Villagers clash with police over land compensation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-04 23:28

BEIJING -- About 500 villagers in southwest China took part in a "small conflict" with local authorities last weekend, according to government sources.

They were in disputes with local officials for free social security as a compensation for allegedly under-evaluated reimbursement for land in Jiangnan Township, Changshou District of Chongqing Municipality, said a local spokesman Wednesday.

The so-called protest has nothing to do with the construction of the Three Gorges Dam as some foreign media have reported, said Wen Tianping, the municipal government's spokesman.

The villagers' appeal originated from the growing reparation rate due to three readjustment during 2004-2008 in an urban construction project. Those who have received the earlier believed that they have suffered losses.

They therefore asked for free social security as compensation, according to some deputies from Chongqing who are attending the annual session of the Chinese legislature here.

No one has ever been injured nor any police cars overturned, said the spokesman. The local government has started investigation into the villagers' appeal.

A local resident from Changshou District of Chongqing, who is reluctant to reveal his name, told Xinhua that the villagers gathered together in his district over the weekend. They have already dispersed. Police is still patrolling in the area.