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Sunday, July 21, 2013

It's Never About the Fruit

Since the Arab Spring, the Chinese have worried that their own people might find inspiration for a Han Spring that might tackle their own lack of freedom. That fear has died down as time has passed. Should the Chinese still worry?

This doesn't seem that momentous, does it?

Deng Zhengjia, in his 50s, died on Wednesday in Chenzhou City, Hunan.

He was hit with a weight from a set of scales after a row erupted with the officials, known as "chengguan", Xinhua reported, citing Mr Deng's niece.

The six are being held on suspicion of intentionally harming others, added the news agency.

The chengguan, or Urban Management Law Enforcement force, support the police in tackling low-level crime in cities and have become unpopular with the Chinese public after a series of high-profile violent incidents.

"They are now synonymous for many Chinese citizens with physical violence, illegal detention and theft," said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a report last year.

The Chinese might want to be nice to their street vendors, no?