Water project protest turns violent
- Source: Global Times
- [01:36 February 09 2010]
- Comments
By Huang Jingjing
Six people were injured after 300 villagers in Yingde, Guangdong Province approached a local township government building Sunday to demand that police release several residents who were detained during an earlier protest against a water diversion project.
The original protest on Saturday involved 100 people who are opposed to the diversion project planned for the city's Hengshishui township. Protestors used stones and shovels to damage two cars. Some went to the site of the project and damaged machines with stones and shovels.
A notice issued by the local Yingde government said people from three villages gathered at the gate of the township government compound Sunday and demanded the villagers' release. The notice said protestors broke through a gate and beat some police officers.
"The villagers lost their mind. They tried to smash everything in sight, both objects and people," the notice said.
The villagers are angry about a plan to divert water from Hengshishui to another township called Qiaotou that authorities say could solve the water problem for about 50,000 residents.
"The villagers in Hengshishui township were provoked and frightened by rumors that the project would cause water scarcity, and wanted to stop the project," the notice said.
But the villagers said they depend on the water to grow rice. The Global Times couldn't verify if the project would lead to a water shortage for the vil-lagers who staged the protests.
"No one provoked us. Nearly all the villagers are against the project," a Hengling villager who declined to give his name, told the Global Times Monday. "The water supply now sometimes couldn't meet our daily demand. Who could guarantee it wouldn't be affected after the project?" he said.
Long Yongji, 60, a farmer, complained that the government failed to inform them about the plan.
"If the authorities launched it after soliciting opinions the conflict would not happen," he told the Global Times Monday.
He said the project will lead to water irrigation problems during the farming season, and he may not be able to produce enough rice.
"Till today, no official has come to us and offered any explanation," he said.
Efforts to reach the city and township governments were not successful Monday. An officer from the township's police station, Huang Yike, told the Global Times that everything was back to normal.
Huang said about 100 officers were deployed to maintain order. But he refused to say who were injured in the protest and how many people were detained.
