Weng'an officials sacked after riots, online outcry
7 July 2008
Beijing announced that four local government and security officials in Guizhou's Weng'an county were fired for "severe malfeasance" over an alleged coverup of a murder, that led to protests last week of some 30,000 people, the Wall Street Journal reported. Weng'an police originally said high-school student Li Shufen drowned, angering people who believe she was raped and murdered, perhaps by children of local officials. Chinese bloggers and journalists were credited for putting pressure on officials by posting unofficial reports, photos and pleas from Li's family online.