China holds 71 responsible for TV station fire tragedy

[khurramdar]

China holds 71 responsible for TV station fire tragedy
February 11th, 2010 - 10:52 UTC
by Andy Sennitt.


China yesterday blamed 71 people for a huge blaze at its new state television headquarters that engulfed a hotel, killed a fireman and left a 24-million-dollar clean-up bill, state media reported. One firefighter died after inhaling toxic fumes while battling the fire at the Mandarin Oriental’s nearly finished flagship hotel inside the CCTV complex in February last year, while a further six were injured.

Zhao Huayong, who stepped down as head of the station in May, will receive an “administrative demotion along with a severe warning” from the ruling Communist Party of China, the Xinhua news agency said, citing a government statement. The release said a further 44 suspects will be prosecuted while 27 will be disciplined, according to Xinhua.

In a public relations disaster for CCTV, which is one of the Communist Party’s chief propaganda arms, authorities said the station defied police warnings and set off powerful fireworks in the complex. Fireworks had erupted right across Beijing to celebrate the Lantern Festival that marks the official end of the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Letting off fireworks on Lunar New Year’s Eve, which fell on January 25 last year, and throughout the festive period is a long-held Chinese tradition based on the belief that the noise will ward off evil spirits and ghosts. But it is also a notoriously dangerous practice and was banned in Beijing between 1994 and 2005. The ban was lifted due to po....r demand, following similar moves in 200 Chinese cities a year earlier.