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12.45pm

Demonstrator killed in protest over 60p bus fare rise



Jonathan Watts in Beijing
Tuesday March 13, 2007
Guardian Unlimited


A protester was killed and dozens injured in clashes with riot police in central China as thousands of people took to the streets for a demonstration initially sparked by a 60p rise in bus fares, it was reported today.

The confrontation in Zhushan town in Hunan Province is the latest in a spate of unrest as the country's rapid economic development widens the gap between rich and poor.

Witnesses said about 20,000 people joined the protest at its peak yesterday and surrounded the town hall before being dispersed by baton-wielding police.



The demonstrators threw bricks and set fire to five police cars, Zhang Zilin, a local human rights activist told Associated Press. They were "very, very angry and were shouting 'Beat the government dogs to death'," he said.

According to the South China Morning Post, an unnamed student was killed in the conflict. Local officials said the report of fatalities was based on internet rumours.

Residents told the Guardian that some 2,000 armed paramilitary police has been dispatched to the town to restore order. "It is calmer today, but I saw a burned-out bus on the street," said Chen Wenjun, a private businessman.

The protest started last Friday when residents demonstrated outside the city hall to protest against a rise in bus fares imposed by the Anda transport company from 6 yuan (40p) to 15 yuan during the recent lunar new year festival - a holiday period in which many people travel to their ancestral homes.

Tens of thousands of protests take place in China each year. Most are sparked by land seizures for development, but recent years have also seen violent confrontations over pollution, dam building, university qualifications and hospital fees.

According to the public security bureau, the number of "mass incidents" has declined in the past year, but the continued social strains were evident in two reports presented to the National People's Congress, the Chinese legislature.

Despite economic growth of more than 10% per year, the labour ministry said that work could only be found for half of the 24 million new urban job-seekers who will enter the labour force this year.

Convictions are also on the rise. The supreme court told parliament that the number of prosecutions rose 5% last year to 999,086.




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