Government Response to Maoming PX Protest, Netizen Reactions

From NetEase:

Guangdong Maoming Residents March in Protest of PX Project, Government: Instigated by Law-Breakers

Maoming News Net report — On the morning of the March 30th, some Maoming city residents gathered on the lawn in front of the city’s municipal Party committee building to express their concerns with the planned PX [p-Xylene/paraxylene] plant project, then held a slow march on various streets. The overall situation was rational and peaceful. In the afternoon, a small number of people blocked traffic on the road, then gradually dispersed. However, after 10:30pm, a small number of trouble-makers riding motorbikes started to vandalise public facilities by throwing rocks and plastic bottles. The Public Security Bureau acted swiftly and decisively, effectively restoring order to the scene. No one was killed in the incident.

As of publication, the city is stable and in order.

Dear city resident friends:

On 2014 March 30th, without applying and obtaining permission from the authorities in accordance with the regulations of “The People’s Republic of China Law on Assemblies, Processions, and Demonstrations”, a minority of city residents held a demonstration in opposition to the planned PX plant project. This was a serious violation of the law and seriously disturbed social order. The city government firmly opposes any actions that violate laws and regulations such as the “People’s Republic of China Law on Assemblies, Processions and Demonstrations”. In regards to the objections and appeals of the public, the city government will during discussions of the project respect the people’s right to be informed and to participate, will report the situation to the relevant national departments and experts truthfully, and the construction of the project shall be done according to the facts and in conformity with laws and regulations. Maoming people care about this city, showing that there is great hope for the development of our city.

Notice

Dear city residents:

On the 30th of March, a small number of city residents instigated by individual law-breakers took to the streets to protest the planned PX project and, while venting their sentiments, some irrational behavior occurred, exceeding the scope allowed by the law. The municipal Party committee and government are firmly against such actions in violation of the “People’s Republic of China Law on Assemblies, Processions and Demonstrations”. In regards to the objections and appeals of the public, the city government will during discussions of the project respect the people’s right to be informed and to participate, will report the situation to the relevant national departments and experts truthfully, and the construction of the project shall be done according to the facts and in conformity with laws and regulations. Maoming people care about this city, showing that there is great hope for the development of our city.

In recent years, Maoming’s municipal Party committee and city government have worked together assiduously to “construct a deep water port, develop modern industries, and build a coastal city”, and there is already a favorable social economic development situation. The public must believe in science, in the government, and not let law-breakers seize any chance to create chaos, destroying the precious harmonious and stable environment for development. We hope everyone will take the initiative to learn the scientific knowledge concerning PX, understand the true situation about the PX project, and firmly achieve “not creating, not believing, and not spreading rumors”, conscientiously boycotting illegal behavior. At the same time, the city government warmly welcomes people from all sectors of society to express their concerns with the project through proper channels. Maoming’s development needs the combined intelligence of people from all walks of life, but it must be expressed in legal, moderate, and rational ways, as civilized, law-respecting and abiding city residents.

We firmly believe that as long as we can sustain the good development trends today, Maoming’s tomorrow will definitely be even better.

Maoming People’s Government

2014 March 30th

Some photos of the protest and vandalism:

Comments from NetEase:

Ohhh…. you have to apply for permission to protest. So strange! If the application was denied, does that that mean the protest can’t take place? Even the posts of this kind on Sina Weibo are … (Why?), would the application really be approved…?

网易广东省惠州市手机网友: (responding to above)

Patriotic traitors can protest all they want without applying, while anyone else shouldn’t expect approval even in a million years!

网易广西贵港市网友

But isn’t it true? Once you make your killing [money], you’ll flee this place, while the rest of us and our descendents have no choice but to continue living here!

网易江苏省南京市鼓楼区手机网友

How could people “go for a stroll” [march in protest] without first applying for permission? But wasn’t everyone allowed to go for a stroll when it was an anti-Japan protest? Are you going to say that was an authorized stroll?

网易黑龙江省黑河市网友

“…a small number of city residents instigated by individual law-breakers took to the streets to protest the planned PX project and, while venting their sentiments, some irrational behavior occurred, exceeding the scope allowed by the law. The municipal Party committee and government are firmly against such actions in violation of the ‘People’s Republic of China Law on Assemblies, Processions and Demonstrations’.”
————–There are a million “crimes” that can be invoked to govern the “ordinary common people”~~~