With a media blackout on news of the demonstration, the time, location and target turnout of one million people were spread almost exclusively by SMS, bbs postings and on blogs. The government was able to stop the SMS from spreading for several days and nearly all bbs webmasters and blog service providers were swift to delete any related discussion, leaving Bullog members free to go on to post several in-depth posts this past week looking at various angles of the situation, including one of of the key public figures lobbying against the PX plant, Southern Metropolis Daily columnist and Xiamen resident Lian Yue.
Several other Bullogers took it a step further by attending the demonstration in person, leaving one at home to post their SMS live updates straight onto Bullog, giving it a national exclusive as to what was happening minute-by-minute down on the ground which, by the afternoon of the 1st, had attracted enough readers that Bullog's host server was left unable to keep up. With Bullog inaccessible, the live SMScast was temporarily moved here, from where many of the below discussions mixed in with the live reporting were taken.
Disclaimer: this blogger was there SMS-blogging the tail end of the procession.
37: about 500 Wujing are circling around. Old women are yelling: “reject pollution, protect Xiamen!” A large group of people are gathered at the Xiamen municipal government buildings and want in. A large red banner has been pulled out.
Beifeng: someone at the municipal government gate is holding up a banner which reads: resist PX, protect Egret Island, police are trying to grab it away from him.
Beifeng: A second banner reads: “resist the PX project, protect city residents’ health, protect Xiamen's environment.
08:58:28
现场人数大致超过3000人。
The number of people at the is roughly more than 3000.
08:59:49
警察很克制,市府院内大批武警待命。
群众举着横幅,涌向市府大门,暂算克制。
Police are very self-restrained. A large number of Wujing are awaiting orders from within the city government compound.
The crowd is raising banners, surging towards the main city government gate, self-restrained overall.
The crowd has pushed forward five meters. The crowd is gathered about ten meters to the right of the city gov't gates, police are lined up three rows deep, refusing to budge.
Seems the march will be happening, people are now moving in the opposite direction——away from the right side of the government building, west along Hubinbei Rd. The authorities it seems were expecting this demo.
There's at least over 10,000 people here, the march is on!
People keep joining in along the way, the procession keeps getting longer.
More and more people can be seen wearing yellow ribbons.
Because the procession route hadn't been decided upon beforehand, things are a bit chaotic. The procession is turning around on Jianye Rd and carrying on down Hubinnan Rd. Slogans of “stop the construction, don't just postpone it!” are ringing out. People up front are wearing ‘protect the Diaoyutai islands[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senkaku_Islands]’ t-shirts. Crazy!
09:23:59
补充:警方的动态?
北风:不见警察,看上去他们来不及调度。
SMS-blog dispatcher Buchong asks: what's going on with the police?
Beifeng: don't see any. Seems they weren't able to recoordinate in time.
China Mobile network has definitely been shut down. (SMS-blog dispatcher Buchong notes: this was in response to me asking if the networks were smooth or not. Beifeng's on China Unicom, I'm on China Mobile, both Guangzhou accounts.)
As it moves many people are handing out printouts and yellow ribbons. I've tied one on my bag which reads: people's livelihoods, democracy, people's rights, harmony. Police are filming me now, I'm giving them lots of poses.
There's seventy senior citizens here saying: ‘for the next generation, we don't mind settling accounts this late in life, it's worth it!’
A group of people are holding up a red banner different from the rest. A whole company came out to take part in their own name.
The procession has moved onto Egret Island Rd, there remains roughly 10,000 people.
The procession is moving down Hubin Rd. From what I understand, more than a few companies have come out in full with their bosses’ approval.
The procession has yet to get sounding excited or agitated. Traffic police are following along, the procession is calm.
The procession is about to hit Hubinnan Rd. Slogan: ‘care for Xiamen, everyone has responsibility!’
The police have no idea where the procession is going. They're just keeping up, road-by-road, waiting. (SMS dispatcher Buchong notes: this is the administrative cost. If the higher-ups don't come down they're going to go bankrupt)
The procession has turned left heading west on Hubinnan Rd. The person at the front is wearing a gas mask.
There's more than 10,000 people now, cars passing by are hollering. Passing the architecture institute, it's massive now!
(Dispatcher Buchong responds to a reader's question regarding photos: Beifeng and I are using old cellphone models, cannot send images. They'll be coming tonight, sorry!)
The procession is comprised mainly of young people, but it seems there are many housewives here too.
(Buchong notes: this is classic Beifeng: he often plays Mah Jong downstairs from his building, usually wins people's money, he must be filled with appreciation now).
They're singing a catchy local island song. The procession has already moved to the Hubin intersection.
Locals are buying water and placing it on the side of the street, handing it out to marchers to quench their thirst. Very moving sight.
The procession has moved beyond the Hubinbei intersection.
10:09:40
貌似政府的工作人员要求队伍去大会堂,但队伍行进的目标可能是火车站。
It seems the government personnel are demanding the procession move to the exhibition center, but the processing might be going to the train station.
Passed Houdaixi Rd, emotions are riding high.
It's very hot in Xiamen today, the procession is burning in the scorching sun, all along people keep passing out water.
10:21:03
游行已经两个小时,大家都有点累了。
The procession has been going for two hours already, people are starting to get a little tired.
10:24:43
经过金榜路,目标确定是火车站。
Passed Jinbang Rd, the destination is definitely the train station.
10:25;55
现在游行人数增加到两万,新加入的人群原在火车站附近等候
There are 20,000 people taking part in the march now. Newcomers it turns out were waiting at the train station.
10:27:17
警方只是远远管制交通,貌似便衣的人试图影响行走路线
Police are just controlling traffic from a distance. It seems the undercover cops are trying to change the route.
An officer here just said to his colleague they don't know where the procession is going. A taxi driver has stopped, pulled out his cellphone and is taking pictures now.
10:33:46
必须停建喊声云,现场再度亢奋
‘Must stop the construction’ people are screaming to the heavens, the scene is very excited now.
10:35:59
仍在湖滨南路,临近富山路口。
Still on Hubinnan Rd, approaching Fushan intersection.
10:37:40
现场开始响起高喊何立峰下台的口号。
People are yelling loudly for [mayor] He Lifeng to resign.
Also, another procession group is now moving from Jiahe [the main] street pas Lianban. Many people, lots of office workers are getting riled up. Many people are jumping off busses and out of taxis to join in the procession.
More updates copied and pasted from SMS dispatcher Buchong's Bullog page:
cloudswander says:
10:46:11
队伍在新世界百货前,没有再往火车站方向走。
The procession is in front of New World Dept. Store, is no longer heading towards the train station.
10:47:05
队伍沿嘉禾路往北行进。
队伍长约300米,人数不详。
Moving north along Jiahe Rd. now.
The procession is at least 300 meters long, people count unclear.
10:51:19
队伍在转盘处发生分歧,后队换了方向,前队停着没动。
The procession was split up as it turned. The tail is rerouting, the head has stopped to wait for them.
10:53:09
后队改变主意,跟了上来,仍往北走。
The tail has changed its mind and is now moving north following the head.
10:55:48
北风有中暑迹象,昨晚从广州到厦门一夜未睡好。
Beifeng is starting to get heatstroke. Last night on the bus from Guangzhou to Xiamen he didn't sleep a wink.
cloudswander says:
///失去前方的联系近一个小时,55555///
Lost contact with the front line for nearly one hour already. Wooooooh…
现在全部的人都对着市府大门高喊为人民服务
Now all the people are standing in front of the city government gate yelling: ‘serve the people!’
游行队伍冲破了警察如抗洪般的人墙,唱这国歌正与广场静坐人群汇合。
The procession has charged through the police like a flood over a wall. Singing the Chinese national anthem[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G6P6foasUA] they've joined up with people sitting quietly in the square.
从市政府里有约一百多武警跑步向游行队伍的方向。有六辆空军用卡车从那边开回来停在市府门口。
There are now about a 100 Chinese armed police running from within the city government headquarters towards the procession. Six air force trucks are driving over and have stopped at the entrance to the city government building.
一部警车停在路边放广播,说”天气越来越热,请大家尽快撤离”。在场有人说市内的朋友讲游行有一万来人。
One police car has stopped by the road and is playing this recording: “the weather is getting hotter. Would everyone please disperse as soon as possible.” One person at the scene says his friend downtown says there are over 10,000 people.
Rubbish collectors are following behind the procession picking up discarded bottles, bound to be making a big fortune today.
Seems the procession is going to head back to the government building and join up with residents there.
The procession has turned onto Lianyue Rd. Too bad Lian Yue's not here.
Two workers have put their money together and bought two boxes of water for the marchers. They say they've only got ten RMB left on them now.
Just overheard a police officer on the phone: “they already know the route now, currently deploying.” People watching from the sides of the road are clapping and encouraging the marchers.
On the side of the road is a large group of children yelling, “keep going! keep going!”
The procession has turned onto Hubinxi. Police are sitting in cars awaiting orders. Citizens’ emotions are swelling now.
Running back and forth taking pictures, I'm about to cramp up.
11:20:50
一批警车经过,有人发信息说队伍前面有点紧张(三七)
A bunch of police cars just zoomed past. Someone up front just sent a message saying things are tense up front.
A large number of police have surrounded the government headquarters, the procession has already returned near to city hall.
A large number of police are moving now.
People are singing ‘solidarity is strength’, armed military police are standing just about 100 meters away.
A firehose is standing ready.
11:32:19
游行被警车阻止了(三七)
现场发生冲撞,武警被冲散
The procession is being blocked by the police
There's a struggle, people are charging the military police.
11:33:59
武警第二道防线被冲散。
人们高喊反对暴力
武警群众都在集结形势危急
A second military police blockade has been charged through
People are screaming ‘oppose any violence’
The military police are gathering into a defence formation
Hubinbei Rd, violent pushing, some people sustaining minor injuries, ‘oppose violence’ being yelled loudly
The second half of the procession has broken through at Hudong Bridge, the procession is moving forward again
Moved past Qixing Rd. now, heading for the city government.
Very crowded and noisy
‘He Lifang [the mayor], get out here! He Lifang, step down!’
The slogan now is: ‘no postponement! It must be stopped!’
Here cloudswander posts a link to the to a 163.com news story on the PX plant from noon on June 1[news.163.com/07/0601/11/3FTB7B9M0001124J.html] which he praises but mentions nothing of the march currently underway.
Seems military police are mobilizing nearby.
The procession is yelling ‘be back here tomorrow at 8am or be square’
Police stationed at Temao Rd., a group of rock collectors have been
The group is worked up, the situation is unpredictable.
Armed police have barricaded people again, stepping forward forcing them back.
People are singing the national anthem.
The military police barricade has been broken through again.
Both sides refuse to budge.
At Hubinbei, being forcefully held back again.
The military police line has been broken through again
The second time the procession has broken through the army barricade, third time coming soon, people are chanting ‘oppose and violence! oppose any violence!’
The procession arrives successfully at the front gate of the government hall, yelling loudly ‘He Lifeng, resign!’
The police are clinging to the front gate, holding back the charges.
Back at the city government, soldiers and police everywhere, people yelling madly for the mayor to resign, yelling at the police and soldiers: ‘serve the people! protect Xiamen!’ ‘PX must be stopped!’
Both sides at the government headquarters gate refusing to budge. Beifeng and Feng37 have met up with some netfriends here, chatting and catching their breath now. Very hot in Xiamen today, taking a rest.
Aether Woo Pro User says:
im watching you.
plz continue
MingDami says:
支持厦门市民的周五集体散步行动!
Support Xiamen residents’ mass march today!
reverdie says:
上面那个实况报道的bullblog网页,我亲眼看着被封
The above live reports are from Bullog, but it seems to be blocked now.
reverdie says:
整个牛博都上不去了
All of Bullog is inaccessible now.
to reverdie
这是为什么要使用伟大的flickr的原因
flickr的作者肯定没有想到flickr还能够这样用
That's why people need to use the great Flickr.
Flickr's creators probably never thought it would ever be used like this.
Aether Woo Pro User says:
www.bullog.cn
应该已经被拔掉服务器电源了
Bullog's probably already blown the breakers at the host server.
cloudswander says:
我本人坚决反对冲击市政府的行为,授人以柄啊。坐坐就可以,冲击不解决任何问题。
I'm personally opposed to people rushing the city government gate. You're just giving them reason to act and charging doesn't solve a single problem.
Cloudswander continues copying live SMS updates from Bullog:
Many office staff off for lunch are rushing over, more and more people showing up. The city government has released some news: an environmental impact evaluation will take half a year, they hope everyone will return to normal.
cloudswander says:
本站已经突破1万的点击了,在短短的几个小时之内
Bullog has already seen over 10,000 hits in just a few short hours.
13:02:06
有不足一千人在市政府门口唱歌,其他的人在对面人行道围观。
北风三七现在去午餐。
Just under a thousand people singing at the city government gates, others are watching from the sidewalk across the street.
Beifeng and Feng37 have gone for lunch.
Not as many people now as in the morning
Quite a few soldiers here
People are calling for [mayor] He Lifeng to come down and meet them
Some police are telling people to make a racket if they choose, it's working. They're just surrounding people now, not blocking them.
13:35:22
北风等刚刚吃了点东西,现正买水和几位牛博网网友一起赶往现场。
Beifeng has just finished eating, is now buying some water and hurrying back to the scene with some Bullogers.
13:43:32
游行队伍主力离开了市政府门口,准备沿中山路去厦门大学。
The main force of the procession is leaving the city government and is preparing to move towards Zhongshan Rd. and then Xiamen University.
Dong Yan says:
Bless our poor people…..
cloudswander says:
具网友说
厦门大学这两天再考试……
One netfriend says
Xiamen University is having finals today…
We've left the city government. The marchers were riled up at the gate and the undercovers, police and army police are quite nervous. The uniforms kept warning us foreigners saying they'd arrest us if we didn't leave. Two of us had our passports checked and passport numbers recorded, as well as being forced to delete all the photos off their camera. They said they saw the police have a photocopy of my passport. When we left the city gov't hall there were more soldiers and police present than protesters.
One netfriend has received an SMS:
If you go through normal channels to give the government feedback, we guarantee we'll share your opinions and suggestions with environmental experts…
Source: 09599 Voice of China Mobile
The government cares…so sweet.
About two thousand people in the procession, moving west from Hubinnan Rd.
The procession arrived at the Environmental Bureau yelling: ‘protect Xiamen, reject pollution!’
One boy wearing a red Young Pioneers neckscarf says he'd like to join in but his school has no day off.
You won't find any other information sources, the whole area been sealed off. It's like a black hole. Friends down on the front line, no matter what don't get hurt.
That it's gone this far today is extraordinary. The government has permitted the demonstration, something that hasn't happened in 18 years. If you rush in you might lose the compromise both sides have come to and you'll regret it.
Bullog has already gotten over 40,000 views now.
cloudswander says:
人群刚才到了轮渡,引起交通堵塞近20分钟…
They've moved down to the ferries now, causing traffic to back up for twenty minutes.
The procession is shouting: ‘protect Xiamen! Join us!’ mobilizing citizens to join in. Numbers are increasing.
Looking back at the whole procession, it seems there's been an unorganized amount of discipline. The mood and the weather are both super hot, there have been some extremists in with the procession. The main ones from the morning, however, are no longer moving at the front.
Just heard a police officer say: we have to use all our power to stop them from getting into Xiamen University.
When the procession passed in front of the Naval Hospital, to avoid disturbing any patients, people automatically stopped chanting slogans. Seems sensible.
The procession is turning left onto Zhenghai Rd. One more turn to the right and we'll be at Xiamen University.
The procession is not at the Siming campus of the science and technology university. No police deployments to be seen.
The school gate is locked tight. Inside what seems to be a school administrator is making a phone call, telling someone to watch over every single student.
Some students want to come out but the administrator blocks them. The procession starts shouting slogans at the campus gate.
No use, the gate is still shut. The students are all essentially being locked up inside the school.
Almost at the gate of Xiamen University. Some students jump and join the procession.
The procession arrives at the gate, it's locked shut. Everyone prepares to sit silently.
Some people start shouting for them to open the gate. The security guard protects the door, no police to be seen.
16:03:19
市民在游说学生参加,看来可能性不大。。。
There doesn't seem to be much chance that any university students will join in the march…
16:22:17
现场有人通知明天早上八点市政府门口集中。
Someone receives word that at 8am Saturday morning another protest will be held at the city government gate.
16:26:50
厦大门口人群渐渐散去,估计今天到此告一段落了。
厦大的老师进不了校门,意见很大。
People start drifting away from the Xiamen University gate. It seems today's events are over.
University professors are unable to enter the school, making a big noise about it. People start drifting away from the Xiamen University gate. It seems today's events are over.
University professors are unable to enter the school, making a big noise about it.