Chinese Premier Li Keqiang presides over a meeting on the investigation of the blasts that occurred in Tianjin. Photo: Xinhua
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https://scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1860908/tianjin-warehouse-blasts-evidence-corruption-says Politics
Tianjin warehouse blasts: Evidence of corruption, says Chinese premier as he vows nobody will be exempt from punishment
A picture taken by a drone on August 13 shows the aftermath of the explosion. Photo: Yu Xiao / Beijing Youth Daily
Investigations into a blast at a chemical warehouse in Tianjin that killed 165 people have uncovered evidence of corruption and dereliction of duty on behalf of officials.
Those found responsible of such wrongdoing would be held fully accountable, whoever they were, Premier Li Keqiang vowed on Tuesday after hearing from the investigation panel.
“Punish those who should be punished, sack those who should be sacked, no exemption for the corrupt,” he said.
“Blood should not be shed in vain.”
Various departments should learn from the accident and improve industrial safety, he added.
In a rare move, the investigation panel is being headed by the Ministry of Public Security – usually such panels are headed by the State Administration of Work Safety.
Li’s remarks, which came more than a month since the explosions on August 12, coincided with an announcement by local government of compensation plans for homeowners living near the site.
However, may of the residents say the plans will not be enough to get their lives back on track.
About a week after the blasts the government agreed to buy back about 10,000 homes following repeated protests by owners who blamed lax regulations for their loss.
After more than a month of negotiations with owners, Tianjin’s Binhai New Area, where the blast took place, yesterday set compensation levels at 10,000 to 14,000 yuan per square metre for seven residential compounds. Apartments would be bought at 1.3 times the total price.
“The compensation is only enough for smaller houses. Or we have to buy houses 15km from here, where there are no schools or stores,” said Wu Jiang, an owner refusing to sign the agreement. His house at Harbour City is around 800 metres from the blast site. “The negotiation will be tough but we will hold on,” he said. “I can’t afford to lose my lifetime savings.”
Average house prices in Binhai New Area climbed more than 12 per cent in September, according to the Bohai Morning Post, making it hard for residents to find a new home nearby.
Staying in a rented apartment 30km away, Wu and his wife face a three-hour bus commute to their offices near the explosion site.
“I don’t know what to do. The problem of settlement haunts me all the time,” Wu said.
In defiance of the official compensation plans, some owners sealed their buildings and now guard the gates.
“We do this so [repairman sent by the government] can’t come in and destroy evidence,” said Wu Guoqiang, an owner at Vanke’s Jinyu Lanwan development, close to the explosion site.
He believes splashes of unidentified white chemicals and pieces of steel that litter the compound are evidence of damage to their homes. “We want only to buy a house of the same quality,” he said.
Winter is coming. I hope a new solution comes soon
Xiang Xiulan, who once joined protests against the government, now sits back and watches at most negotiation sessions. “What can ordinary people like me do?” she said. “People are petitioning and looking for lawyers. What help does it do?”
Powerless as she feels, she still won’t accept the official deal. “Winter is coming. I hope a new solution comes soon.”
Others, tired of the negotiations, are ready to accept the deals. “It can cover what I paid for my house. I’ll just wait for house prices to drop. They are too high at the moment,” said an owner surnamed Duan.
“It’s too tiring arguing with the government.”