A local governor and others held responsible for the Sunjiawan Coal Mine disaster, which clamed 214 lives on February 14, are to be penalized, according to a decision made at Wednesday's State Council meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, decided to punish Liu Guoqiang, vice governor of Liaoning Province, with a "serious administrative demerit." The Liaoning government must also submit a letter of self-criticism to the State Council.

Liang Jinfa, board chairman and general manager of the colliery company, was deprived of his titles. Of the remaining 31 people held accountable for the accident, four were passed to the judicial system and the rest given executive punishments.

The gas explosion at the northeastern mine, owned by Liaoning's Fuxin Coal Industry Group, was one of the worst mining disasters in recent history.

The State Council meeting addressed other issues, including draft regulations on the implementation of the Law of Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities and reform of the veterinary administration system.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2005)