[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 County’s 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 County’s Trade Union, Mr Qu, the assistant chairman said that the trade union had joined the government’s 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] haven’t 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 can’t tell this yet, especially the one at the intensive care unit. We can’t 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 can’t 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 don’t think so. They [the miners]… who know where these miners are from? They are from Fushun City’s Xinbin County - because our Benxi Hospital was closer they were sent to us for immediate treatment. We don’t 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 don’t know [if I should]… but may I talk to the patients’ families?

Doctor:

This… no, the families can’t… what they would say might not be right or correct… also your understanding of this case can’t be clear, you… better don’t 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 victim’s wife:

Victim’s Wife:

Yes, killed.

Han:

Who was killed in your family?

Victim’s Wife:

My husband, my man.

Han:

Your husband?

Victim’s Wife:

Yes, he is called Li Hongcheng, 45 years old… his brother and him were both killed.

Han:

You mean his…

Victim’s Wife:

His brother.

Han:

His brother worked together with him in the pit?

Victim’s Wife:

Right. His brother is only 37 years old.

Han:

Does his brother have any children or…

Victim’s Wife:

One kid, is also here.

Han:

Are you a local?

Victim’s Wife:

I am from Shenyang, Xinmin City.

Han:

Ahh! Why did they come to work in the pit?

Victim’s Wife:

Our family is poor.

Han:

What were you previously doing?

Victim’s Wife:

Farming, but we couldn’t earn much.

Han:

Not enough to live on?

Victim’s 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?

Victim’s 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?

Victim’s Wife:

No, no discussion yet.

Han:

Did you go to talk to the mine-owner?

Victim’s Wife:

No!

Han:

Have you met other affected families to discuss [the aftermath]?

Victim’s Wife:

Hmm… I don’t know anybody here.

Han:

So how will you deal with your livelihood?

Victim’s Wife:

We really have a hard time. We still have the in-laws and a grandfather to support.

Han:

You mean your husband’s parents?

Victim’s 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.

Victim’s Wife:

[sigh]

Han:

How long have you been here?

Victim’s Wife:

Around 2 years.

Han:

Have they [the husband and brother-in-law] mentioned any safety problems at the coalmine?

Victim’s 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 wasn’t 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?

Victim’s Wife:

Yes.

Han:

Was it usually like this?

Victim’s Wife:

Yes, as well.

Han:

How do you think the coalmine and the government can help?

Victim’s 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?

Victim’s Wife:

No, no aftercare at all, nothing has been done.

Han:

Do the miners have a trade union?

Victim’s Wife:

I don’t 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?

Victim’s 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?

Victim’s Wife:

Now I… will wait and decide till the accident to be settled. Can you imagine that, my kids can’t make their livings and I am a widow with the orphans, what do you think I can do?

Han:

As a victim’s family member, do you want to say something through the media?

Victim’s 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?

Victim’s Wife:

Okay! Thank you.

Han:

So take good care of yourself!

Victim’s Wife:

[sigh].

Han:

Bye.

Victim’s Wife:

Bye.

China Labour Bulletin statement on the tragedy