Chinese coalminer sentenced to death for murdering man in pollution row

[ao333]

A court in China's vast northern region of Inner Mongolia has sentenced a coalminer to death for killing a resident who had complained about pollution, according to state media.

The sentence was the second in a matter of weeks involving Inner Mongolia's crucial coal sector, as the government tries to get tough with an industry that has ignited public anger with its pollution but fuels the economy.

In the latest case, Sun Shuning was convicted of murdering Yan Wenlong after "a dispute over pollution caused by a coalmine" where Sun worked, the official Xinhua news agency said. Sun killed Wen with his forklift, the report added.

"The act was utterly cruel, the crime very serious, and the consequences extremely bad," it cited the court in Xilinhot as saying.

Earlier this month, a court in the same part of Inner Mongolia ordered the execution of a man for murdering an ethnic Mongolian herder who had also protested against coalmine pollution.

The death of the herder sparked demonstrations by ethnic minority Mongolians demanding better protection of their rights and traditions.

Beijing, ever worried by threats to stability, is now trying to address some of the protesters' concerns about the damage done by coalmining to traditional grazing lands.

The authorities have since launched a month-long overhaul of the lucrative coalmining industry, vowing to clean up or close polluters.

Inner Mongolia is China's biggest coal producing region and the protests against the industry have come as severe power shortages loom ahead of the summer's peak energy season.

Chinese coalminer sentenced to death for murdering man in pollution row | World news | The Guardian

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[Vassnti]

The area's mines have seriously damaged the grasslands as well, said Altanhobotxar, a professor from the University of Inner Mongolia.

Local herders are most irritated by seeing mining-related exploitation occurring on grasslands that were previously sealed off by the government to prevent overgrazing, the professor said.

Local residents have complained about the excessive draining of underground water by coal mines, which has exacerbated the desertification problem.

Bagatur, chairman of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region government,acknowledged in an article published in the most recent issue of the Communist Party's "Seeking Truth" magazine that resource exploitation, along with industrialization and urbanization, have brought new environmental challenges to Inner Mongolia's agricultural society.

A month-long overhaul has been launched to clean up or close poorly-run coal mines in the region. Officials say the regional government has also drafted a compensation plan that will force mining companies to pay extra fees for setting up mine's in undeveloped areas.

These fees will be used to subsidize local residents who feel that they have been negatively impacted by the mines.

Industry observers say the creation of the compensation plan is a signal that the government will no longer tolerate the improper exploitation of its natural resources by mining companies.

Zhang Guoliang, deputy secretary-general of the Inner Mongolia regional government, said the government is also drafting plans that will require mining companies to share profits with local residents.

Murders raise questions about resource

Hopefully the compensation will actualy reach those affected.