Departments Concerned Shield Illegal Internet Cafes: Report

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, June 21, 2002

Departments Concerned Shield Illegal Internet Cafes: Report

Xinhua news agency released a long article on June 20, noting under investigation it's confirmed the blaze of "Lanjisu" cyber cafe was caused by arson. The case was clear but the problems left by it concern the whole society.

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Xinhua news agency released a long article on June 20, noting under investigation it's confirmed the blaze of "Lanjisu" cyber caf�� was caused by arson. The case was clear but the problems left by it concern the whole society.

The article indicates over 90 percent of Internet caf��s in Beijing are operating illegally. The Lanjisu cyber caf�� is one never granted operation license. However, the fact doesn't surprise other operators because it's a profile of the current operation state of Beijing cyber cafes.

The article reads according to related rules and regulations any cyber caf�� is not allowed to provide services before registering or being granted operation license. However, the rules seem to exist in name only. 2000 illegal Internet cafes in Beijing can easily be put through lines with paying 10,000 to 100,000 yuan.

Dereliction of duty of some departments

Besides the illegal operations, dereliction of duty of certain departments concerned is also serious. According to related central documents issued last April, departments concerned should have immediately forced the Internet cafes, which were not granted operation license or had provided services without authorization, to terminate operations, confiscated their equipment and imposed a fine of 10,000 to 30,000 yuan on each of them. But these rules had not been implemented. The 2200 illegal Internet cafes operated as usual until the fire of the Lanjisu broke out.

The article also said not all the illegal Internet cafes operated "underground". Some of them were winked and shielded by some departments and operated in the same way with those legal ones._

24 Killed, 13 Injured in Beijing Cyber Cafe Fire

A total of 24 persons were killed and 13 others injured in a cyber cafe fire in suburban Beijing early June 16 morning.

The fire broke out at around 2:40 in the Lanjisu Cyber Cafe located in the No.20 compound, Xueyuan Lu, Haidian District. Beijing's fire department sent fire engines to the scene right after getting the alarm, and the fire was put out by 3:30.

Investigation into the fire is underway.

By PD Online Staff Yang Ruoqian

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