Myanmar: Burmese Workers Get Lengthy Jail Terms for Pipeline Clash

Sep 8, 2014 | Lawi Weng, The Irrawaddy
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RANGOON — A court in Arakan State sentenced 17 Burmese workers to between six and 10 years each in prison on Sunday for destroying property and attacking Chinese workers on a cross-Burma oil pipeline project.

Fighting broke out in January between ethnic Chin workers and Chinese nationals working on the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) project in Ann Township, close to where the pipeline meets the Bay of Bengal.

The workers’ lawyer, Aye Kyaw Than, told The Irrawaddy that the 17 were convicted under Penal Code articles 425, 436 and 114, for trespassing, arson and damaging property, and assault.