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Mimi Lau

The remote fishing village of Wukan in eastern Guangdong is under a de facto lockdown after tensions escalated on Tuesday afternoon, leading to dozens more protesters being arrested.
The clash followed a pre-dawn raid that saw 13 residents detained, allegedly for disturbing public order.
Locals compared the clash yesterday afternoon to combat in a “war zone”, with injured villagers forced to remain inside fearing arrest.

Wukan attracted media coverage around the world five years ago after villagers staged a series of protests against land seizures to make way for development.
Provincial authorities at that time eventually defused the tension by, among other pledges, allowing villagers to elect their chief.

But land disputes lingered and tensions flared in recent months. Village leader Lin Zuluan, who headed protests against land seizures, was jailed last week on corruption charges. Villagers have been protesting since Lin’s arrest in June.
Tear gas, rubber bullets fired as Chinese riot police clash with villagers after Wukan arrests
Squads of special police stormed individual households before 4am yesterday and arrested 13 people. Photographs posted by villagers showed their homes’ metal gates broken or torn down during the raids.


Hundreds of angry villagers then got into a stand-off with riot police at around 6am, with bricks thrown and tear gas fired. Photographs and videos posted by villagers appeared to show residents injured by rubber bullets.
We were running for our lives, as many rounds of tear gas and bullets had been fired at us
Wukan villager
Multiple witnesses confirmed that one elderly woman was taken to hospital for treatment after she was injured during the violence.
That clash quieted down after 10am, but tensions escalated again in the afternoon, when paramilitary police suddenly crowded into the village centre, dispersing crowds to the east and west ends of Wukan in order to separate the protesters.

“Many of us didn’t know what happened and we were running for our lives, as many rounds of tear gas and bullets had been fired at us,” said a villager who suffered an injury on her forehead.
China ramps up security as Wukan village chief Lin Zuluan jailed, fined for bribery
Another resident said he saw police climbing onto the rooftops of local houses and shooting tear gas at residents who were running away.
It’s like a war zone here, much worse than the Japanese invasion
Wukan villager
“It’s like a war zone here, much worse than the Japanese invasion,” he said.
A few villagers have complained of food shortages due to armed policemen guarding every village entrance.
“Me and my children are eating instant noodles, as we are running out of food with shops being closed for two days and the village being guarded,” said one 40-year-old resident.
ID cards were being checked by the guards to screen suspected protesters from entering Wukan, according to villagers.
Wukan: a village living in fear following arrest of party chief
Police in Lufeng city, which administers Wukan, said in a statement at about noon on Tuesday that some internet photos and information about Wukan had been fabricated, and that those who spread false information would be dealt with.


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Harsh sentences for Wukan protesters could backfire

China jails nine over protests in Guangdong ‘democracy’ village

Convicted Chinese protest leader renounces bribery confession after getting heavy sentence

Wukan

Wukan lockdown: Chinese village turns into ‘war zone’ as police move in

Wukan villagers in a stand-off with police in a photo supplied by villagers. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Wukan stand-off

Anti-corruption protest continue in Wukan Guangdong, China. A tear gas canister is seen in the picture. 13SEP16

Anti-corruption protest continue in Wukan Guangdong, China. A villager is seen injured with plastic bullets. 13SEP16

Tear gas, rubber bullets fired as Chinese riot police clash with villagers after Wukan arrests

Riot police deployed in Wukan. Photo: SCMP Pictures

China ramps up security as Wukan village chief Lin Zuluan jailed, fined for bribery

Lin Zuluan goes on trial in Foshan, Guangdong province, on Thursday. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Wukan: a village living in fear following arrest of party chief

Some villagers sleep with gongs beside their beds so they can alert others to danger

Lin Zuluan talks to journalists after being elected as village chief in Wukan village, Guangdong province March 31, 2014. REUTERS/Alex Lee/File photo

Yang Zhen (left), 68, wife of Lin Zuluan, is interviewed by a Xinjing Daily reporter at home on June 21, 2016. Xiaomei Chen for SCMP

Son of Qian Lichou on June 21, 2016. Qian Lichou, a member of Wukan Village Committee, was arrested in a neighboring village, Shenchong, on the afternoon of June 20, 2016.Xiaomei Chen for SCMP

Villagers carry banners reading “Plead to the central government to help Wukan” and “Wukan villagers don't believe Lin Zuluan took bribes” during a protest in Wukan on June 22. Photo: Reuters

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Tear gas and rubber bullets used as dozens arrested in Wukan protests
