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BEIJING (AP) - A newspaper connected to China's ruling Communist Party has called on local governments to use less force when dealing with protesters.
A protest against rising bus fares in Hunan province this month reportedly drew 20,000 people and prompted a harsh police crackdown in which witnesses said one person was killed. Baton-wielding riot police beat the protesters — including women, children and the elderly — who fought back with bricks and rocks, they said.
The Study Times, a weekly sponsored by the Party School of the party's Central Committee, called this week on local governments and police to "restrain from using force to control protests," and distinguish between law-breaking and a "collective appeal for help from violations of the law."
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