Tang Fuzhen, a 47-year-old woman resident of Chengdu, died 16 days after setting herself ablaze in a confrontation with chengguan officers who wanted to demolish her allegedly illicit home.

But we do not expect much sympathy from local authorities because the incident has been defined as "resisting law-enforcement by means of violence". For that, several of Tang's relatives were injured or remain in police custody.

Accounts from the authorities have focused on the violent way Tang and her relatives deterred demolition. Reportedly with bricks and burning bottled gas, they frustrated the first attempt in April. The same was said to have occurred on November 13 when determined chengguan people tried again.