Laogai, the capital of Kokang, is currently under the Burmese Army’s control since the night of August 24, sources said. The move came barely five months after the region celebrated the 20th anniversary of peace with the country’s military rulers.
“I have not seen any Kokang fighters all day,” one of the few remaining residents told SHAN yesterday. “Everywhere, the Burmese soldiers are patrolling,” he added.
Another source said he had gone past what was until yesterday the mansion of Peng Jiasheng, the Kokang supreme leader and witnessed only Burmese policemen both inside and outside the wall.
Peng and three others, including his younger brother Jiafu, and two sons, were said to have escaped to the north with his troops.
According to the latest information, Peng and troops loyal to him are still holding positions northeast of Laogai and at Qingsuihe (Chinshwehaw) aka Nampha on the southern border with Wa.
Since the new base at Kunghsa is just 4km from Laogai, the Burmese Army could have mounted an attack if it chose to. “But, they are yet to do it, probably because it is too uncomfortably near the Chinese border,” said a source from the border. “The Burmese Army has instead brought in other Kokang rivals of Peng to deal with him. Apart from Bai Souqian (his former deputy), there are now Kokang militias loyal to the Burmese Army from Kunlong, Hopang and even his arch rival Yang Mouliang. If there is going to be any shooting, the Burmese Army can now tell the Chinese that it’s a fight among the Kokangs, the Burmese Army has nothing to do with it,” the source added.
On the other side of the border, China has set up a temporary holding center for the refugees from Burma, according to the same source. “They are giving them a blanket and a mat each, besides food,” he said.
Meanwhile, the United Wa State Army (UWSA) reportedly held an emergency meeting with its Kokang ally this morning at Namteuk, south of Qingshihe.
The two towns are separated by the Namting and connected by a bridge over it. “The fall of Qingsuihe,” admitted a Wa source, “could greatly threaten the safety of Namteuk and restrict our movements.”
Namteuk is the headquarters of the UWSA’s 318th Division, commanded by Bao Ai Roong, the Wa supreme leader’s nephew.
The fall of Laogai without a shot being fired has brought into question the practicality of the “Not Shooting First” policy of the Peace and Democracy Front (PDF), whose members include Kokang, Wa and Mongla. “We should also have spelt out what movements by the Burmese Army would be deemed as hostile acts,” said a Shan ceasefire officer. “Now, because we have said that we won’t shoot first, the Burmese Army is being allowed to beef up its forces around us.”
The Kokang debacle could be repeated elsewhere, he warned, if the alliance continued to hold on to the policy.
Since 1989, Kokang has been under the control of Peng Jiasheng. The Burmese authorities, now that an arrest warrant for him has been issued, are reportedly encouraging Peng’s rival groups to set up a new leadership.
