A coalmine flood took place in Ruzhou on July 31, and while the authorities attempted to keep a lid on the accident, information quickly seeped out through mobile phone SMS. Within a fortnight, a large number of journalists had rushed into the area. A local official surnamed Yang said that 480 reporters received RMB 200,000 (USD 24,660) in hush money.
The mine in question was said to be connected to a senior local official.
Yang was also quoted as saying that the amount was nothing compared with the money offered to reporters for covering up similar coal mine accidents in the cities of Dengfeng and Xinmi, also in Henan Province.
Monday, August 22, 2005
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