Govt officials quieten dissent over Chengdu petrochemical plant

12-May-08

Government officials are intensifying a campaign to quieten the dissent of the local people over construction of a petrochemical plant on the outskirts of Chengdu, Western China. Last Sunday, hundreds of residents marched through downtown Chengdu to express concern about the plant's environmental impact. This week, several blogs protesting the plant's construction were blocked, and articles outlining the benefits of the project appeared in a state-controlled newspaper. Chinese authorities have arrested one person on a charge of inciting subversion and warned or detained five for their roles in a protest in the southwest against plans for a petrochemical project