Macau Government Denounces Violation of Law

Written on May 2, 2007 by admin

The violent May Day clashes were about the influx of illegal foreign workers, corruption and rising real estate prices. About 5,000 Macau protesters staged the largest protest since the hand-over to China in 1999. Twenty-five police officers and reportedly two or three female protesters were injured.

Police arrested three men and a woman, the majority of the Macau protesters were middle-aged workers, many jobless and angry over the rise in imported laborers and alleged collusion between government officials and businesses.

The photo is from the Oriental Daily showing demonstrators clashing with police near Senado Square and outside the government headquarters.

Official Macau SAR Government response
“The Macao SAR Government denounced the violation of law during a demonstration today and believed that the Police had taken appropriate measure to handle to conflict in order to restore social order.

“In a government statement released later in the evening, the SAR Government reaffirmed that the rights to voice opinion through demonstrations and other lawful ways of expression were respected and calls would be answered proactively.

“Demonstrations should be carried out in lawful manner and posed no threats to normal social and economic activities, and to other people’s lawful rights, the Government stated.

“The SAR Government also stressed its determination to maintain the rule of law and social order, which was the basis of Macao’s developments, and that all attempts to disrupt the Macao’s stable development would not be allowed.