Six jailed over violence in southwest China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-14 20:29

WENG'AN, Guizhou -- A Chinese court on Friday sentenced six people to jail terms of up to 16 years for their involvement in a riot over the police's handling of the death of a teenage girl.

Zhang Guangjing and Mo Guangfu, convicted of arson and attacking local authority buildings during the unrest in late June, received 16 years and 15 years respectively, according to the verdict by the People's Court of Weng'an County in Guizhou Province.

Zhang and Mo, members of the local Yushan Gang, were caught actively vandalizing police and government offices, throwing rocks at police officers without causing any serious injuries, and setting alight police vehicles on June 28, according to local procuratorate.

Chai Jifang, Li Xiulong, Li Qing'an and Xiao Chunping, convicted of attacking state authorities or disturbing social order, received sentences of two to seven years, but Chai was given a two-year reprieve for confessing to the police.

Three of them had served previous jail terms for theft or robbery.

None of them appealed against the convictions or sentences in court Friday.

The court will continue to hear cases of suspects involved in the unrest.

Up to 30,000 people were involved in the protest, prompted by a controversial police report on the death of 17-year-old Li Shufen. Her family and relatives contend she was raped and killed, while an autopsy report said she drowned.

The protest turned violent and rioters mobbed government office buildings. About 160 offices and more than 40 vehicles were torched.

More than 150 police and protesters were injured. No deaths were reported.

Police believed 134 people committed the destruction, but only 59 people were taken into custody.

Provincial Communist Party of China chief Shi Zongyuan admitted there had been public grievances in the county before the protest. People were upset by mining disputes, the demolition of homes for public projects, relocations for reservoir construction and other issues.

He criticized the local authorities for long-standing disregard of rampant crime in the county and incompetence in maintaining public security.

The county's Party secretary and head of government were sacked after the violence.