Chinese farmers clash with police

27 March 1998

Chinese farmers clash with police

POLICE were called in when 3,000 farmers blocked a major road in central China in protest at local Government seizures of their land for a business development project.

The latest dispute was said to have erupted when the local Government ignored complaints from farmers about confiscation of land.

About 3,000 marched to the road between Kaifeng and Zhengzhou in Henan Province in central China and blocked traffic.

Police arrested 12 protesters, while the farmers took five officers hostage.

• The Scotsman 27/03/98 page 14