February 25, 2009
Today’s Chongqing Evening News printed a big photo on the front page showing Shanxi governor Wang Ju wiping away tears while apologizing to the families of the victims of a recent mine accident.
The accident, which took place on February 22, killed 74 workers and wounded another 114. Apart from the devastating death toll, what is unusual about this accident is that it happened in a state-run mine, which are usually regarded as being better managed and having stricter safety supervision than the wildcat mines where disasters often occur.
Underneath the photo is a headline about a domestic violence case in which a 23-year-old woman claimed that she has been beaten up by her husband 17 times since she got married last August.
The woman kept a diary that carefully archived each instance of abuse, and she told the newspaper that on one occasion, on January 14, she got beaten for not doing her hair to her husband’s taste.
In response to the woman’s request for intervention, the reporter and government officials from the local Women’s Association visited the husband to lecture him on family values and have him sign a guarantee not to beat his wife again.
March 8 is International Women’s Day, and the newspaper reports that as the day approaches, more and more women are calling in with complaints and are seeking help about similar situations.
- Chongqing Evening News (Chinese): Governor shed tears for mine accident victims, Wife got beaten up 17 times within half a year
- Earlier on Danwei: Sexy Beijing on International Women’s Day