A former liaison officer attached to the ousted Kokang leader Peng Jiasheng was sentenced by the court in Lashio, Shan State North capital, to 12 years in jail, on December 2, according to Kokang and Shan sources on the Sino-Burma border.

Yang Qingmin was arrested following the Burmese Army offensive on Kokang, northeast of Lashio, in August.  Peng had rejected Naypyitaw’s demand in April to transform his armed force into a Border Guard Force (BGF) controlled by Burmese Army officers.

Junta officials searching his house found one pistol and two hand grenades. “If they really think possession of arms by non-junta people is a crime,” said a source, “hundreds would already be in jail. However, other groups are left alone.”

All those closely connected to Peng, risk either detention or harassment by junta authorities, according to Kokang sources.

On September 2, Peng Xiaoyi, Peng’s third daughter, was arrested at Mingladon airport along with her children. All the clan’s houses and assets in Rangoon, Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) and elsewhere have been raided, searched and seized,” a source told SHAN then.

Irrawaddy also reported on November 27 that five Kokang companies including Khatta, Light Rain and Pyae Sone Aung were placed on the business blacklist recently.

On December 4, Naypyitaw held a ceremony to inaugurate the formation of a Kokang BGF in Laogai, Kokang capital on the Sino-Burma border.

“We were invited,” said a Wa source close to the leadership. “But as the invitation arrived only on December 3, we decided not to send anybody.”

There were speculations that Panghsang, the Wa Capital, could have been wary about jeopardizing its relationship with Peng Jiasheng, who is still a member of the Peace and Democratic Front (PDF) founded by Kokang, Wa and Mongla in 1989.

The new leader of Kokang appointed by Naypyitaw is Bai Xuoqian, who had defected to the junta side prior to the August offensive.