The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar on Wednesday made a solemn representation to the Myanmar government, and also refuted claims that 153 Chinese nationals were sentenced to life imprisonment for illegal logging, saying that they only received up to 35 years in jail, the Global Times learned on Wednesday.
The embassy told the Global Times that it hadn't received any official notice related to the case so far and it had sent consular officials to Myitkyina, capital of Kachin province in Myanmar, to verify with the local court.
Earlier, Reuters reported that Chinese nationals were given life imprisonment by Myitkyina county court for violating protection of public property laws.
"According to what we know, 150 of them were given 20 years in jail and two of them, underage, were given 10 years while the other man, who was found hiding drugs, was given 35 years of imprisonment," director of the Information and Public Affairs Section of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar told the Global Times.
These Chinese lumberjacks, who were deceived into illegal logging by some unscrupulous Chinese and Myanmar businessmen, are now in jail and deserve sympathy, the director said.
"We think that a 20-year imprisonment is a heavy sentence and we have made solemn representations to the Myanmar side," he said.
An anonymous expert also told the Global Times that life imprisonment in Myanmar for lumberjacks is a severe punishment, similar to death penalty in China.
"Myanmar thinks Chinese illegal logging might fund ethnic armed groups, which will have a negative effect on the society," he said.
Starting December 2014, Myanmar authorities have been taking action against jade smuggling and illegal lumbering in northern Kachin and captured 122 people including 102 foreigners. Most of the foreigners were Chinese lumberjacks.
The Myanmar government has stopped wood export since April 1, 2014.
