Team News Riveting
The agitation going on in trouble-torn Myanmar took another twist as 32 factories owned by the Chinese were vandalised and set on fire.
The development is part of strong anti-Chinese sentiments flaring up in Myanmar where junta declared “full martial law” late on Sunday in parts of Yangon. Reports quoting entrepreneurs said that the Myanmar military had taken control of the industrial zone, but did not send troops to protect specific Chinese factories.
Chinese investors in an industrial zone in Myanmar said they might have to arm themselves for protection after dozens of factories were vandalised and torched on the weekend in an outbreak of anti-Chinese sentiment.
Chinese embassy in Myanmar said on Monday that 32 Chinese-invested factories in the Hlaingthaya industrial zone in the commercial capital Yangon had been damaged since Sunday, with two Chinese workers wounded and US$37.8 million (about Rs 250 crore) in property losses.
Chinese businessmen in Yangon are in a state of fear and planning to suspend their business. However, no fresh violence had taken place after “martial law” was declared in the two townships where the factories were vandalized.
Myanmar has sent additional police and firefighters to the affected area in Yangon to strengthen security.
China was closely monitoring the situation and would take a decision to evacuate its citizens to ensure safety of Chinese institutions and personnel.
Meanwhile, At least 38 pro-democracy demonstrators died on Sunday on the bloodiest day of violence since the February 1 coup.
Student unions from 18 universities in Myanmar urged Chinese President Xi Jinping not to recognize Myanmar’s military regime and to stand with the people of the country, amid a wave of anti-China sentiment—including boycotts on Chinese products—led by young people across the country following the military takeover.
An increasingly large crowd of anti-coup protesters have gathered daily in front of the Chinese Embassy in Yangon throughout this week, demanding that Beijing end its support for the military regime and stand with the tens of thousands of protesters in the country in their demand for a restoration of civilian rule.
