Mainland China Troops Shoot Down 20 Unarmed Demonstrators

Here is an excellent NY Times article (plus an update AP release taken from CNN)describing a horrible slaughter of poor Chinese fishermen farmers in a village in Southern China.

Is this simply an unfortunate error in judgment or a strategic display of authority to curb future demonstrations?

Is the demonstration itself a rarity or something becoming more and more common in recent months? Does it represent a growing dissatisfaction in China with the current government regime? Does it constitute a legitimate threat to the stability of the country?