Suizhou (AsiaNews) – Over 20 workers are now in prison for having participated in an organized protest ending in a bloody clash with police forces in Suizhou (Hubei).

The confrontation, which is still on-going, was reported yesterday by the humanitarian organization, China Labour Bulletin (CLB). Last Feb. 8 around 2000 workers and pensioners of the Tieshu Textile Factory, which employs 5700 people, demonstrated for fair treatment following the company's formal declaration of bankruptcy.   

Workers also asked the government to investigate the corruption of the factory's administrators and officials who first pushed workers to purchase stock in the company, but then declared bankruptcy.   

During confrontations workers blocked railroads the entire morning of Feb. 8. Over 800 police units were used to break up demonstrations and prevent the arrival of several hundred more protestors.

Violent clashes ensued and at least 20 persons were wounded. However, police officials said only 10 officers were wounded, while no protestor was harmed. Local health officials said that at least one worker, 2 police officers and a 65 year-old women were taken to hospital with severe head wounds.  

Wang Xuping, a daughter of a women injured during the violent clash, said police unscrupulously beat demonstrators, disregarding who showed resistance or not. People's Liberation Army officials, who were present at the clashes, criticized police for their brutal treatment of protestors. One army officer has been actually taken into custody, charged with "inciting violence".

Later in the afternoon and following days police arrested various workers on the street and in market areas, taking people in who had not even demonstrated.

Some workers were taken to a local hotel  where they were reeducated by the Federation of All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), an organization reporting directly to the communist government) and by police. More than 20 are now in Suizhou's No. 2 prison. The CLB contacted the ACFTU and the detention center, both of which knowing anything about the detainees.

After the Feb. 8 clashes around 1000 workers have continued gathering every day outside the Suizhou city hall. On Feb. 11 demonstrators tried entering the building in order to take up discussions with local authorities, but were stopped by police forces, resulting in the arrest of the worker who led the protest. The protest, while of much lesser tone, has lasted until today. 

Reasons Behind the Clashes

Workers first became agitated after they received a notice from the the Bankruptcy Control Commission and local Communist Party in which they informed factory employees that the would be paid back only a small portion of their original investments made in 1993 and 1997, since the companies shares had dropped by 75%, 

In 1993 and 1997 many current and retired employees were encouraged to purchase shares in the company to guarantee financial support. However before 1999 the company's director warned certain private shareholders and personal friends that the factory was about to fail and advised them to sell their stocks. Factory employees were informed of the company's financial troubles only at the end of 2002.   

Tieshu factory protests have been going on since 2003. The first demonstration, with over 1000 workers, dates back to Jan. 2 of that year. In March 2003, when they failed to get an answer from the company, workers organized another strike and blocked the factory's entrance. Public safety officers launched a manhunt to arrest the protest's leaders. 

Workers then began taking legal recourse to resolve the issue, but the Suizhou municipal court ruled in favor of the textile factory. On June 5 workers appealed to the Hubei provincial court, but were unsuccessful. Demonstrations were organized once again in Sept. 2003 and have continued until today.   

The Tieshu factory workers and pensioners' problems increased after the Bankruptcy Control Commission ruled to cancel all retirement and welfare payments. Meanwhile protestors have said they want to appeal to the state High Court, but the attorney they chose has refused to defend them, falling to pressure placed on him by authorities. (MR)

• china
• economy
• bancruptcy
• workers
• rights