The crash of a military aircraft in June that killed all 40 people on board has resulted in a high ranking officer of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) being dismissed and 10 others being given harsh penalties, the Central Military Commission (CMC) has reported.

A further seven officers were punished in connection with a flood that swamped a military barracks in July killing 48 people and injuring 60.

A notice issued by the CMC yesterday urged all military units to carry out stringent management and enhance a sense of responsibility among military cadres. "These factors are key to ensuring the safety of the troops as well as the fast and sound build-up of military forces," it said.

The plane crash in east China's Anhui Province on June 3 was found to have been caused by ice on the aircraft after it had flown through a number of extremely cold regions.

Major General Jiang Jianzeng, deputy commander of the Nanjing Military Area Command, was given a serious demerit. This penalty is likely to obstruct further promotion. Guo Chunguang, deputy air force chief of staff of the Nanjing Military Area Command, was demoted.

Zhang Guangjian, an officer with the Nanjing command's air force, was dismissed. Wang Wei, political commissar of the air force of the Nanjing Military Area Command and Yue Liu'an, deputy director of the PLA Air Force Armament Department were both given standard demerits. Another six officers were given demerits or warnings.

The aircraft was said to be on a military mission when it crashed. But details about that, the exact location of the crash and the identities of the victims have still not been released.

In relation to the flood on July 26 in east China's Jiangxi Province seven officers were found guilty of neglecting their duties. Chen Wei, deputy commander of a military regiment, was dismissed. Wang Anli, a regiment head, was demoted and five others were given demerits or warnings.

(China Daily September 8, 2006)