Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2007/200706/20070626/article_320991.htm
Violent protests over mine end in Daofu
Created: 2007-6-26 0:12:46
VIOLENT attacks in Daofu County, Sichuan Province, have ended after villagers protested to gain more benefits from a lead and zinc mine earlier this month, according to the local government.
Some residents in Xiede Township of Daofu in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Ganzi gathered at a lead and zinc mine near Nongge Mountain on May 27 to protest the exploitation of the mine.
Residents said: "Exploitation would damage the sacred mountain and bring about natural disasters."
But a monk said Nongge Mountain is not sacred.
Cering Rongb, a villager who took part in the protest, said: "The wording of the exploitation's damage to the sacred mountain was just an excuse. The real aim of the protest was to seek bigger benefits from the mine."
About 300 villagers smashed mining equipment and motor vehicles belonging to both the developer and the local government.
Work teams sent by both Ganzi and Daofu governments attempted to persuade villagers to act lawfully, said Li Chunlan, magistrate of Daofu.
Influenced by a rumor that a villager was detained, residents attacked members of the work teams, destroyed cars and threw stones at police. Two government workers were seriously injured in the attack.
The local government is considering compensating residents to share benefits from the mine, according to Li.
Some residents in Xiede Township of Daofu in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Ganzi gathered at a lead and zinc mine near Nongge Mountain on May 27 to protest the exploitation of the mine.
Residents said: "Exploitation would damage the sacred mountain and bring about natural disasters."
But a monk said Nongge Mountain is not sacred.
Cering Rongb, a villager who took part in the protest, said: "The wording of the exploitation's damage to the sacred mountain was just an excuse. The real aim of the protest was to seek bigger benefits from the mine."
About 300 villagers smashed mining equipment and motor vehicles belonging to both the developer and the local government.
Work teams sent by both Ganzi and Daofu governments attempted to persuade villagers to act lawfully, said Li Chunlan, magistrate of Daofu.
Influenced by a rumor that a villager was detained, residents attacked members of the work teams, destroyed cars and threw stones at police. Two government workers were seriously injured in the attack.
The local government is considering compensating residents to share benefits from the mine, according to Li.
Xinhua
Copyright © 2001-2007 Shanghai Daily Publishing House