Serious Mine Accidents Reported in China

(Clearwisdom.net)

Since 2001, a series of serious mine accidents have been exposed to the public. On June 5, 2001, the chief criminal responsible for the "7.17" mine accident that caused the deaths of 81 people in Nandan of Guangxi Province was sentenced to death. In May 2002, the public learned of the death of 21 people in a mine accident caused by water leakage in Fuyuan Coalmine in Hejin City of Shanxi Province. On June 2, 2002, public attention was drawn to an accidental gas explosion in which 7 people were missing in Kezibulake Coalmine in Wensu County of Akesu District of Xinjiang Province.

In the first quarter of this year, for coalmines alone, there have been 745 accidents and 1,182 deaths in China. This April, the issue of production safety in China's coalmines became even more serious. There have been 125 accidents and 329 deaths in April alone. On June 20, 2002, 115 people lost their lives in the explosion of Chengzihe Coalmine in Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province.

In mid-May, China's media announced the results of a survey, which asked respondents "whose life is cheapest?" The results of the survey showed that coal miners were ranked first. Another research result showed that, in recent years, the direct economic losses of various accidents every year in China gets closer to 100 billion Yuan (Chinese currency) and approached 200 billion Yuan if indirect losses are also included. Three hundred people died from various types of accidents each day.

Many of these accidents and resulting deaths can be directly attributed to negligence by officials who place monetary gain above human life, paying more attention to profits than safety for the workers. Such is the state of human morality in China today, isn't this a case where these officials who hold the safety of so many workers in their hands could learn something from the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance"?

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.cc/mh/articles/2002/6/25/32320.html

 Yearly Archive   Printer Version