I can't wait to hear the spin Adroomi puts on this...

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-13371337,00.html 

SIX DIE IN RURAL PROTEST

Shocking footage of crowd control 'Chinese-style' has been obtained by Sky News.

The film shows dozens of hired thugs running amok in a village just 60 miles from the capital Beijing.

Villagers are shown being beaten with long canes while gunfire can be heard in the background.

Six villagers are reported to have died while 50 were injured.

It is the worst footage of violence to emerge from the secretive country since the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989.

The trouble broke out after the hired hands, some wearing helmuts and khakis, moved in to clear land needed by a nearby power station.

Villagers had built trenches and erected tents to protect their land.

The blurred footage shows hand-to-hand fighting between the assailants and the villagers.

At least one person is seen being shot dead.

Gunfire and explosions can be heard and seen on film

The three-minute footage ends when the state's enforcers realise they are being filmed and chase the cameraman.

Dominic Waghorn, Sky's Asia correspondent, said: "These are the pictures China does its best to stop the rest of the world from seeing.

"But this time they have got out.

"It looks like a medieval battle but this is Chinese protest control in the 21st century."

The battle happened last Saturday in the village of Shengyou.

Villagers are reported to have overrun the local headquarters of the Community Party in protest.

Power station bosses are reported to have been negotiating with villagers to buy their land since 2003.

Local governments can chose to take the land and pay minimal compensation if the buyout is considered to be in the public interest.

I don't think I could spin it any harder than you already have my friend.

That incident involved a clash between construction workers and people that were illegally blocking their progress. The workers got into a fight with the "squatters" and the next thing you know 6 people are dead, including one of the workers. This clash did not in any way involve the government.

The mayor of the town was relieved along with several members of his staff.

The workers that started the fight are under arrest.

last year over 3 million people took part in thousands of protests across China, none of them were killed by the government......this is in opposition to your statement that the Chinese KILL people who protest.

There's protests daily all over this country. They are averaging a 15% increase over the past 4 years.

This is the building of democracy in progress, and you find some sorry news story about construction mafia hoodlums beating up illegals to make a point? Man, aren't you the guy who wants mexicans to be landmined in Arizona? These squatters were illegal on a construction project and the mob attacked them....big deal.

If you want some really juicy stuff about the government and some things that are really crooked I can fill you in. I don't need your silly little stories.

Can I tell you about the 13 people executed 3 days ago for "questionable" crimes? That's a much better story.

Are you really Mo or JonR in disguise?

Fact is, the country is growing in the democratic direction. They have a long way to go.

There are some amazing people here that have some of the kindest hearts I have ever met. Warm, full of tradition, and in love with their country.

It's really easy to pick out the really bad things that are happening here. That's all the American media ever does. Out of fear, we only focus on the "wrong" things about China. Can you remember ever hearing one single good story about this country on the US news? Probably not.

But then again, i'm quite certain you wouldn't even care to hear something good.

Keep slamming China, you're good at it. Just don't step in the crap in your own backyard when you walk over to complain about your neighbors barking dog.

Mr. Adroomi,

This was on the news last night (no, not the "fair and balanced" station). I personally have a difficult time believing that the government was not involved. According to reports, the police were very slow to respond. If this wasn't a government response, the government could very will be complicit (you indicated "The mayor of the town was relieved along with several members of his staff").

Although the Chinese government is slowly changing, it is still pretty repressive. I would say that most of the changes have been economic in nature. Human rights have not been one of their strong points.

My 2 cents, it is probably worth less than that.

Hmmm. As far as this specific story, I have to side with roomi on this one. You site that "law enforcement was slow to respond" as an indication that the government was complicit. However, if it wasn't for some recent media coverage on topics that I am VERY knowledgable, I would take that at face value. But, the media does spin things. I've seen it with my own eyes. In fact, I've seen news reporters use partial quotes, false photographs, and things completely out of context in order to gather public support on an issue.

So, back to my point. Just what is "slow to respond"? I mean really, let's say it was 30 mins. We can all agree that would be slow. However, don't you think it would be reported as "...and it took law enforcement a FULL THIRTY MINUTES to respond to the situation...". But they didn't do that, they just said "slow to respond".

Actually they did quote a time that seemed quite long to me, but I don't remember the number.

Just try to stay in your house once the U.S. gov't. says you have to move for some "emminent domain" issue.

Sooner or later, people with guns show up.

poor villagers, they only wanted to eek out a menial living and they get killed for it.

Can you imagine the out cry heard around the world if that were to happen here?

They would vilify Bush.

Let Freedom Ring!

RDC, if it happened over here, I think people would be outraged at the construction workers who assulted the villagers. I doubt Bush would be brought into it.

hell.. they are probably building a walmart

... oh huh.