【新唐人2014年04月05日訊】廣東茂名市政府週四下午突然召開記者會，記者會後，市政府外聚集的群眾不斷增加，到了晚上，現場多達兩萬人。市公安局副局長宣稱，鎮壓騷亂時警方「誤傷圍觀民眾」並致歉，但是否認公安曾經打死人。
一則「由民眾公投決定PX石化項目是否上馬」的網絡傳聞，週四下午吸引茂名市上千名民眾陸續聚集於茂名市委外。茂名市政府新聞辦公室於同一時間，在市政府內舉行事件發生以來的首次公開記者會。
市公安局副局長周沛洲說，3月30號事件處置過程中，執勤民警與聚集的人員確實發生了「擦碰」。他對鎮壓騷亂時誤傷圍觀民眾致歉，卻否認公安打死人，還宣稱有一個死者是死於交通意外。但當局承認最少拘留了18人。
據《自由亞洲之聲》報導，由於記者會較原定時間提早了一天，又沒有按照早前所宣佈的方式—-「直播」進行，也沒有按原定計劃安排群眾表達意見。再加上，民眾認為記者會沒有如實交代死傷人數，政府也沒有答應取消PX項目，所以週四記者會後，市政府外聚集的群眾不斷增加，到晚上，現場多達兩萬人。
廣州市民賈榀告訴《新唐人》，週四茂名的聚集相對平和，警方沒有採取強硬手段。
廣州市民賈榀：「2.54前幾天的衝突很大。造成很嚴重後果。這次應該是在等上級，上級的批示。當地政府已經不敢再隨便下令去鎮壓，以免事態進一步擴展，可能當地領導也在擔心，萬一事情控制不住了，上面有甚麼指責怪下來的話，他們也承擔不起。」
廣州資深民主人士範一平也援引茂名朋友的消息告訴《新唐人》，在茂名市一些路口，警方對進出來往車輛實行盤查，檢查身份證。
廣州民主人士範一平：「2.10大家現在在等市政府裡面的決定。老百姓在外邊圍觀等政府的消息。可能為了不給他增加鎮壓口實。老百姓表現的比較平靜。但這只是一個表面的東西。如果市政府出來的答復或最終結論很重要，假如結論大家不滿意，可能會引起新的抗爭活動。」
茂名的抗議，前三天充滿血腥。傳說第一天死了三人，第二天死了八人。而當局否認警察打死人。香港《蘋果日報》記者，找到週一凌晨在衝突現場身亡的17歲少年溫萬彬的家人。死者父親冷淡的對記者說，兒子不是被打死，是騎電車遭警方攔截，出了所謂的「意外」。
範一平認為，死者父親的這番話不能相信。
範一平：「5.18凡是他對外公開的東西，全部都是肯定被封口被買通的。這是徹底的慣用手法。因為這裡所有的手法，你只要把這東西講出去，到時候就不賠償來威脅他。」
茂名副市長梁羅躍在新聞發佈會上，指責抗議民眾採取暴力手段。他說，在3月30號晚上，有人用石塊、玻璃瓶襲擊市委門口，在市區多個地方打砸沿街商舖、廣告牌，縱火燒燬一輛執勤警車。
範一平認為，群眾剛開始只是和平理性的請願，是警方很快就作出彈壓的措施，所以老百姓才有激烈的反應。
此外，範一平指出，茂名人民憤怒爆發不僅僅是因為PX項目，而是民怨長期積纍的結果。他說，在廣東，如順德、南海、佛山、茂名等地，那些鄉鎮書記、村長、主任等，勾結開發商賣地，貪腐相當驚人，貪污數額不是幾百萬、幾千萬，而是十億、八億、甚至幾十個億。
範一平：「7.56茂名是一個貪腐的重災區。全國出名。前兩屆的班子整個領導層全部已經爛掉。平時積纍下來的民怨，還有因為貪腐造成對社會的危害的不滿情緒非常多，已經有這個基礎在這裡，而不是說因為這個事情簡單引起。」
據香港《明報》報導，週四下午群眾包圍市政府期間，官員邀請10多名民眾代表入內「對話」，至傍晚約六點多，「對話」未達共識。當局表示，希望蒐集民眾對PX項目意見，民眾則要求追究打人者的責任，以及釋放被拘留的示威者。
到晚上七點半，公安用盾牌敲擊地面，以所謂的「柔性」方式清場，民眾才逐漸散去。
採訪編輯/秦雪 後製/
Mass Protest Outside Maoming City Hall: Authorities Apologize For “Accidental Injuries."
Maoming City government in Guangdong Province
hosted a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
More and more people gathered
outside of the city government building.
Numbers reached over 20,000 people by the evening.
Maoming Public Security Bureau apologized that the
police “accidentally injured onlookers" during the clash.
It denied that police ever beat people to death.
Internet rumors discussing people voting for or against
PX chemical project attracted approximately 1000 people
to gather in front of the Maoming city government building.
Meanwhile, Maoming city government Press Office
hosted its first ever public press conference.
Zhou Peizhou, Deputy Director of Maoming Public Security
Bureau said there was indeed some “bumping" between
the police and protesters during the clashes on March 30.
He apologized for “accidentally injuring"
onlookers during the suppression.
However, he denied police beating anyone to death.
He also claimed that one person died from a car accident.
The authorities admitted detaining at least 18 people.
According to Radio Free Asia, the
press conference started a day early.
It didn’t allow live reporting during it’s announcements,
and didn’t give a chance for people to express opinions.
People believe that the government didn’t
release death toll and injury numbers truthfully.
They also didn’t discuss canceling the
PX chemical plant construction project.
Subsequently, more and more people began protesting
outside the city government building after the conference.
Protester numbers reached over 20,000 people that evening.
Jia Pin, a Guangzhou citizen, told NTD that
the protests on Thursday were peaceful.
On that occasion, the police didn’t take tough measures.
Jia Pin, Guangzhou citizen: “The clashes in the past few
days were large in scale, and with serious repercussions.
On this occasion, the police are probably
waiting for orders from higher level officials.
The local government doesn’t dare to
crackdown further, in case the situation worsens.
Probably the local government is also worried about being
blamed by higher levels if the situation gets out of control.
They can’t take responsibility.”
Fan Yiping, senior rights activist
in Guangzhou spoke to NTD.
Information from his friend in Maoming suggest police
are inspecting IDs of cars coming in and out of Maoming.
Fan Yiping, Guangzhou rights activist: “People
are waiting for decisions from the city government.
People are waiting outside of the government building.
The Chinese people are very peaceful, so as not to give
the government any excuse for launching a suppression.
However, it’s just a superficial thing.
The city government’s response is the most important. If
people are not satisfied with it, it may trigger new protests."
The protests during the first three
days in Maoming were bloody.
Sources indicate 3 people died on the first day,
and 8 people lost their lives on the second day.
But the local authority denied it.
Hong Kong’s Apple Daily interviewed the
father of 17 year-old Wen Wanshan, who
died early on Monday morning in Maoming.
The father told the reporter that his
son wasn’t beaten to death by police.
He reportedly had a “car accident" when the
police were trying to stop his electronic bike.
Fan Yiping believed the father’s words are unbelievable.
Fan Yiping: “Everything that’s released
to the public is sealed with bribery.
This is the method the government often uses.
Once this father tells the truth, the government
will threaten him with refusing any compensation."
During the press conference, Maoming
Vice Mayor Liang Luoyao condemned
some protesters for taking violent measures.
He said some people used stones and glass bottles
to attack the city government building on March 30.
He said that they smashed many stores,
billboards, and burned a police car.
Fan Yiping suggest that people petitioned in
a peaceful and rational way at the beginning.
However, police soon took violent action,
which triggered people’s strong response.
Fan Yiping indicated that the outrage in Maoming
is not only due to the PX construction project.
It is also due to long accumulated wider discontent in society.
Many local officials in cities in Guangdong
including Shunde, Nanhai, Foshan, and Maoming
have colluded with developers to sell off land.
Their corruption is shocking.
The amounts involved are not just millions or tens
of millions, but billions, and even several billions.
Fan Yiping: “Maoming has been hit hardest
by corruption. It’s notorious throughout China.
The first two sessions of leaders were all rotten.
Accumulated discontent, and government
corruption have formed a foundation for protests.
It’s not just simply because of the PX plant."
Hong Kong media Ming Pao reports officials invited
more than 10 citizen representatives to “a dialog."
This happened when people surrounded
the government building on Thursday.
The dialog lasted until after 6 p.m.,
but no consensus was made.
The local authority said it hoped to
collect public opinions over the PX project.
However, the people gathered to demand the authorities
to take responsibility over the violent crackdown.
They also request the release of detained protesters.
By 7:30 p.m., police used shields to hit the ground,
using a so-called “soft method “to clear the scene.
People gradually left.