Crematorium Plan Sparks Mass Protests in Southern China

Residents in Shuikou town, Maoming, Guangdong Province, China, have staged days of protests and clashed with police over a planned crematorium project. Image provided by interviewee/composite imageThousands of residents in a southern Chinese city have staged days of protests over plans to build a crematorium near their villages, with clashes between protestors and police, according to residents who spoke to The Epoch Times on the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal.The unrest in Shuikou town, a part of Maoming in Guangdong Province, began in mid-March after authorities announced a cremation facility project that locals say is being built too close to homes, schools, and water sources. The dispute has since escalated into one of the largest public protests in the area in recent years.Protests EscalateResidents said demonstrations began on March 17, when hundreds gathered outside local government offices and later at the city government to oppose the project. By March 19, tensions had escalated, with riot police deployed in large numbers. Videos circulating online showed physical confrontations, with some protesters injured and others detained.On March 25, about 3,000 people took to the streets, according to a local resident.“People were just standing there, without any physical altercations, but police still made arrests,” the resident told The Epoch Times.He added that some officers were in plainclothes and detained individuals regardless of whether they had participated in clashes.“They took a few leaders first to set an example,” he said.Residents revealed that authorities imposed tight controls as the protests continued. Roads leading into the area were blocked, and checkpoints that required identification for entry were set up. Some areas experienced extended power outages, further heightening tensions.At the center of the conflict is the location of the planned cremation funeral facility and how the project was disclosed.Residents told The Epoch Times that the site is much closer to populated areas than authorities indicated. Locals also allege they were not informed of the project’s true purpose during earlier land acquisition. Multiple residents said officials initially described the project as a road construction plan, revealing it was a crematorium only after groundwork had already begun.One resident said that local authorities and employers have been encouraging—and in some cases pressuring—residents, workers, and even students to sign consent forms supporting the project.Similar Disputes in the RegionConflicts over the siting of crematoriums and other funeral facilities have triggered protests in the region before.In 2019, plans to build a crematorium in nearby Huazhou led to large-scale clashes between residents and police. The project was eventually suspended after sustained public opposition. Subsequent attempts to relocate the facility also faced resistance and were ultimately abandoned.This time, residents in Shuikou say they learned the current project had previously been proposed in other locations but was moved after facing similar backlash.Protests Reflect Deeper FrustrationsCommenting on the situation, Canada-based Chinese writer and pro-democracy activist Sheng Xue told The Epoch Times that the dispute reflects broader tensions between local communities and authorities.Placing a crematorium near residential areas “directly impacts property values, public health, and psychological well-being,” she said, adding that the use of misleading information to advance such projects erodes public trust.Sheng said the scale of the protests suggests growing frustration among residents.“When people feel they have no way to protect their basic living conditions or be heard, that sense of desperation can outweigh fear of punishment,” she said.Li Jing and Gu Xiaohua contributed to this report.