Myanmar: Letpadaung Mine Workers’ Release Comes with Right to Use Seized Land: Farmers

May 20, 2014 | Zarni Mann, The Irawaddy
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MANDALAY — Farmers from the Letpadaung copper mining area in Sagaing Division say they will soon begin to sow crops on their confiscated lands, having received approval from local authorities after simmering tensions boiled over this week and resulted in the kidnapping of two Chinese workers from the mine.

The farmers said they had reached an agreement with a Yinmabin District administrative officer to work on some of their seized land after local villagers agreed to free the two Chinese nationals, whom they had detained on Sunday. The deal came after negotiations on Monday, when the two men were released after being held for more than 30 hours by villagers angry over land conflicts involving Letpadaung and its operator, the Chinese firm Wanbao.