Farmer sets self on fire at Tian'anmen Square
( 2003-09-15 14:43) (Xinhua)
A Chinese farmer, who attempted to burn himself at about 8:40 a.m. Monday at
the Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing, was slightly hurt and has been
hospitalized, police said.
A
Chinese policeman
stands guard in Beijing's Tiananmen Square as workers prepare for October
1 National Day, September 15, 2003. A farmer sets himself on fire at
the Square on Monday to protest a local government decision to relocate his
family. [Reuters] |
Zhu Zhengliang, 45, a native of Qingyang County of east China's Anhui
Province, ignited the gasoline he had poured over his body before the Jinshui
Bridge, which is in front of the Tian'anmen Rostrum. Zhu got slight burns on his
back and arms.
Preliminary investigations show that Zhu and his wife came to Beijing by
train on Sunday. The reason that he attempted to burn himself at the square was
that he was not satisfied with the local government's decision to relocate his
family to another place, the police said.
Zhu and his wife arrived at the Tian'anmen Square early Monday morning. Zhu's
wife was sitting beside him when he set himself on fire, said one policeman, who
was on duty with his comrades-in- arms nearby and stopped Zhu immediately after
they caught sight of the farmer's suicidal action.
The Tian'anmen Square now remains calm and in good order, and tourists are
seen having pictures taken at the site of the incident, with the Tian'anmen
Rostrum as backdrop.
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