Officials have detained 77 after a riot in Pingyao of Shanxi Province. Reasons for the riot are still not clear: Xinhua reports that the riot began because of a compensation dispute, while Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy [in Chinese] reports that allegations of vote-buying caused the unrest. From Reuters, via the Straits Times:
Police in northern China have detained dozens of people who rioted because they were angry about the compensation paid for the death of a local man, Xinhua news agency said on Saturday.
A local agricultural company in Wangjia village in northern Shanxi province paid 10,000 yuan (S$2,179) for the funeral costs for Ren Shoufu, a 61-year-old security guard, after he died of an apparent heart attack in the company’s gate-house, Xinhua said.
On Friday morning, Mr Ren’s foster son ‘led more than 150 people wielding wooden rods to block both gates of the company. He said more money should be paid for Ren’s death,’ the agency said.
