Ethnic Rioting Breaks Out in Henan Villages, Martial Law Imposed

November 1, 2004

According to the Assoicated Press (AP), Chinese government sources have confirmed the outbreak of ethnic rioting between Chinese Muslims (Hui) and Han Chinese in the central Chinese province of Henan over the past few days. Accounts differ as to the causes of the rioting, which appear to have originated as small-scale disputes between a few individuals which escalated as larger groups of Han and Hui took sides in the conflict. According to the AP, official reports place the number of deaths at seven, and confirm the imposition of martial law in the areas wracked by rioting. Government accounts as to total deaths differ from those provide by a New York Times report, which placed the total deaths at 150, including police forces sent in to maintain order. No coverage of these developments has been observed in the Chinese media.