Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
China detains 15 parents for lead poison unrest
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
China detains 15 parents for lead poison unrest
By GILLIAN WONG,Associated Press Writer AP - Thursday, September 3
BEIJING - Police in central China detained 15 parents for blocking roads and damaging government offices in a protest over factory pollution that left hundreds of local children with lead poisoning, villagers said Wednesday.
ADVERTISEMENT
In a bizarre twist, police in Hunan province's Wenping township accused the parents involved in the Aug. 8 unrest of being either members of the banned spiritual movement Falun Gong, or influenced by such members.
Villagers mocked the accusation, saying authorities were using the charge as revenge against parents for rioting over the lead poisoning of more than 1,300 children caused by a manganese processing plant. Falun Gong practitioners are relentlessly persecuted by Chinese authorities.
Anger is growing in China over public safety scandals in which children have been the main victims. The ruling Communist Party is worried mass protests will threaten the country's social stability and challenge its grip on power.
The Wugang city public security bureau, which oversees Wenping, issued a notice Tuesday saying "cult members with ulterior motives" led a few villagers to block roads, attack government offices and damage public property, 40-year-old resident Dai Zuoyi said.
Police said 15 people were being held and urged the "Falun Gong practitioners to turn themselves in as soon as possible," said Dai, who read the announcement to The Associated Press over the phone.
"When I saw this notice, I laughed till my stomach hurt," Dai said. "There have never been any Falun Gong followers in Wenping. This is clearly a reprisal attack against villagers."
A notice posted on the Web site of the Wugang city government last week said Chinese and foreign Falun Gong members were spreading false rumors and "instigating the public to cause trouble" in response to the lead poisoning incident. It did not mention detentions.
Dai said his brother-in-law Li Changye was among the parents detained this week. Li, 40, was among hundreds of residents who blocked roads leading to the Wugang Manganese Smelting Plant, Dai said.
Both Dai's and Li's sons, aged 5 months and 6 years, have excessive levels of lead in their blood, Dai said. Lead poisoning can damage the nervous and reproductive systems and cause high blood pressure and memory loss.
The Wugang government's spokesman, who would give only his surname, Xia, denied that any Wenping residents had been detained.
"We have not taken any measures against the parents. But if anybody has broken the law, their cases will be investigated by the police," Xia said by phone.
He said city government officials have recently received phone calls from out of town by people who personally attacked the officials. Based on "previous experience," the police think they might be Falun Gong members, Xia said, without going into details.
The Wenping incident was one of three cases of lead poisoning involving large numbers of children last month. The first case involved more than 600 children living near a lead smelter in northwestern Shaanxi province, while the latest one occurred in Yunnan in the southwest, with about 200 children sickened.
___
Associated Press researcher Xi Yue contributed to this report.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Thailand's swine flu death toll reaches 130AP - 1 hour 18 minutes ago
Spy chief among 23 killed in Taliban suicide blastAP - 1 hour 26 minutes ago
Indian official's helicopter missing in rebel areaAP - 1 hour 44 minutes ago
AP NewsAlertAP - 1 hour 58 minutes ago
Japan's incoming government faces weak mandateAP - 2 hours 10 minutes ago
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Madoff's beachfront hideaway up for sale -- but it's no steal
Kidnapped US girl walks into police station 18 years on
Spider-Man joins Mickey Mouse as Disney buys Marvel
Microsoft apologizes for photo gaffe
Madonna makes late-night visit to Western Wall
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Wednesday, 2 September 2009 Turkey hopes to open Armenian border by year-end
Eurozone jobless numbers pass 15 million
eBay to sell Skype to investor group
UK did not want to hurt ties with Libya: letters
| International
|
Mitchell, Israelis to meet Wednesday in New York
Eurozone unemployment hits 10-year high
East Jerusalem lags behind west as school begins
F is for Flu: Sesame St muppets to take on swine flu
Five years on, survivors remember Beslan slaughter
'Windows Phones' coming in October
Egypt uncovers two tonnes of explosives near Gaza
India eyes 9% growth as PM rejects pessimism
Security prompts checks on telecoms gear in India
Hamas says Israel kills 2 Gaza gunmen, Israel denies
| International
|
IFA electronics trade show eyed for signs of recovery
Iran 'ready' for fresh nuke talks: top negotiator
Greece protests to Turkey over sorties in Aegean
| International
|
Late Iraqi Shi'ite's son succeeds him as party leader
Google Chrome gets boost with Sony tie-up
Canada's Liberals vow to bring down government
| International
|
Iran says ready for nuclear talks with world powers
Saudi prince spoke to bomber on phone before attack
| International
|
Turkey hopes to open Armenian border by year-end
| International
|
Twitter, texting could help families in disasters
Fire emergency declared in San Bernardino County
Social networking sites grab big slice of Web ads
| Technology
|
Erich Kunzel, Cincinnati Pops director, dies at 74
Germany: Google book deal violates copyright law
| Technology
|
China captain Zheng close to joining Celtic
Canada's white refugee ruling racist
Son of Aquino poised to run for Philippine president
ID theft ring included wig-wearing check casher
Traffic-reporting plane lands on Mass. highway
UN condemns ETimor militia leader's release
Germany warns pollsters after Twitter leak
| Technology
|
Indonesian publisher declared bomb suspect: police
China villagers riot over polluting plant: residents
CAPITAL CULTURE: The poop on White House dog Bo
Dalai Lama leads mass prayer in Taiwan
Group: US Embassy guards in Kabul are mistreated
Himalayan climate talks end with call for help
US agriculture interests split over climate bill
Dalai Lama leads prayers for Taiwan storm victims
No charges filed in disabled California boy case
Myanmar refugee crisis in China begins to ease
Years wasted in Afghan effort, UN official says
No quick exit for buyer of AIG unit-Taiwan watchdog
Wynette to join Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
| Entertainment
|
New Miss Marple actress gets fresh start at 68
| Entertainment
|
'Disastrous' year for Italian tourism: study
New Miss Marple actress gets fresh start at 68
New family law in Mali upsets Islamists
WW2 concert shows music is a power for peace: Gergiev
Pa. museum gets artist Peter Grippe's collection
Malaysian Muslims 'may attend' Black Eyed Peas show
Michael Jackson tribute lineup to be unveiled soon
Venice film festival retains allure without deals
Madonna dines with Israel's Livni ahead of show
Iran ready for new round of nuclear talks: top negotiator
Japan's new government seeks to reassure U.S.
| International
|
Khosla Ventures raises 1 bln dlrs for green tech
Mass evacuation of animals from Los Angeles inferno
Examiner.com buys citizen journalist site NowPublic
US auto sales rise for first time since October 2007
Internet providers seek low broadband bar
U.S. journalists say entered North Korea, arrested in China
| International
|
Amnesty calls on Iraq to stop executions
CellStories offers a handful of literature for free
Madonna wrapping up world tour in Israel
Madoff's beachfront hideaway up for sale -- but it's no steal
Hamas: 2 men killed in Gaza
Bomb damages Athens stock market, one hurt
| International
|
Hurricane Jimena weakens as it hits western Mexico
| International
|
eBay hangs up on Skype
Rebel Abkhazia threatens Georgia ships: Interfax
| International
|
Iraq: Key figures since the war began
Taiwan asked by China to cancel Dalai Lama events: MP
| International
|
Colombian lawmakers pass Uribe re-election bill
| International
|
Google says Gmail outage resolved
Iraq death toll in August highest in 13 months
WW 2 concert: Music is a power for peace: Gergiev
| International
|
Newspaper publisher Freedom files for bankruptcy
Social networking sites grab big slice of Web ads
Germany: Google book deal violates copyright law
Young Turks a major obstacle to Turkey's EU goals
| International
|
Afghan opium crop down, prices plummet U.N.
| International
|
'Windows Phones' coming in October
Hoyer maintains support for public option
Cool weather offers hope in California fire battle
Sony to launch 3D TVs next year: report
| Technology
|
Mich. church enlists Satan in advertising campaign
Internet providers seek low broadband bar
| Technology
|
Relocation of US troops will test new Japan leader
NC university carries on amid swine flu outbreak
Clarke defends T20 call-off as ECB promise inquiry
CellStories offers a handful of literature for free
| Technology
|
Clinton to meet Zelaya, U.S. mulls cutting off aid
Google mail suffers widespread outage
| Technology
|
Music label video site Vevo in talks with CBS, NBC
| Technology
|
Spacewalkers tackle hefty tank removal in space
Pakistan forces kill 40 militants in Khyber raids
3 charged in sex tourism cases ordered held in LA
Vegas publisher met Reid after remark about paper
White House: Obama may detail health plans soon
In Vietnam, many see dollar not dong as king
US sees WTO ministerial talks key to Doha success
S.Korean T-bonds rise on weak shares
Korea Hot Stocks-Ssangyong Motor jumps on buyout offer report
Seoul shares fall after rally; exporters down
S.Korea dept stores report jump in Aug sales-media
Venice opens with Sicilian epic, U.S. films dominate
| Entertainment
|
Dairy prices surge at latest auction
Qatar, Chinese firm sign gas deal
Film portrays athletics gender row in Nazi Germany
Wynette to join Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
| Entertainment
|
India eyes 9 pct growth as PM rejects pessimism
Flower power lures eco-tourists to SAfrica
Documentary explores Hefner's serious side
| Entertainment
|
Mad Men renewed by AMC for fourth season
| Entertainment
|
Them Crooked Vultures kicking off tour in Texas
China won't change direction of economic policy: PM
Family Guy shuffles its creative ranks
| Entertainment
|
Them Crooked Vultures kicking off tour in Texas
| Entertainment
|
A new hidden layer found on an old painting
Rising stars rank high with summer film fans: poll
Rising stars rank high with summer film fans: poll
| Entertainment
|
'Mad Men' renewed for fourth season on AMC
"Mad Men" renewed by AMC for fourth season
Game time changed to avoid conflict with holiday
Venice opens with Sicilian epic, U.S. films dominate
Hoax video of Michael Jackson creates online stir
Attack on Afghan mosque kills 10: officials
Abkhazia to destroy Georgian ships 'violating border'
Strong Indonesia quake kills 32, damages 1,300 homes
| International
|
US-TECH Summary
News
Iran replacing envoys who backed "rioters"
Afghanistan deputy spy chief among 23 dead in blast
| International
|
Brown denies double-dealing in Lockerbie case
| International
|
A year on, Reuters cameraman still held by U.S. army
UN chief visits 'doomsday' seed vault in Arctic
Music label video site Vevo in talks with CBS, NBC
Israel, Palestinians hold high-level economic talks
| International
|
Teens planned UK Columbine massacre, jury told
| International
|
Turkey wedding massacre defendants plead guilty: report
| International
|
Chinese democracy dissident jailed for 13 years
| International
|
Bomb damages Athens stock exchange, one hurt
| International
|
US-TECH Summary
Accused Holocaust museum shooter appears in court
Digi-novel combines book, movie and website
| Technology
|
Computer algorithm to decipher ancient texts
| Technology
|
Britain denies 'double-dealing' over Lockerbie bomber
Powerful quake in Indonesia kills 7; dozens hurt
Nokia bolsters phone lineup
| Technology
|
South Korea reports 4th swine flu-related death
The Nation's Weather
Pakistan minister 'wounded in gun attack'
Slain Ga. man always opened his home to family
Australian terror cell member jailed for 5 years
Musical finds comedy in aging, dentures and death
China detains 15 parents for lead poison unrest
Britain 'against Lockerbie bomber dying in jail'
Great Barrier Reef under serious threat: report
Evacuation holdouts defy danger to protect homes
Justice Stevens slows his hiring at high court
Quake kills 23 in Indonesia
Taliban blast kills Afghan deputy chief of intel
Top-selling Bible in North America to be revised
Indian army kills 5 suspected rebels in Kashmir
Digi-novel combines book, movie and website
| Entertainment
|
Movie sequels lift summer box office to new record
| Entertainment
|
Venice film festival kicks off with Italian epic
Madonna rocks Tel Aviv at tail end of tour
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Documentary explores Hefner's "serious" side
SAfrican sex contradictions exposed
"Family Guy" shuffles its creative ranks
Jerry Springer to host live 'America's Got Talent'
Don't divorce, go on holiday, says Indian tour operator
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights