White-shirted group attacks protesters at China banking scandal demonstration
- Victims of what could prove one of the country’s worst financial scandals had gathered in Henan province to demand their frozen deposits be returned
- Protesters say the unidentified men in white attacked them and dragged them away while local police looked on
An estimated 1,000 depositors gathered in front of the Zhengzhou sub-branch of the People’s Bank of China on Sunday morning, in a latest attempt to recover millions of yuan frozen in rural banks.
04:47
Victims of one of China’s worst financial scandals attacked by unidentified men in white at protest
One depositor, surnamed Guo, said people had come from all over China to protest, arriving at the scene as early as 4am.
Videos sent to the South China Morning Post show the protesters lined up in rows in front of the bank, holding banners that read “No deposits, no human rights”, “We are against Henan government’s corruption and violence”, chanting, “Henan banks, give me my money back” and “[Premier] Li Keqiang, investigate Henan”.
One depositor brought portraits of Mao Zedong and pasted them on pillars in front of the bank, Guo said. Portraits of the late Communist leader are sometimes used in protests against corruption and corporate power in China.
Other photos and videos that were shared on social media platform Weibo have been censored, along with hashtags recording the protest.