Environmental advocacy groups in China's southwestern Yunnan province have brought a public interest lawsuit against The Yunnan Luliang Peace Technology Co factory which makes chromium - a highly carcinogenic metal. The proceedings have been brought on behalf of residents of the Xiaoxin and nearby Xinglong villages. The chromium has allegedly contaminated the Nanpan River, and caused cancer in residents.
What is unique about this case is the fact that it is being resolved by (Communist Party controlled) courts. This kind of "collective litigation" by organisations without the support of the government (ie, non-governmental organisations) is a new concept for China. The plaintiff groups want the defendant company to establish a 10 million yuan (US$1.6 million) compensation fund for "an environmental clean-up."
Qin Tianbao, a professor of environmental law at Wuhan University, who is not involved in the case commented that "[t]his is a significant case .... in the past, lawsuits were only launched by agencies with semi-official backing. If it is possible that an organisation with absolutely no government backing can bring about public interest litigation, then it certainly is a good thing."
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