Fujian Wastewater Treatment Plant Update: Officials Claim

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUANGZHOU 000592 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM, DRL AND OES/PCI EPA FOR OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV PHUM ECON PGOV CH SUBJECT: Fujian Wastewater Treatment Plant Update: Officials Claim Peaceful Resolution, but Access Denied REF A: GUANGZHOU 553 AND PREVIOUS GUANGZHOU 00000592 001.2 OF 002 (U) This document is sensitive but unclassified. Not for internet distribution. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Despite official claims that a standoff at a villager-occupied wastewater treatment plant in Fujian Province had been resolved peacefully, local Party and government officials prevented travel to the site or contact with the villagers in mid-October by Post personnel. End summary. Officials Claim "Peaceful Resolution" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Quangang District Party Standing Committee member and Information Director Mr. Lin and Quanzhou Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) Deputy Director Mr. Huang briefed ConGenoff in Xiamen October 15 to provide an official update on the situation in Fengwei township, where a nearby suspect wastewater treatment plant was occupied by villagers August 26 (reftel). Lin and Huang said that, following a meeting between villager representatives and Quanzhou's acting mayor on September 28, during which the acting mayor publicly apologized for the government's handling of the pollution problem and pledged that the wastewater plant's operations would be brought into conformity with national standards, the mood within the village shifted markedly in support of working with the local government to find a peaceful resolution of the issue. ¶3. (SBU) At the same September meeting, the acting mayor also told the village representatives that because it was imperative that the plant return to operation, authorities would give the villagers until October 5 to relinquish control of the facility, according to Lin. Lin said that although "99%" of the villagers favored surrendering control of the plant, a very small group of "holdouts" remained past the deadline and refused to leave the plant. Lin said the situation was finally resolved "peacefully and without incident" October 13, when plant workers and Environmental Protection Bureau officials were able to enter and retake control of the facility. ¶4. (SBU) When asked if any of the villagers had been detained in connection with the wastewater plant protest, Lin said that "fewer than 10 people" had been detained and were currently under ;investigation. Lin and Huang emphatically claimed that the situation had been successfully resolved because local officials exercised patience and restraint, listened to villager concerns and implemented confidence-building measures following the first, failed attempt to retake control through the use of police force. Actions Belie Official Claims of Open Access -------------- ¶5. (SBU) When asked if there were currently any constraints on travel to or from the village or on villager contacts with media or others outside the village, the officials said there were "no constraints," as the situation had "returned to normal." Moreover, according to Lin and Huang, the vast majority of the villagers were supportive of the manner in which the issue was resolved. ¶6. (SBU) After subsequent failed attempts to phone contacts in the village to corroborate the official statements, ConGenoff determined to take advantage of the officials' earlier claims of free access to the village by making an unannounced evening visit. Although this decision was made late in the day -- and closely held -- authorities clearly anticipated the visit. ¶7. (SBU) Upon exiting the expressway, but still a number of miles from Quangang, a plainclothes officer at a police checkpoint asked the driver, "Is there a diplomat in the car?" The officer then asked if the Quanzhou FAO had been informed of the travel. ConGenoff responded that he had met with the FAO earlier in the day and had been told there were no constraints on travel to the village. The officer then called FAO Deputy Director Huang. ConGenoff explained to Huang his interest in independently verifying the information received earlier in the day, noting that Huang and Lin had said there were no constraints on travel to the village. GUANGZHOU 00000592 002.2 OF 002 Huang remarked that he happened to be nearby, and that he would drive to the police checkpoint to discuss the situation. ¶8. (SBU) Huang subsequently summoned Lin, who expressed dismay that, after having provided such a detailed update, ConGenoff would desire to independently verify his report. Lin also expressed concern that ConGenoff would "misunderstand" the situation if he happened to talk to the "small minority" in the village that was discontented. Lin also noted that the "dissenters" might try to use the USG presence to re-galvanize the villagers' protest. ConGenOff reiterated post's interest in independently verifying the officials' information so as to be able to report on the situation with confidence, but desisted after it became clear that the officials did not plan to allow a visit to the village. GOLDBECK