Upset migrant workers attack police station

By Li Xinran  |   2008-7-15  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

HUNDREDS of migrant workers have laid siege to a police station in east China's Zhejiang Province over three consecutive nights.

Windows and doors were smashed and three auxiliary policemen were injured in the riots from last Thursday to Saturday, the China News Service reported yesterday.

By yesterday calm had returned to the Kanmen police station in Yuhuan County.

The rioting was sparked by an argument between a migrant worker, Zhang Zhongfu, 34, from southwest China's Sichuan Province and local officials. Zhang, who lives in Shuanglong Village went to the registry office to register for a temporary residency card last Wednesday.

"The government officials told me that I could not be registered without an identification card. I quarreled with them and they hit me on my head," Zhang said.

But the police said they investigated and decided Zhang's injury had been caused by him bumping his head on the wall after getting drunk.

Zhang and his fellow workers took umbrage at the police statement, telling Xinhua news agency that they thought the police simply took the side of the government officials.

Zhang went back to the registry office at 7pm on Thursday and again quarreled. When police arrived to calm the situation and tried taking Zhang away, they were surrounded by crowds of people.

As the crowd grew more heated and angry, rocks were thrown at the police. Six police motorcycles were damaged and three auxiliary police officers were wounded.

County officials rushed to the scene to try to stop the violence but 23 people were arrested for assaulting police.

On Friday night hundreds of migrant workers gathered in front of the Kanmen police station "demanding an explanation," Xinhua said. They wanted the workers who had been arrested released but they were all moved on by 11pm.