Arrests after land protests in China’s Zhejiang province

Several villagers in eastern China have been detained following protests against alleged land grabs by local officials, state media report.

 

At least 200 people in Panhe village, in Zhejiang province, had staged three protests over land disputes this month, the Global Times newspaper reported.

An agreement with the authorities has now been reportedly reached.

Land seizures are a frequent source of friction between villagers and local officials across China.

According to the Global Times, the protests in Panhe stopped “after several more people were detained by security forces”.

Villagers interviewed by AFP news agency said the issue was now resolved.

The BBC’s Martin Patience in Beijing says these protests are the latest reminder of the simmering unrest in China’s countryside.

He says comparisons have been made with a rebellion in Wukan in Guangdong province in December, when people openly revolted against land seizures.

The villagers’ key demands – including removing two local officials – were granted amid considerable public support.

A Dutch and a German journalist trying to cover the latest protests were attacked by men who appeared to be plainclothes policemen, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China said.

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