DATE=5/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-WORKER PROTESTS (L)
NUMBER=2-262408
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Thousands of steel workers have clashed 
with police in China's northeastern province of 
Liaoning.  V-O-A's Leta Hong Fincher reports from
Beijing the workers were protesting over unpaid 
wages.

TEXT:  A Hong Kong-based human rights group says 
the protests took place early Tuesday morning in 
Liaoyang city.  Mr. Lu Siqing, of the Information 
Center for Human Rights and Democracy, tells V-O-
A about five-thousand workers from a money-losing 
state-owned metal factory gathered Monday 
afternoon in Liaoyang to demand up to eighteen 
months in unpaid wages. 

Mr. Lu says some 900 police moved in to break up 
the protest shortly after midnight on Tuesday. 

            ///LU ACT-EST. IN CHINESE THEN 
FADE///

He says the workers had blocked the highway 
leading out of Liaoyang. Police used clubs to 
beat about 50 protesters, and also arrested three
Workers' representatives: Xiao Yunliang, Pan 
Qingxiang and Lu Ran. 

Liaoyang factory officials confirm the protest 
took place, but say the size of the demonstration 
was far smaller, with about a thousand workers 
taking part.  

One of the protesting workers, who asked not to 
be identified, tells V-O-A about 2000 workers 
were continuing demonstrations outside the 
Liaoyang city hall Tuesday afternoon. 

            ///UNIDENTIFIED WORKER IN CHINESE, 
FADE UNDER///
 
He says the workers come from several factories 
in the area that are plagued with debt and unable 
to pay wages or retirement pensions.  He said 
many elderly pensioners were also protesting 
against factory and city officials.

In late February, the government broke up another 
demonstration by as many as 20-thousand miners in 
Yangjiazhan, also in the northeastern province of
Liaoning.  Beijing sees worker unrest as a 
significant threat to its authority, as tens of 
millions of people are laid off by bankrupt
state-owned enterprises. (signed)
 
NEB/HK/LHF/JO 





16-May-2000 06:12 AM EDT (16-May-2000 1012 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.