熙来强迫綦江和万盛合并，綦江有了万盛，便可升格为区。万盛的财政一向比綦江县强，合并后万盛补贴綦江，万盛人的福利、医保、退休金便减少了，令到万盛人民非常不满，民众心中的愤怒最终爆发。
Source: 重庆万人骚乱 上千武警用催泪弹镇压 解放军出动
重庆万盛 平民 示威游行 被警察乱打 暴力镇压 Violence against civilians
No comments:
Post a Comment