China has confirmed that police shot dead three protesters "in alarm" during an attack last week on a wind power plant, and a newspaper said yesterday the official who ordered the shooting had been detained.
Human rights group Amnesty International said it was the first time Chinese police had fired on protesters since the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy demonstrations were crushed in 1989.
Estimates from residents and rights groups put the number of dead between two and as many as 20.
Residents gave new details of last Tuesday's violence. They said they heard bursts of gunfire for at least 12 hours after the clash.
Yesterday, at least 100 police with riot shields and helmets stood guard in the village. Police stopped vehicles at roadblocks, looking for local men. There was no violence, but residents could be seen arguing angrily with police.
Police trucks drove through the village blaring promises over loudspeakers that officials would deal with local grievances.
"Have confidence in the government," the announcement said in the local dialect. "This matter will be handled well."
China's government defended the shootings, saying on Saturday that police opened fire after protesters with knives, spears and dynamite attacked a power plant and then turned on authorities. It said three people were killed and two arrested.
The government said the protests centered on land taken for use by a power plant using wind turbines, though villagers said the dispute was over a different, coal-fired power plant.
Several residents said they heard gunfire beginning at about 6pm on Tuesday. They said there were sporadic bursts of shooting through the night, lasting for about 12 hours.
"We were terrified. We all stayed inside," said a farmer who lives nearby and would give only his surname, Chen. "Even now, we all stay indoors after it gets dark."
A woman who would give only her surname, Luo, said she heard people screaming, "Save me! Save me!"
The official Xinhua news agency said in an overnight report that villagers in Dongzhoukeng and Shigongliao attacked the plant on Monday and Tuesday last week.
"The first assault on Dec. 5 caused a seven-hour suspension of the plant's power generation," Xinhua said.
"In the second onslaught, over 170 armed villagers led by instigators ... used knives, steel spears, sticks, dynamite powder, bottles filled with petroleum, and fishing detonators."
Police used tear gas to break up the protesters and arrested two, Xinhua said. The villagers then formed a blockade in a attempt to free their colleagues.
"[One of the villagers] shouted through a loudspeaker that they would throw detonators at the police and blow up the wind power plant if the police refused to retreat," Xinhua said.
"It became dark when the chaotic mob began to throw explosives at the police. Police were forced to open fire in alarm. In the chaos, three villagers died, eight were injured."
Villagers contacted on Saturday by phone gave death tolls ranging from 10 to 20. They said others were missing.
The Guangzhou Daily newspaper described the killings as a mistake and said that the Guangdong official who had ordered police to open fire had been detained.
It did not identify the official.
"The commanders at the spot did not handle the incident properly and the resulting deaths and injuries are a mistake," it said.
A middle school student said by phone the "main riots" happened on Tuesday and that police killed two villagers.
"The following morning, some families found about 20 family members missing." The next day, she said, police were no longer carrying guns, but batons.
According to the farmer Chen, the dispute began in March last year. He said farmers complained about pollution from the coal-fired power plant, which is still under construction but partly operational.
The police shootings were the deadliest known clash yet amid growing anger in areas throughout China over land seizures for construction of power plants, shopping malls and other projects.
Yesterday, government banners hung at the entrance of Dongzhou said, "Following the law is the responsibility and obligation of the people" and "Don't listen to rumors, don't let yourself be used."
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old