Eight Held After China Mine Clash

From AFP:

POLICE in northern China have detained eight people suspected of instigating a violent clash between scores of miners and villagers over ownership of a coal mine, state media said on Tuesday.

Dozens were injured in the melee on Saturday in Yulin city, a resource-rich area in Shaanxi province, when villagers attacked the mine, smashing gates and mining facilities in an effort to halt production, the China Daily said.

More than 100 villagers, armed with shovels and other tools, clashed with 70 mine workers who were mobilised to drive the attackers away, the report said. A local official put the total number of injured at 87. Six of them were seriously hurt and were undergoing treatment.

The Shandong Coal Mine was set up as a collectively-owned mine in 1995 by local villagers, who later brought in an outside investor when cash ran short, it said. But in 2000, the businessman, identified as Li Zhao, converted the mine into a private firm when he renewed the facility’s licence, it added.

Court rulings in 2005 and 2007 nullified Mr Li’s move, the paper said, but the mine boss, apparently backed by local land and resource officials, refused to share profits with the villagers, exacerbating the dispute. The mine produces 300,000 tonnes of coal annually. Production at the mine was halted on Saturday and the mine’s bank accounts were frozen, the paper said.

CDT EBOOKS

Subscribe to CDT

SUPPORT CDT

Browsers Unbounded by Lantern

Now, you can combat internet censorship in a new way: by toggling the switch below while browsing China Digital Times, you can provide a secure "bridge" for people who want to freely access information. This open-source project is powered by Lantern, know more about this project.

Google Ads 1

Giving Assistant

Google Ads 2

Anti-censorship Tools

Life Without Walls

Click on the image to download Firefly for circumvention

Open popup
X

Welcome back!

CDT is a non-profit media site, and we need your support. Your contribution will help us provide more translations, breaking news, and other content you love.