[Broadcast on 31 March, 2003]
Right after the massive gas explosion in Shanxi Province, which killed 62 miners and left 10 still missing, another gas explosion took place in Liaoning Province on 30 March. According to news released by the State Aministration of Work Safety on 31 March, the gas explosion happened on 30 March at around 7 pm while 45 miners were working in Xinbin Countys Mengjiagou coalmine, which is located in Fushun City, Liaoning Province. A staff member of the Mengjiagou coalmine office confirmed there were - at that time - 18 fatalities and 8 missing when CLB rang it in the afternoon of 31 March.
Coalmine Office:
9 injured, 2 are severely wounded
. All together there are still 26 people in the pit, 18 of them are confirmed (as being killed) and 8 are still missing
Han Dongfang [Han]:
How many people are working in the coalmine?
Coalmine Office:
300 something.
Han:
Are those working down in the pit locals or non-locals?
Coalmine Office:
We have both, but more non-locals.
Han:
More non-locals?
Coalmine Office:
Right
from Sichuan.
Han:
Sichuan! Where do the non-local miners live?
Coalmine Office:
They all live nearby
renting others' houses.
Han:
Does the coalmine have its own trade union?
Coalmine Office:
Hmm
I am not sure.
CLB called to the Xinbin Countys Trade Union, Mr Qu, the assistant chairman said that the trade union had joined the governments after-care work, in carrying out the ideological and political work among the affected families. He told CLB that as the ideological work was well performed and not many families were 'making trouble'.
County Trade Union:
Our trade union is to assist,
when the [government] departments are handling the aftermath
the trade union has to help.
Han:
Has it started any assistance work?
County Trade Union:
The work
is going on; actually I am at the coalmine.
Han:
Are you by the pit now?
County Trade Union:
Right, [the corpses] havent been delivered up yet.
Han:
What is the situation like?
County Trade Union:
Hmm
it is rather quiet here.
Han:
Are there any families gathering?
County Trade Union:
Yes, individually
they are quite calm. Well, the accident happened - the deaths and injuries were unavoidable. The affected families
after our ideological work and other means, start to calm down. No one is making trouble here, it is quite peaceful. At the moment, the local government is putting its full effort into this after-care work. We have quite a tight schedule, to work hard for the affected families, including the relatives of the affected families. The state has its policies, doesn't it? Err
for compensation
[It will be dealt] like what after-care work to do, how to arrange the compensation, the state has its policies, it will tell us.
Han:
Has the trade union joined this work?
County Trade Union:
The trade union
our trade union is here... to do some works.
Han:
Does the coalmine have its own trade union?
County Trade Union:
This coalmine
sure it has a trade union. This enterprise changed its system [the coalmine was sub-contracted out to private management] and the trade union of this type of enterprise
all its [previous] trade union cadres are still here, but after the [management] change, their office, the management office, the Party committee and us [county trade union] merged to work together.
Han:
Like sharing the same desk?
County Trade Union:
Exactly.
A surgeon, Dr Yuan from the Benxi County Hospital described CLB the situation of the 7 injured miners. However, because he believed that the affected family members may say the wrong thing, he refused our request to interview the family members who were with the injured at the hospital.
Doctor:
Now
we have 7 alive from there [the coalmine]. One is staying in the thoracic surgery department, the rest are in my department [surgery department]. Those in my department are quite seriously wounded, there was one
who was dazed and confused [technically 'obnubilation'] when he was sent last night and we had to cut his trachea open, now he is in the intensive care unit. The rest
have quite huge burns of the body surface area. Basically their situation is quite stable now, but they definitely will need intensive treatment later.
Han:
Does it mean their lives are out of danger?
Doctor:
We cant tell this yet, especially the one at the intensive care unit. We cant say he is out of danger, these days are critical. We guessed his respiratory tract was burnt because he was in a state of confusion when he was sent here. Then we cut his trachea open. We cant concretely tell how severely injured he is, but we are pretty sure that his respiratory tract was burnt.
Han:
Where is that patient from? A local?
Doctor:
I dont think so. They [the miners]
who know where these miners are from? They are from Fushun Citys Xinbin County - because our Benxi Hospital was closer they were sent to us for immediate treatment. We dont know these patients identities, some have families, some are locals, some are from Shandong and some from the south to work here, I guess so.
Han:
I dont know [if I should]
but may I talk to the patients families?
Doctor:
This
no, the families cant
what they would say might not be right or correct
also your understanding of this case cant be clear, you
better dont ask too much.
CLB made another call to the Xudianzi Village, where the fatal mine is located. A villager told CLB that one of her tenants was killed in the accident.
Villager:
Yes, some were coming to work here and some were our villagers. Hmm
the locals
oh
. More than 10, I know all of them
all together there are 27 people. Nearly 20 [were killed] in this village, I can find you one [of affected families]immediately.
Han:
Alright!
Villager:
Oh yes
here is one at my home, a tenant [lodger].
Han:
Where was he from?
Villager:
He came to work here and was killed in the accident. His wife came as well.
The conversation between CLB and the victims wife:
Victims Wife:
Yes, killed.
Han:
Who was killed in your family?
Victims Wife:
My husband, my man.
Han:
Your husband?
Victims Wife:
Yes, he is called Li Hongcheng, 45 years old
his brother and him were both killed.
Han:
You mean his
Victims Wife:
His brother.
Han:
His brother worked together with him in the pit?
Victims Wife:
Right. His brother is only 37 years old.
Han:
Does his brother have any children or
Victims Wife:
One kid, is also here.
Han:
Are you a local?
Victims Wife:
I am from Shenyang, Xinmin City.
Han:
Ahh! Why did they come to work in the pit?
Victims Wife:
Our family is poor.
Han:
What were you previously doing?
Victims Wife:
Farming, but we couldnt earn much.
Han:
Not enough to live on?
Victims Wife:
Right, besides this, we were thinking we should save more money as we had 3 kids. That is why [my husband came to work at the pit]
the wages are quite high here.
Han:
Then how old are your 3 kids?
Victims Wife:
3 kids
are 13, 14 and the eldest is 15 or 16 years old. They are all here.
Han:
Has the coalmine discussed the terms of compensation with you?
Victims Wife:
No, no discussion yet.
Han:
Did you go to talk to the mine-owner?
Victims Wife:
No!
Han:
Have you met other affected families to discuss [the aftermath]?
Victims Wife:
Hmm
I dont know anybody here.
Han:
So how will you deal with your livelihood?
Victims Wife:
We really have a hard time. We still have the in-laws and a grandfather to support.
Han:
You mean your husbands parents?
Victims Wife:
We are supporting them.
Han:
You have to support all of them. So you will have to shoulder the whole [financial] burden of the entire family.
Victims Wife:
[sigh]
Han:
How long have you been here?
Victims Wife:
Around 2 years.
Han:
Have they [the husband and brother-in-law] mentioned any safety problems at the coalmine?
Victims Wife:
Safety problems
oh yes! The gas was too dense [high]. They said that the methane indicator had too high a reading but the mine boss said it wasnt a problem.
Han:
Oh, you mean the gas level shown in the methane indicator too high but the mine-owner said it was alright for work?
Victims Wife:
Yes.
Han:
Was it usually like this?
Victims Wife:
Yes, as well.
Han:
How do you think the coalmine and the government can help?
Victims Wife:
Oh, now
where can I have the time [to think about this]
we are ventilating [the air for those who might still be trapped in the pit]
those lately rescued. I am not in the mood to think about [the government's] contribution.
Han:
Have the government or the coalmine done any aftercare?
Victims Wife:
No, no aftercare at all, nothing has been done.
Han:
Do the miners have a trade union?
Victims Wife:
I dont know any goddamn trade union, no trade union [has shown up] till now.
Han:
How about the local trade union or the coalminers trade union? Have they visited you?
Victims Wife:
No! Nobody came; no one visited us, not a single person.
Han:
So what will your next step be? Stay here or go back home?
Victims Wife:
Now I
will wait and decide till the accident to be settled. Can you imagine that, my kids cant make their livings and I am a widow with the orphans, what do you think I can do?
Han:
As a victims family member, do you want to say something through the media?
Victims Wife:
You just say it - for ordinary folk like us, now.
Han:
Okay, you have my telephone number, right? In case you need something, you can call me at anytime, ok?
Victims Wife:
Okay! Thank you.
Han:
So take good care of yourself!
Victims Wife:
[sigh].
Han:
Bye.
Victims Wife:
Bye.