Beijing (AsiaNews) - The Chinese government has paid 11,200 dollars to the Chinese couple forced to undergo a forced abortion in the seventh month of pregnancy. The provincial authorities of Ankang (Shaanxi) have apologized for the second time to the Zhengjia woman, Feng Jianmei, and her husband Deng Jiyuan for all that occurred, confirming the dismissal of two executives with a fine and suspension for 5 family planning employees.

This past June, the agency for population control forced Feng Jianmei, a woman of 22, to have an abortion in her seventh month [see Chinese authorities apologize for the forced abortion. "You are like Nazis"]. Feng has a five year old daughter and another child is prohibited by law. Employees of family planning threatened a fine of 40 thousand yuan (about 4 thousand euros, four years of wages) or an abortion. But abortion is prohibited after the sixth month.

Despite all this, the abortion took place and the photograph of the woman in obvious pain- lying next to the tiny body of her dying son - exploded across the internet. Thousands of Chinese Internet users accused the communist government of behaving "worse than Nazis" and the public outrage has forced the regime to back down.

Immediately after the complaint, however, the husband of Feng "disappeared". The authorities arrested him on charges that he had spoken with foreign media. He has now been released: "We just want to go home and continue with our lives. What has happened is a tragedy, but life must go on".