Villagers watch a mobilization meeting about the crackdown against illegal mining in Shijiaying, Fangshan district. [Photo/China Daily]

Dangerous mines targeted in new crackdown after latest fatal cave-in

Special teams will scour the landscape in search of illegal mines as a city district ramps up its efforts to combat the dangerous industry.

The formation of the teams was announced at a meeting held in an empty mine in Shijiaying village, Fangshan district, on Jan 24.

Related readings:  China shuts down 284 illegal mines China's cleanup campaign deletes 284 illegal mines

And it was emphasized that law enforcement officials will not be held accountable if there is some "ordinary physical contact" with illegal miners during their crackdown.

The district also plans to open up a special legal "green channel" to speed up the prosecution of illegal mining operations.

The meeting was symbolically held at the crossroads of Xiyuetai Road and Huiqingjian Road, where a coal mine collapsed on Jan 18, killing one and injuring two others. The trio were working illegally in the mine.

The entrance to the collapsed mine was right next to a checkpoint, raising the question of why inspectors failed to see the illegal mine and close it before the tragedy.

Dong Yongli, from Shijiaying village's press department, insisted mine inspectors were not negligent. He said they did their job but illegal miners simply ran away whenever inspectors approached and resumed their work after they left.

"It was very difficult for the inspectors to catch them," he said. "And corruption does exist among certain officials, but we have made it a point to build a clean, upright inspection team in our village from now on."

Dong said there were at least three reasons why illegal mining was rampant in the village, despite numerous crackdowns and apparent attempts to end it.

He said the punishment of illegal miners was not severe enough. Tools and other equipment from closed mines was not destroyed but was used again. And he said some corrupt officials were secretly tipping off illegal miners before inspections.

A villager backed up Dong's claims in an interview with Beijing News on Jan 24. The villager said he had experienced several inspections. And he said illegal mine workers even fled from the mine that was used for the meeting just before people arrived. They returned after someone in the village gave them the all-clear.

Liu Xinguo, the political and law committee secretary with Fangshan district, said there will be several well-organized inspection teams in the district. They will be under the direct leadership of Fangshan Land and Resources Bureau and the leaders of each town and village.

"We will strictly punish all those found to be involved in illegal mining, including the organizers, people keeping lookout, those sending secret messages and offering and receiving bribes," said Liu.

"Meanwhile, the inspection teams will look into the relocation of immigrant workers as well."

He did not specify what punishments will be available.

One miner who watched the meeting unfold said he hopes to carry on with the dangerous trade.

"I'll take a rest first then, maybe, by giving some money to relevant officials, we will be able to carry on mining here," the man told Beijing News on Monday.

Another miner who saw the meeting from a distance said he was curious about what "ordinary physical contact" means and said he was fearful that law enforcement officers might be planning to overstep their authority.

Coal mining has long been an economic pillar in Shijiaying village, thanks to the high quality of the local coal, which is known as "black gold" and the large reserves, which account for one-third of all coal in Beijing.

Statistics show that more than 70 percent of people in the village owe their living to coal mining.