Henan Farmers Protest Against Tax Collection

China News Digest, 8 January 2002

[CND, 01/08/02] About 600 farmers in Fushan county of Henan province took to the streets last Friday to protest against the collection of overdue taxes, a provincial official said, agencies reported.

According to the official, the farmers surrounded and overturned at least 10 vehicles that belong to the local government.

The farmers have been taken to court for owing taxes as far back as six years. The local government and court officials were trying to forcefully collect the back taxes.

The US-based rights group China Labor Watch said that there were some arrests made. Local police denied the report.

The leaders of the protest will be dealt with according to the law when the investigation is over, one police officer said. (Dong LIU)