Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Sichuan government has denied responsibility for the collapse of school buildings in the 12 May earthquake that killed 9,000 students and teachers out of a total death toll of around 60,000.
At a seminar by the Chengdu Academy of Social Sciences, Gao Yongzhao, a vice-president of the Sichuan Institute of Building Research, said it was impossible to determine just by collecting samples of the debris whether the buildings had collapsed because safety rules were flouted.
Peking University law professor Chen Xingliang said it would be difficult to charge or convict a person for the collapse of school buildings in the earthquake.
Other important experts at the meeting agreed.
Major Sichuan newspapers have published front page reports to that effect based on information provided by the provincial publicity department.
Collapsed schools killed more than 9,000 people, mostly students and teaching staff, who did not have time to run for safety.
Conversely, parents who lost children complain that in many cases buildings around the schools are still standing, that the school buildings were shoddily built and did not meet quake-resistance standards and want an inquiry.
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao (photo shows him comforting quake victims) has pledged zero tolerance towards corruption.
Foreign journalists who spoke with parents have been barred from the quake zone. Many volunteers have also been banned, like in Muyu and Mianzhu.
Parents continue to protest though, pointing the finger at examples of shoddy construction. But the authorities seem bent on avoiding any real investigation.
