One killed, three wounded at Phakant jade mining riot

A torching incident occurs on the evening of 13 May at Yadana Shwe Ate gem mining company in Kachin Sate, Mohnyin District, Phakant Township, Lonkhin village tract.

The incident occurs when company employees torched and destroy the company office building and living quarters after an unresolved wage rate dispute between the company and its employee resulting in the burning and destruction of the company office building, five living quarters, a backhoe, six 2,400 gallon oil storage tanks. The police force was reported to have detained 49 employees who involved in the event.

On the afternoon of 13 May the company employee demanded the termination of the mining operation on 15 May and to receive overtime payments. They demonstrated after the negotiation break down.

Of the 2,500 persons employed under Yadana Shwe Ate jade mining company, about 1,000 pelted the office building and living quarters with rocks and conducted other destructive acts.

Local Police Force which was providing security for the company fired warning shots but the demonstrators didn’t disperse and burnt the buildings, a back hoe, and oil storage tanks. After 10 pm, authorities and responsible person use 10 fire engines to put out the fire and sent people who were hurt to the hospital.

There were 3 wounded and a dead person included among the 49 arrested. In addition to the buildings and machines, about two tons of raw jade other materials were destroyed and lost, according to local authorities.

 Win Naing (Kachin land) and Township IPRD

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar