January 9, 2013

CHINA: China "Suspended" 6 Government Officials After Fatal Orphanage Fire That Killed 7 People

The Straits Times
written by AP staff
Tuesday January 8, 2013

BEIJING - A fire that killed six children and one young adult at an illegally run orphanage in central China has prompted the suspensions of six local officials, a county government official said on Tuesday.

The deaths on Friday in Henan province's Lankao county have spotlighted China's lack of government-run child services. They are often left to private citizens with few resources and no legal authority.

The Lankao government earlier acknowledged that it had turned a blind eye to the illegal orphanage, which cared for abandoned children and young adults.

A man from the Lankao government's main office, who would give only his surname Zhao, said on Tuesday that six officials were suspended, but gave no other details.

No comments: