Officials admit existence of grievances before violent protest in SW China
3/7/2008 17:23
Officials in southwest China's Guizhou Province have admitted there are
social grievances in Weng'an County where a girl's death sparked a violent
protest over the weekend.
At a panel discussion on the protest yesterday,
officials from the provincial and local governments said local authorities in
Weng'an County had failed to solve disputes over mines, demolition of illegal
buildings, immigration, reform of state-owned enterprises and many other
issues.
"Some legitimate interests (of the people) were not effectively
protected, and some people bore grievances," said a Guizhou Daily report
today.
The officials also blamed rampant crimes in the county, between 600
and 800 cases annually. About half had not been solved. Theft, robbery and
fighting were frequent occurrences.
Up to 30,000 people were involved in the
protest, which was prompted by a controversial police report into the death of
Li Shufen last month. Police concluded the 17-year-old drowned, but her family
and relatives contend she was raped and killed.
The protest turned violent
and rioters mobbed government office buildings. More than 150 police and
protesters were injured, but no deaths were reported. About 160 offices and more
than 40 vehicles were torched.
Police believe 134 people committed the
destruction, and later took 59 into custody. Currently, 16 are in
detention.
Earlier, provincial Communist Party chief Shi Zongyuan said the
incident started from a simple reason, but was used and incited by a few people
with ulterior motives. However, he added there must have been deep-rooted
reasons behind the violent protest.
He criticized local officials, saying
they had shortcomings that dissatisfied residents. "We must draw a lesson from
the problems exposed."
Wang Fuyu, provincial deputy Party chief, and Vice
Governor Huang Kangsheng joined the discussion yesterday.
Wang, who is also
heading a work team in investigating the protest, urged Weng'an officials to
listen to the people and solve the problems that were closely related to their
interests.
Xinhua
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