Protesters and police clash in southern China over plans for crematorium
- Officers ‘fire tear gas and beat demonstrators’ opposed to construction project in Guangdong province
- About 50 people were detained over two days, and elderly and children among the wounded, residents say
Riot police fired tear gas and beat protesters after hundreds took to the streets in southern China on Thursday and Friday over plans to build a crematorium in the area.
Residents of Wenlou in Guangdong province – about 100km (60 miles) from Hong Kong – said several hundred people tried to march to the township government offices on Thursday after they found out that a crematorium would be built on land they thought was set aside for a park.
But police stopped the marchers before they reached the township offices, with witnesses claiming that a number of people, including teenagers and at least one elderly person, were wounded as officers in anti-riot gear fired tear gas, beat protesters and detained them.
Residents also said police raided homes to arrest protesters on Thursday night and early Friday.
About 200 people took to the streets again on Friday in opposition to the plan, residents said.