Alarmed by the number of explosions that have occurred over the past few months, killing hundreds of people and disturbing public order, the Ministry of Public Security has vowed to tighten control on explosives and firearms.
A national campaign was launched yesterday to confiscate illegal explosives and firearms and crack down on crimes making use of such weaponry, according to the ministry.
The number of cases of criminally caused explosions and explosives accidents is increasing, even though measures have been taken to deal with the problem, according to the ministry.
On March 6, an explosion at a primary school in Jiangxi Province killed 42 people and injured 27. On March 16, a man deliberately set off four explosions in Hebei Province's Shijiazhuang, killing 108 people.
The ministry has decided to focus this year's campaign on the management of explosives.
"No unit, organization or individual should be involved in the illegal production, sale, storage or trafficking of any kind of explosive or firearm, including dynamite, detonators, bombs, firecrackers, air guns and hunting rifles,'' said an announcement released by the ministry.
It is also illegal to keep and use explosives and firearms, said the announcement.
As for those who have a license to produce, sell, preserve, transport and use explosives and firearms, the ministry urged them to do so carefully and within their limitations.
The ministry of public security bureux at all levels have the power to decrease or exempt from punishment people who confess to dealing in or holding firearms or explosives illegally to the police within 30 days of the release of the announcement; serious punishment will be given those found to be involved in any related, illegal activity after that time.
To enhance people's safety awareness the public security bureaux will award anyone who provides clues to explosive-related crimes through a special police hotline -- 110.
(China Daily 04/19/2001)
