Over 4,000 refugees have sheltered in Mong-Su monastery, in Lashio Town, Northern Shan State since fighting started on 9th February in and around Laukkai Town, according to the abbot from the monastery.
Over 10,000 refugees have also fled to China from in and around Laukkai Town to escape fighting between government forces and the Peng Jia Sheng led Kokang armed group, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).
Many of the refugees in the monastery are migrant workers from other parts of Burma and they just stay there temporarily before carrying on with their journey back to their hometowns.
The abbot of Mong-Su monastery said: “According to the list we have collected over 4,000 refugees have already come [through] here. Refugees arrive and leave every day; the Asia World Company provides cars for their transportation. These refugees are [originally] from several locations [around Burma]. They include people from Hsipaw, Kyaukme and Namhsam Townships [in Shan State] but the majority are [originally] from Lower Burma. About 100 people are going back to their [original] homes everyday. Today, there are over 400 refugees in the monastery and over 300 new refugees are arriving right now. I think there might be even more people coming later.”
Sai Sheng Long who is originally from Laukkai but is now sheltering in Chin Shwe Haw said: “Now is the time of the sugar cane harvest and many workers came from Lower Burma, some have not received their wages yet. There are over 300 people [from elsewhere in Burma] trapped there [in Laukkai Town] by the fighting. Now local residents who cannot speak Burmese are facing trouble, some were accused of being rebels and were killed. Also rebel groups dressed in civilian clothes often come out and shoot at the army forces. The Peng Jia Sheng groups sometimes use cars and motorbikes to attack the government army. They have attacked them many times.”
After refusing to transform into Border Guard Forces (BGF) in 2009 the Peng Jia Sheng led MNDAA were attacked by government forces and pushed out of the Kokang area. The government then transferred control of the area from Peng Jia Sheng to one of their allies, Pai Soan Cheain.
Following his defeat in 2009 Peng Jia Sheng went into hiding and his whereabouts were unknown for six years until he and his men started attacking government forces on 9 February.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
