Chinese staffers freed after Myanmar factory attack

All the Chinese staffers besieged during an assault by striking workers in a Chinese-invested garment factory in Yangon, Myanmar, were released after rescue efforts were staged by the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar and local police.

The stranded staffers safely left the scene on Thursday afternoon, and the Chinese Embassy is negotiating with Myanmar officials to take measures to help the raided factory resume normal operation, according to a statement released on the embassy’s website on Friday.

Hundreds of striking workers and non-factory personnel attacked the Chinese-invested factory Thursday morning, destroying properties of the plant, taking away belongings of Chinese staff and restricting their personal freedom, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The reason for the strike remains unknown.

According to the report from mmgpmedia.com, a Chinese news website based in Myanmar, seven Chinese staffers were surrounded by the strikers.

The factory was established by Hangzhou Hundred-Tex Garment (Myanmar) Co three years ago and currently has 10 Chinese staffers and around 500 Myanmar workers, according to the report.

The factory could not be reached for comment as of press time.

On Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar also lodged solemn representations to the Myanmar authorities following the assault, according to a separate statement released on the embassy’s website on Friday.

The representations were made to Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Yangon regional government on Thursday night, demanding a prompt and effective action to punish the perpetrators, and ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and the properties of the Chinese enterprise, according to the statement.

Myanmar authorities said they will protect the safety and interests of Chinese entrepreneurs in accordance with law, promising to settle related issues as soon as possible, the statement added.