Villagers in Guangdong's Panyu district continued their protest at government offices yesterday after a clash with police on Tuesday that left dozens injured and at least seven in detention.
They claim that village chief Chen Jinsheng has usurped Taishi village funds, and are calling for provincial authorities to investigate.
A group of villagers staged a vigil outside the accounts office yesterday, fearing officials would destroy evidence by doctoring the village's account books if they gained access to the offices.
Another group staged a sit-in in the playground of the village government building to call for the removal of Mr Chen and a public investigation by provincial leaders. Taishi village is under the administration of Yuwotou town.
A villager yesterday said they had heard from police that the local authorities would take action against them soon.
'We have heard from local police sources that they would only wait three [working] days until Monday and then they would take actions to disperse the sit-in and arrest the troublemakers,' one villager said.
'But villagers will continue to guard the accounts office until the government is willing to open the accounts [to public scrutiny] and allow Communist Party investigators from Guangdong province to check the books,' he said.