A local governor and others held responsible for the Sunjiawan
Coal Mine disaster, which clamed 214 lives on February 14, are to
be penalized, according to a decision made at Wednesday's State
Council meeting.
The meeting, chaired by Premier Wen
Jiabao, decided to punish Liu Guoqiang, vice governor of
Liaoning Province, with a "serious administrative demerit." The
Liaoning government must also submit a letter of self-criticism to
the State Council.
Liang Jinfa, board chairman and general manager of the colliery
company, was deprived of his titles. Of the remaining 31 people
held accountable for the accident, four were passed to the judicial
system and the rest given executive punishments.
The gas explosion at the northeastern mine, owned by Liaoning's
Fuxin Coal Industry Group, was one of the worst mining disasters in
recent history.
The State Council meeting addressed other issues, including
draft regulations on the implementation of the Law of Regional
Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities and reform of the veterinary
administration system.
(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2005)