11 jailed for anti-China riots
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Eleven people in central Vietnam were sentenced to between 15-39 months in jail for causing public disorder during riots that left three Chinese workers dead at an industrial park in May, local media reported yesterday.
Ha Tinh provincial People’s Court on Wednesday jailed the men for “illegal protests” at the site of Hung Nhiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company and other factories, newspaper Viet Nam News reported.
The court was told many of the defendants used sticks and stones to attack Chinese workers, causing a public disturbance and halting production, the newspaper said. Protesters also attacked and injured police trying to stop them.
A total of 117 people were arrested over the riots, which erupted amid widespread demonstrations against the deployment of a Chinese oil rig in waters claimed by Vietnam. None of the men tried on Wednesday were charged with the deaths of the Chinese workers in the riots.
