Chinese police ‘fire tear-gas and beat protesters’

Police fired tear-gas and beat demonstrators who stormed government buildings in southern China on Tuesday to protest against a power plant, witnesses said, in the latest violent unrest to hit the country.

Residents of Haimen, a town in the province of Guangdong, are demanding the coal-fired plant be moved, saying it is damaging their health, demonstrators told AFP by telephone.

They said a 15-year-old boy had been killed and more than 100 others badly beaten by riot police, although this could not be independently confirmed.

Webmaster's Commentary: 

The Chinese government had better figure out a better way to handle these demonstrations, other than tear gas and beatings; because, as in the case with other social justice movements, abuse by the police is simply going to make those movements stronger, and more angry. At this point, these demonstrators cannot be cowed into meekly go back to their jobs.

This is also because brutality like this will inevitably get caught on cell cameras, go viral around the world, and make the Chinese government look like a consummate bully in terms of how they treat their citizens.

I am certain that the social justice groups in China are just as concerned about the wealth disparity between corrupt party officials and their minions as are members of the Occupy movement here in the US, and elsewhere.

Tags:

Comments