Knife Attack on Worker Triggers Violent Protest in Guangdong

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A knife attack on a young migrant worker in southern China set off a massive violent demonstration earlier this week. The worker had been trying to demand his unpaid wages. The protests happened after workers repeatedly asked authorities to arrest the men responsible for the attack, without result.

Tensions remained in Chaozhou City in southern Guangdong Province on Wednesday after a violent demonstration Monday night. At least hundreds of migrant workers clashed with police. They were protesting the attack on a fellow worker, Xiong Hanjiang.

19-year-old Xiong's arms and legs were severely injured on June 1st. His parents had accompanied him to demand unpaid wages from his employer, who then ordered men to attack them.

[Xiong Hanjiang, Injured Worker]:
"My tendons have been severed. My bones were also slashed. The bones on my right foot and left hand were broken. My right arm has inches-long lacerations."

Xiong is originally from Sichuan province. Fellow migrant workers reacted angrily over the knife attack. Tensions escalated after authorities apparently ignored repeated demands to deal with those responsible for attacking Xiong.

On Monday night, hundreds, possibly thousands of migrant workers took to the streets. Locals posted pictures and videos online showing vehicles being overturned, and protestors facing off with police.

[Mr. Zhang, Local Resident]:
"On Monday night, perhaps up to ten thousand were involved. They smashed up cars, maybe a couple of hundred. Some cars were torched. All the factories, including my own, have stopped work. Nobody dares to go outside. I've never seen such a massive incident."

Chaozhou authorities said on Wednesday the incident had been settled, and that Xiong's employer and two other men had been arrested. But the situation remains tense. Local stores kept their doors shut and streets were left deserted.

Large-scale demonstrations like this one have been on the rise in China. They're usually set off when authorities handle isolated events poorly that later escalate into full-blown social outbursts.

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[2bRealist]

@krislyttle To the people of the world... WE ARE FREE, we only need to show it.

[krislyttle]

I've known all along that, once disenfranchised, average people will start to lose their fear of an evil and repressive govt. and start to fight back against the horrible injustices inflicted on them.

To the people of China, I say GET 'EM!

[HakMan1989]

We do this kind of shit in Birmingham, England...

[HakMan1989]

Guangdong, land of the rebels.

[HumanRightsVideosT]

@ mispistoleros

Nice comment :)))

Vast cities are being built across China at a rate of ten a year, but they remain almost uninhabited ghost towns. It's estimated there are 64 million empty apartments.

Chinese living poverty can't afford to buy those empty apartments. That's classic mismanagement by a centrally controlled economy.

.

Apparently robots are going to replace workers in Chinese factories. A meltdown seems not far away...

[SUPERMARIOROCKSYES]

Thumbs up if the annoying orange sent youhere

[jaimamtalenattube]

Thumbs up If Annoying Orange Got U here

[krislyttle]

@2bRealist Good luck.

[mispistoleros]

the scent of hasmine wafts across the middle kingdom...the mandate of heaven has been withdrawn from the corrupt, criminal, nepotistic CCP