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Breaking News - Redundant Guizhou tobacco employees drink poison in protest

On June 30, a group of redundant tobacco employees struggling to live after their factory collapsed have participated in a mass protest after years of appeals falling on deaf ears. The group gathered at a meeting of local officials asking for assistance, but were dispelled with force by officials. 7 of the protestors drank pesticide in protest of what is turning out to be yet another tragic event in Guizhou following a mass protest incited by the rape and killing of a teenage girl.
The National Tobacco Industry conference was held in Guizhou on June 26 and ex-tobacco factory employees seized the opportunity to make the appeal at the conference. A number of protestors entered the hotel but were dragged away by public security personnel, and in a last ditch effort 7 of the protestors drank the pesticide and they have taken to protest with their lives. They were taken to the Hospital of Guiyang School of Medicine for treatment, and on July 1, a male and female remained unconscious and in a critical state.

The 7 protestors were aged between 30 to 40 years old, and were former employees of the Guizhou Hwangping Tobacco Factory. They used to be farmers in Hwangping and joined the factory after resumption of land by the then expanding state-owed enterprise in the 19890s. In the 1990s, the factory collapsed due to mismanagement leaving them out of work. They struggled to live after losing their land and receiving inadequate compensation. They have have appealed to the government for years with no result.

Another protestor Mr Zhang said that one of the protestors who drank pesticide is his wife who remains unconscious. Mr Zhang said no one would resort to such a measure unless they’ve run out of options.

The state owned Hwangping Tobacco Factory was established in 1975 and was one of the main national enterprises. It ceased production and shut down in 1993 after mismanagement.

The above news is brought to you by Li Yuhan and Chris Thomas for Breaking News on the SOH Radio Network.