Hundreds riot in southwest China

Hundreds riot in southwest China

Wed Jul 12, 3:27 AM ET

BEIJING (AFP) - Hundreds of people have rioted in southwest China's Yunnan province, overturning and smashing several police vehicles, state media and an official said.

The riot occurred late Monday in Guiyang city, shortly after a man was allegedly beaten by officers hired by police for not possessing a temporary residence permit, Guiyang Metropolitan newspaper reported.

A reporter at the local newspaper, who declined to be identified, told AFP that around 300 people, mostly farmers turned migrant laborers, took part in the riot after being outraged by the beating.

"(The migrant) was fined but he refused to pay so they starting fighting and shortly after, many people got involved," he said.

"We heard several people have been arrested."

The report said police sent to handle the riot were chased by rock-throwing protesters and nine police vehicles were damaged. Several were overturned by the crowd.

The crowd also smashed the windscreen of a reporter's car while a taxi driver was beaten, the report said.

Comments posted on an Internet chatroom said city authorities often try to find excuses to exploit migrants, imposing a range of petty fees on them for staying in their cities.

"The police are just after money," said one posting.

"The people power is great," said another.

The Qianling township police station confirmed the incident and said one police officer was being medically treated. It refused further comment.

The report said the incident subsided by early Tuesday after police arrested about ten people involved in the riot.

The number of "public order disturbances" throughout China rose by 6.6 percent to 87,000 last year, according to official statistics.