China blogger beaten to death

CNN ^ | January 11, 2008 | Staff

[forkinsocket]

Authorities have fired an official in central China after city inspectors beat to death a man who filmed their confrontation with villagers, China's Xinhua news agency reports.

The killing has sparked outrage in China, with thousands expressing outrage in Chinese Internet chat rooms, often the only outlet for public criticism of the government.

The incident has also alarmed advocates of press freedom, who say municipal authorities had no right to attack a man for simply filming them.

Police have detained 24 municipal inspectors and are investigating more than 100 in the death of Wei Wenhua, a 41-year-old construction company executive, Xinhua reported on Friday.

The swift action by officials reflects concerns that the incident could spark larger protests against authorities, whose heavy-handed approach often arouses resentment.

[forkinsocket]

When Wei took out his cell phone to record the protest, more than 50 municipal inspectors turned on him, attacking him for five minutes, Xinhua said. Wei was dead on arrival at a Tianmen hospital, the report said.

[Ukiapah Heep]

Coming to a Democrat run city near you.

[Jaysun]

This is very sad news. A man lost his job for chrissake.

[Captain Rhino]

Chen Yizhong, a columnist on Xinhua's Web site, asked why violence by city inspectors is allowed to continue. "Cities need administration, but urban administrators need to be governed by law first," he wrote.

Editorial criticism from the official press. First crack in the edifice of power??

Unlikely, unfortunately.

[diamond6]

China is a God-forsaken country.

[Cacique]

btt

[Blood of Tyrants]

The swift action by officials reflects concerns that the incident could spark larger protests against authorities, whose heavy-handed approach often arouses resentment.

Ya THINK!

[live+let_live]

There’s the biggest difference between communist China and free America. People will never be harrassed or threatened or arrested for filming government officals or police in the United States.

[JACKRUSSELL]

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