Even before hostilities break out thousands of civilians in Mongla in eastern Shan State of Burma are fleeing to neighbouring China for two reasons, following the Burmese junta breaking a ceasefire pact and capturing the Kokang rebel's capital Laogai on August 24, said local sources.
Firstly, Mongla residents are really worried about the inhuman act of the Burmese soldiers, who shot dead dozens of innocent children and civilians in Kokang territory during gun battles between the Burmese Army and the Kokang rebels loyal to Peng Jiasheng from August 27 and 29, said residents of Mongla.
Kokang and independent sources said Burmese soldiers shot dead Kokang-Chinese civilians in their homes and wherever they saw them in Kokang territories during the major clashes for three days.
The second reason was the Burmese Army's offensive would spread to the Mongla-based National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS) led by Sai Leun, the son-in-law of Peng Jiasheng, the supreme leader of Kokang rebel also known as Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), added residents.
Since the end of the clashes in MNDAA territory, the junta has sent thousands of troops with about 20 tanks and heavy artillery like mortars near the Mongla, said local eyewitnesses.
In apprehension, therefore most people of a population of about 30,000 in the NDAA's headquarters Mongla have fled to the border town Ta-law in Chinese territory soon after the fighting started in MNDAA, according to residents of Mongla. All shops are closed and business has come to a halt in Mongla.
Besides, thousands of civilians in the United Wa State Army (UWSA) area, which is contiguous to the territories of MNDAA and NDAA, including the group's headquarters Pang Sang (also spelled Panghseng), also fled to China. But civilians in UWSA territories have now been stopped from fleeing to China by the group, said residents in UWSA.
Now, thousands of Burmese refugees from MNDAA, UWSA and NDAA are being accepted in the border towns like Ta-law and Nan San in China's Yunnan province by Chinese refugee agents, said border sources.
Chinese refugee agents are also arranging for food, medicines and tents on the border for future arrivals from Burma, said border sources.
Meanwhile, China has deployed a fresh batch of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers with about 60 tanks on the border after the Burmese junta attacked the MNDAA last month, according to local eyewitnesses.
Till now, civilians in UWSA and NDAA-ESS areas believe that civil war will actually occur between the Burmese troops and the two ceasefire groups.
Border sources rejected news of the junta-run media that Kokang refugees are coming back to their homes. Some Kokang refugees came back for checking their properties, when the fighting stopped.
