internet - A thorough wrap-up of the Huaxi riot

After the riot

From New York City ESWN is doing a great job in collecting online information about the Huaxi-riot in Zhejiang province that took place a few weeks ago. It proves yet again what a powerful tool the internet has become, despite ongoing restrictions, in getting at least some decent information.
ESWN starts with an overview of all the reports in Western media and writes:

Are these the sole purveyors of information on this matter? You must be joking. None of these reporters are likely to be admitted anywhere near the scene, as Didi Kirsten Tatlow's story shows. So where did these reports come from? The western reporters were mostly relying on Chinese media, especially the Internet. In fact, there was a torrent of information inside China within the first couple of days. The Dongyang portal even ran an online poll about who was at fault -- the government or the citizens?

It shed some light on some unresolved questions, documents earlier media reports on the devastating polution caused by the chemical factories. And ESWN explains why partly elderly demonstrators could chase away a force 4,000 police men.

According to three persons who are knowledgeable about the armed government forces that were present at Huaxi town, the Dongyang city government assembled the forces through false pretenses. They used the explanations of "mountain climbing competition" and "forest fire drills" to assemble the militia from Huaxi town and neighboring areas. These militiamen have not gone through any kind of training. Most of these so-called militia have dubious qualifications, including outsiders who are unable to find work here. These people were brought over to the Huaxi Secondary School. Most of them do not have any uniforms, so they were given red armbands that identified them as "law-and-order" officers. Once they got to Huaxi Secondary School, they were informed that there was a riot and their mission was to "quell the riot." Immediately, some groups demanded to go home. So this was an undisciplined and unmotivated force that had no intention of attacking the townspeople.

For the analysis a great number of biased sources are used, both from a governmental perspective and from opposition groups like FLG in the US. But by leaving out some of the compulsory propaganda, a rather good look at this puzzle emerges.

Books on riots in China