People accountable for Sunjiawan coal mine disaster punished

A local governor and others accountable for the Sunjiawan Coal Mine disaster claming 214 people's lives on Feb. 14 were given punishments, according to a decision made at Wednesday's State Council meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, decided to punish Liu Guoqiang, vice governor of Liaoning Province, with a "serious administrative demerit." The Liaoning government must submit a self-criticism letter to the State Council.

Liang Jinfa, the board chairman and the general manager of the colliery company was deprived of his titles. Of the remaining 31 people responsible for the accident, four were sent for judicial treatments and 27 were given executive punishments.

The gas explosion on Feb. 14 at the northeast China mine, owned by Liaoning's Fuxin Coal Industry Group, was one of the worst mining disasters in recent history.

The meeting also addressed other issues, including draft regulations on the implementation of the Law of Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities in China and the reform of the country's veterinary administration system.