Releasing Name List of Quake-Victims is Respect to Life

Southwest China's Sichuan province has released a list of the May 12 earthquake victims. The initial list includes the names of 19,065 quake victims. Local governments are making efforts to release the remaining names of the nearly 70,000 casualties caused by the tremor.

The Beijing News carries an editorial, saying the move reflects the government's improved awareness of humanity and respect for every single life.

The newspaper notes that the government once held the death toll of the Tangshan earthquake over 30 years ago as a state secret. In contrast, it says the recent effort to release quake victims' names represents historic advancement in terms of respecting individual lives.

The article says that every quake victim has a name which represents a unique life and the story behind it. The newspaper says the natural disaster can never take away their names and memories even though they have perished.

In conclusion, the editorial says the victim list will serve as a milestone in the government's journey to safeguard every citizen's life and safety.