DATE=5/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-WORKER PROTESTS (L)
NUMBER=2-262408
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Thousands of steel workers have clashed
with police in China's northeastern province of
Liaoning. V-O-A's Leta Hong Fincher reports from
Beijing the workers were protesting over unpaid
wages.
TEXT: A Hong Kong-based human rights group says
the protests took place early Tuesday morning in
Liaoyang city. Mr. Lu Siqing, of the Information
Center for Human Rights and Democracy, tells V-O-
A about five-thousand workers from a money-losing
state-owned metal factory gathered Monday
afternoon in Liaoyang to demand up to eighteen
months in unpaid wages.
Mr. Lu says some 900 police moved in to break up
the protest shortly after midnight on Tuesday.
///LU ACT-EST. IN CHINESE THEN
FADE///
He says the workers had blocked the highway
leading out of Liaoyang. Police used clubs to
beat about 50 protesters, and also arrested three
Workers' representatives: Xiao Yunliang, Pan
Qingxiang and Lu Ran.
Liaoyang factory officials confirm the protest
took place, but say the size of the demonstration
was far smaller, with about a thousand workers
taking part.
One of the protesting workers, who asked not to
be identified, tells V-O-A about 2000 workers
were continuing demonstrations outside the
Liaoyang city hall Tuesday afternoon.
///UNIDENTIFIED WORKER IN CHINESE,
FADE UNDER///
He says the workers come from several factories
in the area that are plagued with debt and unable
to pay wages or retirement pensions. He said
many elderly pensioners were also protesting
against factory and city officials.
In late February, the government broke up another
demonstration by as many as 20-thousand miners in
Yangjiazhan, also in the northeastern province of
Liaoning. Beijing sees worker unrest as a
significant threat to its authority, as tens of
millions of people are laid off by bankrupt
state-owned enterprises. (signed)
NEB/HK/LHF/JO
16-May-2000 06:12 AM EDT (16-May-2000 1012 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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