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Breaking News - Police used mace spray to repress more than a thousand protesters in Shanghai

On the 26th of November, more than a thousand property owners assembled in the Wanke Holidays Scenery block in Shanghai Minhang suburb, protesting against authorities who ignored the health of residents; they forcibly expanded the high voltage lines in the residential areas. Hundreds of policemen used mace spray and tear gas on armless property owners. Both sides confronted each other till midnight; a number of owners were beaten and arrested.

According to the Epoch Times report, property owners disclosed that on the morning of the 26th, the electric power company and police security infiltrated the garden of the Wanke Holidays Scenery Block and tried to forcefully construct the expansion of the high voltage lines, they dug up a big hole in the lawn.

8:00pm that evening, hundreds of owners in the community assembled, demanding for the return of their homes with no hazardous radiation threatening their health. They spoke against the government constructing the high voltage lines at their doors. The residents were outraged by the authority’s ignoring the wellbeing and health of others. Over a thousand people gathering at peak time. Half an hour later, the police blocked all roads to Wanke. They imposed martial law and arrested several rights representatives. This triggered even more intensive protests from residents. Hundreds of police wearing helmets and armed with shields sprayed at the owners with mace spray and tear gas.

There were several residents taking photographs and some were trying to reason with the police but the police encircled them and beat them up. They were arrested and taken in police vehicles soon afterwards. An owner Ms Zhao said that many people’s eyes were inflamed after they got sprayed, they could not even open their eyes. This morning one of my neighbours is still in a lot of pain caused from the mace spray attack by police. Owner Mr Liu said that he had never seen such a big detachment of riot police with shields before, and these people were assaulting the common people in public when the security police are not convenient to do so. They are the government Bandits. On the 27th of November, several owners said that it is not easy to be a good citizen in China. Communities are now setting up their own rights defending groups, they will use a variety of ways to let more people know about what is happening so more people will voice together, and carry out a non-violent movement.

The above program is brought to you by Kao Yun reported by Erin Toirkens and Eng Truong for Breaking News on Sound of Hope Radio Network.