{"id":1208848,"date":"2023-09-11T21:04:51","date_gmt":"2023-09-11T21:04:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/news\/laos\/mining-gold-09112023160223.html"},"modified":"2023-09-11T21:04:51","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T21:04:51","slug":"chinese-company-releases-50-lao-villagers-accused-of-illegal-gold-mining","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2023\/09\/11\/chinese-company-releases-50-lao-villagers-accused-of-illegal-gold-mining\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese company releases 50 Lao villagers accused of illegal gold mining"},"content":{"rendered":"
A Chinese mining company in northern Laos has released to police about 50 villagers it detained in August for illegally digging gold on its land concession, Lao officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n Employees at Tianjin Huakan Mining Investment Co., Ltd., which operates in Pak Ou district in Luang Prabang province, allegedly beat some of the detainees who were unable to pay 10-15 million kip (US$500-760) each for their freedom.<\/span><\/p>\n