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Land and environmental disputes have set off even more protests in southern China, close to where Wukan residents have driven away authorities from their village for more than a week. Locals are using social networking sites to publish details of the protest and have been voicing their anger against authorities.
Separate protests have broken out in southern Guangdong province, as villagers in Wukan continue to defy authorities over land grabs.
Thousands of people from the town of Haimen in Shantou City protested against plans for a coal power plant on Tuesday. They say pollution from an existing plant has caused many residents to develop cancer. The plant has also severely damaged marine life—a critical source of livelihood for the coastal residents.
Pictures posted on microblogs show protestors storming the local government building. When they were unable to speak to the town's officials, they moved on to block a major highway.
Riot police were sent in, and used tear gas to disperse protestors. Locals say there were several violent clashes.
Students also posted pictures online, complaining they were being kept in school as the protest went on.
Just days before the coal power plant protest, hundreds of villagers in another part of Shantou City protested the sale of land by local officials. On Saturday, residents from Daimei village carried banners reading words like "Officials Pushing the People to the Edge," and marched towards the county government.
[Daimei Villager]:
"The villager's lands were taken by those in power. Farmers are left with no farmland and no home, so they're starting to revolt."
Locals say they have been protesting for several months, after officials sold farmland and a hillside without paying a dime to villagers.
