Society

20 officials punished over coal mine dispute

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-15 19:58

KUNMING - Twenty local government officials have  been dealt with over a fatal shooting and an explosion that were triggered by a dispute over coal mine resources in southwest China's Yunnan Province last November, local officials said Wednesday.

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A dispute over mining rights turned into a mob fight on Nov 18, 2010 at the Xiaosongdi coal mine in Luxi County, located in the province's Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, said Song Ping, deputy secretary of the political science and law committee of the Honghe prefecture.

Wang Jianfu and Zheng Chunyun, the contractors for Xiaosongdi mine and Yuejin coal mine, which are close to each other, reportedly had a dispute after the underground shaft of one mine broke through into the other.

About 120 people wielding steel pipes and knives were ambushed near the mine as their opponents set off explosives and shot at them. Nine people were killed and 48 injured. Wang Jianfu was said to have engineered the ambush.

Wang Jianfu and 37 of his subordinates were charged with 10 crimes, including intentional killing, illegally marketing firearms and explosives, affray and intentional injury.

Zheng Chunyun and 48 of his subordinates, who were responsible for leading the fray at the mine, were charged with 13 crimes such as  organizing mafia-style gang, racketeering, and intentional injury.

All of them have been referred to procuratorate organs for prosecution, according to Song.

Twenty officials involved in the case were punished, said Xiang Congke, deputy secretary of the Honghe Prefecture Discipline Inspection Committee.

Five officials including a deputy head of Luxi County and a commissar with the county public security bureau were fired. Another 15 officials including police officers and coal industry management officials were either given disciplinary punishments or notified criticism for dereliction of duty, he said.