CHINA—More than 1,000 farmers protested outside the Ziliujing District Court, Zigong City in Sichuan Province on January 4, 2007. They were protesting the unannounced cancellation of a court hearing regarding a lawsuit against local police.
Around 8:30 a.m. on January 4, 2006, 300 people were waiting outside the court for the hearing. At 10 a.m., more than 1,000 had either gone into city hall or loitered around the courthouse. Most of them were farmers from villages in Zigong City who had lost their lands. At around 11 a.m., the villagers started to protest loudly as more people gathered. Under pressure, the court’s vice president, Zhao Xunquan, came out to give the crowd an explanation and asked the plaintiffs and the representatives of the villagers to negotiate inside the court. After 4 hours, the crowd gradually dispersed.
Police Incite Local Farmers
