Slave miner near death
By Zhang Xuanchen |
September 4, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A FORMER coal miner, finally freed from the darkness after 14 years of enslavement, now finds himself threatened by death.
Inside a hospital's intensive care unit in Xiangtan City, central China's Hunan Province, Zhou Daoming, 45 -- his brain damaged, bowel half cut, kidney dysfunctional and other organs failing -- is on life supports, reported yesterday's Xiaoxiang Morning Herald.
His doctor said a total operation was a must. But Zhou, who earned a total of 1,220 yuan (US$179) wages for his 14 years of sun-up and sun-down work, couldn't afford it.
Eighteen years ago, Zhou followed some neighbors to southwest China's Shanxi Province and got trapped in an illegal coal mine.
He and other miners were typically forced to work nearly 18 hours a day. They were fed poorly, received little or no health care, and were physically beaten for slowing or stopping work by five guards. They dared not escape.
Zhou was sent home by Shanxi government in June 2007. A warmhearted lawyer helped him get back 20,000 yuan in compensation and 1,000 yuan allowance from the government. His sickness suddenly broke out 20 days ago.
Inside a hospital's intensive care unit in Xiangtan City, central China's Hunan Province, Zhou Daoming, 45 -- his brain damaged, bowel half cut, kidney dysfunctional and other organs failing -- is on life supports, reported yesterday's Xiaoxiang Morning Herald.
His doctor said a total operation was a must. But Zhou, who earned a total of 1,220 yuan (US$179) wages for his 14 years of sun-up and sun-down work, couldn't afford it.
Eighteen years ago, Zhou followed some neighbors to southwest China's Shanxi Province and got trapped in an illegal coal mine.
He and other miners were typically forced to work nearly 18 hours a day. They were fed poorly, received little or no health care, and were physically beaten for slowing or stopping work by five guards. They dared not escape.
Zhou was sent home by Shanxi government in June 2007. A warmhearted lawyer helped him get back 20,000 yuan in compensation and 1,000 yuan allowance from the government. His sickness suddenly broke out 20 days ago.
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