Chinese Blood on Burmese Soil
|
|
Monday, September 14, 2009
|
Peng Jiasheng is the Kokang leader whose residence was raided by government troops on August 8, setting off a regime offensive and leading to the loss of the Kokang region to junta troops. He was interviewed by The Irrawaddy on the reasons for the offensive, the role of China, the allegations of illegal drug trafficking, the borders guard force and the future of ethnic minorities in Burma. Question: How would you describe the current situation in the Kokang region? Answer: The incident on August 8 was the junta’s excuse. It wanted to do away with the local ethnic minority army a long time ago. A larger nationality wants to eliminate a smaller one. This is typical nationalistic chauvinism. This was a massacre.  | | Peng Jiasheng (Photo: Tom Kramer) |
In order to avoid further harm to the Kokang people, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) retreated. This is not what we wanted and also it is not what the people in the international community who support our people would like to see. Now the situation in Kokang is even more complicated. Currently, the situation is very bad. The government troops took over the Kokang area for about 10 days, but there were many reported cases where their soldiers committed robbery, rape and killed civilians. Many people are still afraid to go back home. Most of the shops owned by Chinese businessmen were either destroyed or robbed. This is a calamity. The prosperous environment of Kokang of only a few months ago no longer exists. People are living in deep distress. This conflict has brought great trauma to the Kokang people. The war will be long. It will be impossible to end soon. Q: The ceasefire agreement you signed with the regime in 1989 has collapsed. What do you believe was the motive behind the offensive and the regime’s attempt to arrest you? A: In March 1989, the Kokang people agreed to peace and development. In the same year, 17 other local ethnic armed forces also started peace talks with the junta. This brought to an end the large scale of armed conflict in the country. The alliance army is also one of the legal ethnic armed forces that were recognized by the military government. Over the past 20 years of peace and development, the Kokang was the first group in the country to promise the international community that we would stop drug production. We enforced the ban on poppy cultivation in 2002 in our area. The anti-drug production effort and success were recognized by the UN and the international communities. With help from the World Food Programme, the Chinese government and other international aid agencies, we implemented a lot of poppy substitution projects, mainly to grow sugar crane, tea, walnuts and other crops. We achieved very good progress in the poppy substitution. Step by step, the people in our area began to work their way up from poverty. This can be seen by everybody. However, as the military government wants to achieve their goal of controlling the whole country, it felt it needed to take action against the peace and the ceasefire groups. Q: Soon after the government troops captured Laogai, the state-run-media repeatedly accused you of involvement in illegal arms factories and drugs. How do you respond to those allegations? A: Burma is still a country without a real government. The army cannot represent the government. After the election in 1990, the junta usurped power in the country. Ever since then, there has been no proper government in our country. The international community has never officially acknowledged them as the government. Burma is currently a country managed by a temporary council that was set up by the junta. It was called the State Law and Order Restoration Council and was later changed to the State Peace and Development Council. The government army is also an ethnic armed force, so it can not represent this country. In 1989, for the sake of the peace and welfare of the country, the Kokang people took the initiative to approach the junta-controlled council. This was to protect peace in the country, and to let the people live in peace.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 
 COMMENTS (16)
|
Tocharian says “true” minorities need to be protected. I say “all” citizens, minorities or not, need to be protected. Did the junta protect all its citizens and their rights? Glaringly, no!
Ongoing genocides on minorities, Burmese refugees overseas - 2 millions. Terrified internally displaced persons hiding in forests. Forced porters stepping on mines. Daw Suu and 2,200 political prisoners. Depayin massacre. Monks killed. Neglecting Nargis victims, freedoms denied, mass arrests...
I am surprised “Armenian sounding” Tocharian is unmindful of genocide and refugees. Wrong door! Ignoring the junta’s atrocities, he seemingly victimizes victims, the Kokangs,a second time?
Mixing Kokangs with 1.6 billion Chinese and using a “true” minority smokescreen, he arbitrarily dismisses Kokangs as fakes. Even the Junta accepts them as its citizens and thanks China for taking care of the refugees.
The Kokangs were already robbed. A saying: No need to push drowning people deeper down with a bamboo pole. |
|
 |
Ce Tana Wrote: |
24/09/2009 |
|
On 9/15/09, Tocharian (T) picks on Peng (P) for saying the Junta isn’t a real (legal) government. Defending the Junta, T asserts that China made the Junta legal.
LOL! Did China elect the Junta? China will deal with whoever is in charge. So will neighbors and others. Besides China, the Junta sends delegations to Russia and India. It has dealings with ASEAN. UN officials visit the Junta. The Junta’s attending the UNGA. Why be fixated on China? Did others also make it legal?
T and P are talking different things. “De facto” vs “elected” (legitimate) government. Yes, it’s a de facto government but not an elected one.
Except T, everybody knows it is illegitimate. Even the Junta itself knows. That’s why it’s doing the road map and 2010 elections to have a veneer of legitimacy while ensuring military rule forever.
P has a point. A duly elected legitimate government can better solve the minority problems. The Junta’s genocidal military solution won’t work. See Iraq. Why sidetrack from this important point?
|
|
 |
zarni nyunt Wrote: |
24/09/2009 |
|
| I do respect the Kokang leader. As I live in the United States,we all Burmans must recognize the Kokang as minority Burmese. Let them govern their lands with their leaders but at the same time they need to understand this land is not Kokang's land or Karen's land.This is Burma and Burma-owned lands. So you all must respect the central government and obey orders. As in the United States, where over 200 world nations's citizens live under one law. So we must write a real constitution law and obey it. Kokang leaders tell the truth, but the Kokang area is not owned by Kokang people or China. I want to give advice to Kokang people that "Never say we're Chinese. It hurts us.If you believe we're Chinese please go back to China. My wife's grandfather came from Yunan, Kumin,her mother Daw Phyu Phyu is half Chinese. She called herself ethnic Shan. Her husband U Tha Doe was a trained US Marine, born in Arakan. We're Burmese, not Chinese or Indian. Please inform the Kokang leader: Accept yourself as Burmese first. Thanks. |
|
|
duyeentea Wrote: |
21/09/2009 |
|
Same with Americans of African, Mexican, Armenian, Russian ancestry. The US treats them as citizens & minorities. Canada is the same. France and Germany have Turkish citizens. Sarkozy is Hungarian. Obama is half Kenyan. ASEAN has multi ethnicities. Vietnam has 50.
Burmans forms 60 percent, the rest are ethnics. Burmans, Karens, Tai, Kachins, Chins migrated from China. Linguists say Burmese is closely related to China’s Yi minority language (Wikipedia), though the Burmese adopted Indian script. Burmans merged with Pyu whose language became extinct. That’s why from ancient times, scholars have regarded Chinese as pauk phaws.
Imagine! All ethnics have fought the repressive junta, not private armies. They’ve been fighting for their rights and survival for more than 50 years. Later, the junta had ceasefire agreements with most. The agreement: after 2010 election, ethnic armies would negotiate their rights with and join the new government.
The junta broke its word with the new border guard proposal and ethnics lose their rights.
|
|
|
duyeentea Wrote: |
21/09/2009 |
|
Tocharian says “They don’t have private armies.”
He lumps Burma with China. There's a vast difference. China gives autonomous rule and promotes minorities even above the Han Chinese. Burma's junta is blatantly corrupt, practices genocide, rape, pillage on minorities. It even killed monks and Burmans.
Once prosperous, Burma has sunk to the world’s near bottom. China has developed and surpassed Germany.
Tocharian implies the Kokang Chinese are not "true" minorities and 1.3 billion Chinese somehow live in Burma.
Kokang Chinese have lived in Burma for centuries like the Burman or Shan. Confused, he mixes up two different categories, race and citizens. There are Koreans, Russians, Kazakhs,Mongols, Vietnamese, Thai minorities living in China. They are Chinese citizens. They cannot be mixed up with the Koreans in Korea, Russians in Russia, etc… Quite different.
|
|
|
|
tocharian,
first of all, not everyone in China is Han Chinese. There are hundreds of ethnic groups in China today, just like in Burma.
Here is my understanding - China is a country. Chinese are a race. Uighurs are an ethnic group. i am sure some can argue that Burmans are biologically and genetically related to Chinese - as in race, not as citizens of China. Whatever classification system you were using to construct your notion, as long as our definition of the words race, ethnic, nationality are different, I doubt we could take this debate to the next level.
|
|
|
tocharian Wrote: |
18/09/2009 |
|
| I understand that true minorities need to have their rights protected, but 1.6 billion Han Chinese are not minorities for me, whether they live in Vancouver, Mandalay or Kokang. Gimme a break guys! How does China treat its own minorities, Tibetans Uighurs, ... They don't have private armies! |
|
|
|
Perhaps there was a little lost in translation, or a misconception during the interview. I am sure everyone knows that not everyone in "Myanmar" is an ethnic Burman.
Due to years without information and education, we are confused with what we are and who we are. We have had this identity crisis for so long and we dont even know it.
Why can't someone be Kokang Chinese in Myanmar ? I see no problem with that.
Pluralism might be the ideal approach for a future healthy Burma/Myanmar. We can;t have ethnic Burman hegemony and expect the country to become a peaceful nation.
In my opinion what is worse is that current junta does not care about any of the ethnic groups, including Burmans. They would prefer that the minorities and majority Burmans to not get along well, so that they can develop their power, instead of developing the country. |
|
|
|
"Q: Soon after the government troops captured Laogai, the state-run media repeatedly accused you of involvement in illegal arms factories and drugs. How do you respond to those allegations?"
A: Yada Yada.
hmmm... DRUG LORD!
It's sad that Kokang people are affected but, let's not sympathize with the drug lords. It affects the integrity of the democratic movement. We can't support whoever is against SPDC.
"What I want to say here is no matter what happens in Burma, we are ethnic Chinese and our roots are in China. This we will never forget."
- I'm Chinese by blood. but I'm a Myanmar citizen. I never associate myself with China. |
|
|
Greenland Wrote: |
15/09/2009 |
|
From this interview with the Kokang leader, Peng Jiasheng, we see the manifestation of the true character of the Burmese junta - they will make concessions (agree to ceasefire because they have too many enemies to fight) when it serves their purpose. When their purpose is achieved and they become stronger they will not need any ceasefire not only with Kokang but all the others.
We should know and understand that the ultimate aim of the chauvinistic Burman nationalism is complete control of the country by military force, leaving no one standing equal to them.
Every other things they did in the process (no matter how sincere it may seems) is a mean to the ultimate goal.
All armed ethnic groups - beware of this mighty clever deceiver currently appearing in the shape and form of SPDC. |
|
|
tocharian Wrote: |
15/09/2009 |
|
If, as Mr Peng says, Burma is a country without a real government, why does the Chinese government veto any action against this government in the UN security council and who are the people signing all these deals about gas pipelines, etc?
Maung Aye was there in China as an official guest talking to high level Chinese officials, signing deals etc.
C'mon gimme a break. Don't be a hypocrite. The military junta is legal because China says so! |
|
|
Bha Sin Wrote: |
15/09/2009 |
|
I just want to say one thing about the Kokang and the junta— they have been dealing in drugs for many years together. Now the Kokang people have been attacked by the junta, elsewhere other ethnic groups have been fighting the junta for 60 years, so I guess now the Kokang people should know how the junta really operates.
The Chinese, on the other hand, have a lot of say in Burma.
I personally think the junta and the Chinese government are on same side fighting the Kokang.
The Kokang people have been dealing and supplying funds from drugs trade to the junta, now the funds have gone dry and the junta, together with the Chinese government is attacking the Kokang people.
I just say good luck to the Kokang people for supporting the junta now, the guns have turned on them. Never trust the junta, because the junta never trusts anyone, it's a just matter of time, it wll turn on you.
If the junta can kill its own people in cold blood, it will not think twice to attack or kill any one. My last word to the Kokang people: you had a good relationship with the junta before, so good luck to you. |
|
|
Saw K'nyaw Wrote: |
15/09/2009 |
|
I supported the Kokang armed group to continue their fighting the military government. I hope other ethnic ceasefire groups like the Wa, Kachin, northern Shan start to fight the SPDC.
We ethnic groups were tortured and defeated by the cruelty of the military government. So to escape from under the rule of this military government, we fight to get freedom and self-determination. We build the Federal Union in Burma.
I'd like to encourage the armed ceasefire groups; don't waste time with the SPDC. As we know and learned in world history, the way to get our freedom we should give our life and blood. If we ethnic groups start to fight at the same time and in our place the pro-democracy movement will start their struggle in the political fight. Then later we will reach our goal.
|
|
|
Salai Biak Wrote: |
15/09/2009 |
|
| So, you are Kokang and Wa are Chinese? |
|
|
myanmar pyi thar Wrote: |
15/09/2009 |
|
"But as a matter of fact, the Kokang people are Chinese."
"What I want to say here is no matter what happens in Burma, we are ethnic Chinese and our roots are in China. This we will never forget."
What is he trying to say??? |
|
|
Saya San Wrote: |
14/09/2009 |
|
Peng Jiasheng said: "(The Junta) can accuse any ceasefire group of drugs, or weapons…anything. The current situation on drugs, for example, in the four special regions in Shan State is that there is no poppy cultivation, according to investigations by the international agencies."
Apparently, Peng doesn't want to discuss ya ba - which is way more profitable, and easier to produce and distribute, than opium.
I believe the fall of Kokang was largely about drug profits. Peng wasn't sharing enough with the Tatmadaw. |
|
|
|
|
RECOMMEND (65)
E-MAIL
PRINT
