12 Killed In Illegal China Mine As Five Mine Bosses Arrested

SINO DAILY

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Beijing (AFP) Sep 20, 2005
Twelve miners were killed in a mine blast that resulted in the arrest of five mine owners who tried to cover up the accident in northwestern China's Shaanxi province, state press reported Tuesday.

The accident occurred last Thursday in the Qifenggouxi Coal Mine, but was covered up for four days as mine owners tried to settle compensation payments to the families of the miners without notifying the government, Xinhua news agency said.

The mine had been ordered to suspend production due to ventilation problems at the time of the blast, the report said.

Police detained the head of the coal mine, He Mingshan, two deputy mine heads and two officials in charge of gas inspection and mine safety, it said.

China's mines are the world's deadliest with safety often sacrificed to supply the fuel that is driving the country's rapid industrialization and economic growth.

Official figures show around 6,000 miners die every year in China through accidents often linked to poor or non-existent safety measures.

Independent estimates say the real figure could be far higher as mines often falsify death counts to escape closures and fines.

SINO DAILY

China Admits Forced Abortions, Sterilisations In Eastern Province

Beijing (AFP) Sep 19, 2005
China's family planning agency on Monday admitted that officials in the eastern province of Shandong had carried out forced abortions and sterlisations, state media reported.

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