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China to probe environment dispute after riot
16 Apr 2005 07:11:02 GMT
Source: Reuters
BEIJING, April 16 (Reuters) - China pledged on Saturday to investigate an environmental dispute that led to rioting by thousands of villagers, in a move apparently aimed at ending a stand-off between peasants and factories accused of polluting.

Thousands rioted in a village outside Dongyang city in eastern Zhejiang province last Sunday, injuring up to 50 policemen, after rumours spread that two of about 200 elderly women keeping a two-week vigil and protesting against factory pollution died during police efforts to disperse them.

"The Zhejiang provincial government has set up a special team to investigate the environment dispute case of Huashui Township in Dongyang city," the official Xinhua news agency said, quoting provincial government sources.

Protesters outnumbered police, who fled the scene after trying without success to tear down sheds and road blocks set up by villagers outside an industrial park housing 13 chemical factories.

"The Zhejiang provincial government has arranged dialogue between local officials and villagers, and sent environmental specialists to study the case," Xinhua said without giving further details.

The comments softened the official line from the Dongyang city government, which said on Monday the protest disturbed order and endangered public safety.

The rioting was the latest in a string of outbreaks of rural violence as the world's most populous nation faces disgruntlement over a widening wealth gap and widespread corruption.

More than 3 million people staged about 58,000 protests nationwide in 2003, according to the latest available statistics.

The rioting coincided with violent protests against Japan in four Chinese cities last weekend. Anti-Japanese demonstrations spread to three other cities on Saturday.

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