SHANXI, China, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has ordered a full investigation into the fatal beating of journalist Lan Chengzhang in northern China.
Lan was compiling information about illegal mines in the area, Eastday.com said Wednesday. Local authorities claim the reporter's Jan. 10 beating "may be related" to extortion, Shanghai Daily reported.
Lan allegedly phoned Chang Hanwen, head of the English Department of China Trade News' Shanxi station, and asked Chang to go with him to visit the Hunyuan County mine. The paper says Lan told Chang the mine lacked proper licenses, and if they presented documentation they were reporters, they would receive $126.58 "hush money."
Mine owner Hou Zhenrun came to the site with eight employees and Hou phoned Lan's press room to confirm his credentials. Hou allegedly said the two were not "qualified reporters," told employees to beat the two men and threw $253.16 onto the ground.
Lan died the next day. Chang's arm was broken and he received other minor injuries.
The newspaper's office in Shanxi said Lan and Chang were on probation and neither man was supposed to engage in reporting.
In 2006, 4,746 workers were killed in coal mining accidents. More than 5,000 illegal mines were closed in Shanxi in the last two years.
