4 young siblings abandoned by parents commit suicide in China; Mother returns home

The mother of four children who committed suicide in China after they were abandoned by their parents for months spoke of her regret as she returned home over the weekend.

Ren Xifen's children, a 13-year-old boy and his younger sisters died after drinking pesticide. Police suspect one of them poisoned him or herself and the rest.

"I did not shoulder my responsibility for them," 32-year-old Ren said, as she returned Friday to see their bodies at the family home in Bijie, in the remote southwestern province of Guizhou. "I had to come back for a final look at them," she added.

The children, the youngest aged five, were found by a villager while struggling with convulsions after taking the poison late Tuesday. They died soon after and police believe it was suicide, in a case highlighting the plight of rural children left behind by their parents who travel to the cities in search of work.

                                                                                                 

Ren told Xinhua she had not contacted her children since leaving home in March last year to work at a toy factory in the southern province of Guangdong. And also because she feared beatings from her husband.

She also described her only son as "very lovable" and said he was diligent.
"I am illiterate and cannot even write my own name. I wanted them to perform well in school, unlike me, living a hard life," she said.

The incident sparked widespread public sympathy and prompted Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday to call for "an end to such tragedies", vowing to punish officials who are lax in providing due assistance to families with similar problems.

An investigation had been launched and several officials have been suspended or removed from their positions.