[AFP cites Jiefang Ribao on Shanghai abortions]

The leader of a network of illegal abortionists in China's city of Shanghai was recently sentenced to 3 years in a labor camp. The Shanghai Liberation Daily reported today that Gu Xuezhong started his career by finding an abortionist for a young girl he had made pregnant without getting married. Encouraged by his success, he then joined a former convict and an abortionist to mount an operation on a larger scale. 20 unmarried young women resorted to their service, paying an average of 200 yuan (130 dollars) as well as giving many gifts. The Chinese authorities strongly advise against sex relations outside the scope of marriage. Although abortion is theoretically available free of charge, young unmarried girls are still frequently the target of various rough jokes from hospital staff in charge of carrying out abortions, not counting the social reprimand a pregnancy not sanctioned by marriage incurs. The newspaper said it was Shanghai public security officials who had decided to hand down the sentence of 3 years of "re-education through labor." Re-education through labor is always done in a labor camp. The paper did not report however whether Gu's accomplices had been punished.