footnote to dongyang

Do yourself a favor and read the tale of the Dongyang rebellion over at angrychineseblogger.

Then try not to bleakly laugh when you get to this part.

Later that night, villagers said, some migrant workers sneaked into the courtyard and started scavenging for parts among the destroyed vehicles. Outraged, villagers immediately called police. Officers refused to respond

Why? Well, the tale of the destroyed vehicles is a long one. But the essential fact of the matter is this: the vehicles had been destroyed by the villagers and the vehicles used to belong to the police.

I have as much sympathy for the uppity villagers as anyone but come on!

Police: Crime hotline.
Villager: Hey yeah, I'm a villager one of the ones from the uprising today.
Police: oh yeah with the rocks and the beatings and all.
Villager: that was us.
Police: I took a rock in the arm. That really hurt.
Villager: Yeah, well you deserved it. But anyway remember how we took your vehicles away and ripped them apart.
Police: Yes. Yes I do.
Villager: Well, you won't belive this, but some migrant workers are scrounging around them looking for stuff to sell for scrap.
Police: That's just shocking.
Villager: Can you come out and stop them?
Police: Uh. No. Fuck you. No.
Villager: why not?
Police: You like to throw rocks at us.
Villager: Only when you beat up the elderly. If you manage to round them up without smacking any geezers then no one will hurt you. Okay?
Police: No not okay. You want to rip apart police cars, you get to protect them from scavengers. Good day.
Villager: Jerk.