The Phoenix Weekly posted a weibo on December 22 reporting on the brutal police crackdown on Haimen protesters, linking to a report from On.cc (東方互動). Although Phoenix Weekly didn’t give hard numbers on the number of citizens killed and injured, readers were surprised to see any mention of casualties at all. On.cc reported six dead and 200 injured.
Phoenix Weekly is part of the Phoenix New Media group, based in Hong Kong. Phoenix Satellite TV is one of the few overseas networks with landing rights in mainland China. Following is the Phoenix weibo post followed by comments from netizens. Translated by CDT:
Phoenix Weekly: Triggered by anger in Wukan over violation of the people’s rights, riots broke out yesterday in Haimen, a village in the Chaoyang district of Shantou City. Residents are protesting the local government’s plans to expand a coal-burning power plant, saying the pollution will affect their livelihood as a fishing village. The government has long disregarded their demands to halt construction. Protesters took to the streets, occupying local government offices and stopping traffic on the highway. The authorities sent 1000 riot police and SWAT personnel to the scene, who violently cleared the streets. Some protesters were killed.
凤凰周刊：受到乌坎村维权怒火的引发，汕头市潮阳区海门镇昨日爆发村民维权暴动。村民抗议当地政府不理民众强烈反对，一意孤行增建燃煤发电厂，污染环境影响 渔民生计，昨日集体上街示威，迅速占据镇政府大楼、堵塞粤东大动脉深汕高速公路，当局派出近千武警、特警暴力清场，造成人员伤亡。http://t.cn/SVFRYQXu Changye: @Bijin not Bijing: The Phoenix Weekly is finally reporting real news!
许昌业：@弼進不是毕竟: 凤凰周刊才是真正的媒体！End of Value: The people’s will is Heaven’s will…
逝去的珍贵：民意既天意…TownBright888: I witnessed riot police throwing tear gas canisters into the crowds that included many elderly people and children.
镇明888：亲眼目睹武警防暴队用催泪弹投向人群，其中有很多老人小孩都毒烟的熏害Kuixuan: This country is truly sick. The media have lost their voice, the relevant organs cover up information, web portals are blocked. History repeats itself. As we mock history’s losers, we have no idea who’s watching us go down the same path of no return.
夔轩：这个国家真的病了。媒体集体失声，有关部门掩盖消息，门户网站屏蔽。历史总是一次次的重演，我们在嘲笑历史的失败者时候，不知道有谁在关注当下我们在走一条同样的不归路。Unmarked Goods: Report: True voice.
没印的良品：转发此微博:真实的声音Little Lake Little Window: This is the result of years of the government focusing on GDP alone, ignoring the voice of the people and social development~~if things continue on like this, you know what will happen!
心湖小轩：这是政府长期只顾GDP，不顾民生，不顾社会发展的结果~~如果照此继续下去，结果可想而知！WuChengZiandynee: Phoenix Weekly, are you also subordinate?
戊成子andynee：凤凰东方传媒也是你们旗下的吗？East Jin Wang Clan: A child that can cry will have milk to drink. If the government has done wrong, it must set things right; if the government hasn’t done wrong, it should continue to suppress the protests. For all this fuss over a power plant, won’t there be even more of a fuss if there isn’t enough power?
东晋王氏：会哭的孩子有奶吃。如果政府有错，必须改正，如果政府没错，坚决镇压下去。建个发电厂都要闹，到时候电不够用，是不是又要闹了。SandyShanShanv: Local authorities have censored news.
Sandy珊珊v：内地当局封锁消息
