One killed during protest
15 April 2008
Construction workers and villagers have clashed on the island of Guanzhou in southern China over the government's seizure of farmland for a real estate project. One person died in the violence and up to 14 were injured.
The clash was triggered when villagers gathered at the construction site to demand compensation after a local man was hit by a hauler near the site. The confrontation turned violent as locals were already angry over the seizure of 134 ha of land for a biosphere project.
Local media reports said one man was beaten to death when 30 to 40 workers in hardhats wielding iron clubs attacked the villagers in an attempt to get them to disperse.