The People’s Court of central Ha Tinh province on November 12 sentenced 11 people to prison for between 15-39 months and three others to suspension for causing public disorder during a riot that broke out at the Vung Ang Economic Zone in May.

According to the indictment, on May 14 during rallies protesting China’s illegal placement of its Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, Bui Ngoc Cuong, Nguyen Thi Hang, Nguyen Dinh Thuan incited others to engage in illegal protests around the area of the Hung Nghiep Fomosa Ha Tinh Steel Limited Company (FHS) and several factories and companies in the economic zone.

Cuong was sentenced to 30 months in prison, Hang 24 months and Thuan 15 months.

At the construction sites of MCC19 and MCC5 companies, also located in the Vung Ang Economic Zone, where Chinese workers were working, Nguyen Van Thang was identified as the leader of the riot. He was sentenced to 39 months in prison.

Despite being warned by authorities, they apparently did not stop and incited others to cause public disturbance and actions against authorities and police.

The court was told many of the defendants used stones and sticks to attack Chinese workers, causing public disturbance and halting production.

The riot caused the death of three Chinese workers and damaged estates of the FHS and other companies.

The People’s Court of central Ha Tinh province in June sentenced two others to up to 30 months in prison for looting during the riot at the steel company.-VNA