A total of 42 people held accountable for two separate fatal
accidents in Shandong Province last August have been punished, said
local sources.
Of these 26 were held responsible for a serious flood at one
coal mine of Huayuan Coal Mining Co. Ltd and Minggong mine, another
small pit in the vicinity, on Aug.17, 2007, which claimed the lives
of 181 miners, said a press release from Shandong Provincial
Government.
The flooding of the two coal mines was triggered by a chain of
natural events started by torrential rains, but the accident also
exposed the fact there were noticeable problems with local
governments, related departments and enterprises toward preventing
key disasters caused by extreme weather and toward preventing and
controlling accidents at workplaces, the press release quoted a
conclusion given by a special investigative group over the flooding
as saying.
Six of this group of people, including chairman of the board of
Huayuan company and chief of Minggong coal mine, have been
transferred to judicial departments which will in turn investigate
their criminal responsibilities in the fatal accident.
Twenty others, including eight government officials who were
responsible for leadership, were given demerit according to the
disciplines of the Party or of the government, according to the
press release.
In the wake of a further tragic accident, 19 people were held
responsible for a molten aluminium spill at an aluminium plant
affiliated to the Weiqiao Pioneering Group Co., Ltd. based in
Zouping in the province, killing 20 people.
The spill, on Aug. 19, 2007, was said by the special
investigative group to be a case of responsibility accident.
Two of the 19 responsible persons have been transferred to
judicial departments for legal action. Three others who might also
face investigation of criminal responsibilities but were killed in
the molten spill were exempted of criminal responsibility
investigation, according to the press release.
And 14 more people who were held responsible for the accident,
including four government officials, have been given disciplinary
sanctions within the Communist Party or disciplined by the local
government.
(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2008)