The family members of a 9-year-old boy recently killed by crocodiles at a wildlife park in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have been petitioning government departments for nearly two months, but still have no information about who is liable and responsible for compensation. On Tuesday they demonstrated in the streets of Nanning, capital of the region, attracting crowds of passersby, Southland Morning Post reported yesterday.

The tragedy occurred at about 6 PM on April 20, when the boy surnamed Liu and three other children from Xiantian Primary School snuck into a temporarily closed crocodile pool in Yinhan District of Beihai City, Xinhua News Agency reported. The boys teased the animals until one of them attacked Liu and dragged him into water, where he was killed by a congregation of crocodiles.

Witnesses to the demonstration saw the boy's parents, accompanied by his grandmother, crying sadly in the streets of Nanning. Liu Jianjun, the boy's father, showed pictures of his son to bystanders and said that since the tragedy occurred, his family has been in tears. He said for the past two months the family had sought answers from different departments in Beihai but when this yielded no result they traveled to the region's capital.

Liu said that one day after the accident happened, officials from Yinhai District government sent a 600-yuan pension to his home and said they would uphold justice for the family. But at the end of May when Liu's family went to the district government, related officials told them that the case was a civil dispute and should be solved though legal action.

From the end of April to June 11, Liu with his family visited the municipal government of Beihai, Yinhai District government, and the Bureau for Handling Complaint Letters and Calls of Beihai City. The only answer they received was: "You have to wait."

According to Liu, these government departments suggested he take legal action. Liu said he considered suing the boss of the park, but the boss ran away after the accident. He also considered suing related government departments for neglecting to effectively manage the park but gave up after considering the low chance of winning such a case.

Citizens gathered in the streets showed great concern for the family. A middle-aged man reminded them that they could seek compensation from the insurance company as students always have life insurance. Some others suggested departments they could go to and showed them the way to find them.

After the accident, a heated public debate arose as to who should be held responsible for the tragedy. Some people argued that the parents are primarily liable for the accident as they didn't well educate and supervise their child; some argue that the park should take the responsibility; but, most people think that related government departments should be held responsible because the dangerous enclosure had illegally existed for a long time.

The local Party discipline inspection and supervision departments sent a letter of inquiry in the beginning of May to the Beihai forestry bureau, which is in charge of wildlife protection and management, saying that the bureau didn't enforce orders. The letter also said the city mayor had ordered the pool to be closed after they found crocodiles escaped twice on April 26 and August 21, 2005, but the order was not enforced.

According to officials from the local Party discipline inspection department, the investigation into the case will soon be finished. They will announce the result and punish related departments and individuals, but he refused to give more information at this time about the investigation.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Yunxing, June 14, 2007)