Police step up manhunt for Wukan protesters, but governor denies crackdown
Paramilitary officers said to carry out door to door searches for five suspects following Tuesday’s clashes in southern Chinese village, but provincial governor denies any crackdown has occurred
Security officers continued their manhunt for protesters in Wukan in Guangdong province following a violent stand-off that saw tear gas and rubber bullets fired at residents, according to locals.
Few residents ventured outdoors on Wednesday as paramilitary officers equipped with shields and helmets marched in formation and stood guard on every corner.
Guangdong’s governor denied a crackdown had occurred in Wukan, where residents have staged a years-long campaign against illegal land seizures.
“There was no such crackdown,” Governor Zhu Xiaodan told a press conference on cross-border collaboration attended by Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in Guangzhou.
The violence erupted early on Tuesday following pre-dawn raids by officers seeking to arrest 13 suspects accused of disrupting public order after protests in support of jailed village leader Lin Zuluan. Residents fought back with bricks as officers fired rubber bullets and lobbed tear gas canisters into lanes.
