Chinese court rejects parents' earthquake lawsuit

(BEIJING) A Chinese court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by parents of 58 children crushed to death when their school collapsed during May's massive earthquake, the latest setback for the parents in their quest for an apology and compensation.

The dismissal of the case and reports of threats made against the parents underscore the political sensitivity of allegations that corruption and substandard construction caused thousands of classrooms to collapse in the 7.9 magnitude quake.

While the government has promised an investigation and strict punishment for bad construction, there has been no public attempt so far to hold anyone to account.

Marches and sit-ins by grieving parents held within months of the quake were shut down by police, with some parents briefly detained.

The lawsuit was filed Dec. a by a group of about 60 parents against school and local authorities in Sichuan province. It was registered at the Deyang People's Intermediate Court, said a parent who would only give his surname, Sang, because he was afraid of official retaliation.

"If they did not build these shoddy buildings, our children would not have died," said Sang, whose 11-year-old son was crushed to death when his classroom crumbled.