Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua yesterday blamed 'a small group of criminals' for a riot in Shanwei in which at least three villagers were shot dead by police.
It was the first time the governor had spoken about the three-month-old incident, which has been widely reported by the international media. Mr Huang also admitted that Guangdong was facing a problem with social unrest which was caused mainly by land requisition disputes and public anger at 'a few corrupt grass-roots cadres'.
He said the shooting in Shanwei had been 'caused by a small group of criminals who incited the innocent public'.
'They are the main culprits,' he said. 'The police commander also made mistakes and should share some of the responsibility.'
He said the provincial government had responded to community discontent and had solved most disputes peacefully.
'Our economic development has reached a new stage. There are many conflicting interests and voices. Social strife and a high crime rate are common phenomena at this stage of development, not just for us but also for other countries,' he said.
