Chinese Blood on Burmese Soil

On Aug. 8, Burmese government troops raided the home of Kokang leader Peng Jiasheng, setting off clashes that led to the loss of the Kokang capital, Laogai, to the junta. In this exclusive interview with The Irrawaddy, Peng gives his side of the story.

Question: How would you describe the situation in the Kokang region?

Answer: 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 and rape and killed civilians. Many people are still afraid to go back home.

Peng Jiasheng (Photo: Tom Kramer)

Q: Why did the junta single out your group?

A: The motivation is obvious. They want to eliminate the Kokang and other ethnic armed forces and achieve their goal of a junta-managed “unified” country. It goes without saying that the junta will not stop with the Kokang. They will take the war to other groups with all kinds of excuses. It can accuse any ceasefire group of drugs, weapons, anything.

In the four special regions in Shan State, there is no poppy cultivation, according to investigations by international agencies. However, in SPDC-controlled areas, there is more than 250,000 mu [16,700 hectares] of poppy cultivation. This is the work of the junta, and this is how it behaves.

Q: Why did you reject the junta’s proposal to form a border guard force?

A: We were not really against the idea, but the terms and conditions were too rigorous. For example, all the officers over 50 would be forced to retire. The key leaders of the local government and the commanders of the army would be appointed by the junta. These proposals are not acceptable to any of the cease-fire groups or the local people. Our requirements are simple: We want a high level of national autonomy to protect the interests of the Kokang people.

Q: What, in your view, is wrong with the 2008 constitution?

A: The constitution is all about the power and interests of the junta. We do not believe that it ensures the rights and interests of the minorities. There are things about the approval of the constitution that few people know about. For example, in some Kokang villages, the junta sent people to vote in the referendum. The local people did not want to participate, so the junta officials wrote out all the votes. This is how it was approved.

Q: What role did China play in the recent conflict?

A: During the Aug. 8 incident and the armed conflict afterward, the Chinese government did not give us assistance. We could not talk to the Chinese government about protection and asylum. However, as the Kokang are in fact Chinese, when the refugees fled to China the local authorities took very good care of them.

Q: How do you see the future of Burma and the ethnic minorities?

A: This is a complicated issue. If Burma does not set up a democratic government that is elected by the people and therefore really represents the people, the future of the minorities in Burma will get worse.

Q: Are the ethnic groups based along the border united in their goals?

A: All the minority ceasefire groups along the China-Burma border have good relations and have supported each other over a long period of time. Our fate and experiences are the same. But due to certain difficulties, our alliance is not as strong as it should be. Therefore the junta had its opportunity, and now the Kokang area is under junta control.

Q: Was the recent attack designed to demonstrate that the junta is not a puppet of China?

A: I think the junta attacked the Kokang because it wants to develop better relations with America, India and the West.