2015 Kokang offensive
2015 Kokang offensive | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of Internal conflict in Burma | |||||||||
Location of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone(green) within Shan State (yellow) | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Belligerents | |||||||||
Myanmar Armed Forces Myanmar Police Force |
Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) Arakan Army (AA) Ta-ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Min Aung Hlaing | Pheung Kya-shin | ||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
Unknown | 1,000[1] | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
at least 126 dead and 359 wounded[2] | at least 72 dead and 22 captured[2][3][4] | ||||||||
200+ dead in total Over 50,000 civilians displaced |
|
The 2015 Kokang offensive is a military operation launched by the Burmese Army in February 2015 in Kokang in northern Shan State, Burma (Myanmar). Several clashes between the Burmese Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army have taken place.
Background
The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) was formerly part of the Communist Party (Burma) and became the first of about a dozen factions to sign a bilateral cease-fire agreement with the then-military government after the group broke apart in 1989.[5] The Kokang Special Region and MNDAA, under the leadership of Pheung Kya-shin, enjoyed ceasefire with the government from 1989 to 2009.
This calm faltered in 2009 when MNDAA came under pressure to transform into a paramilitary Border Guard Force under the control of the Burmese Army. The MNDAA resisted this move, and hostilities from the army increased, purportedly due to MNDAA links with the drug trade.[6] After the 2009 Kokang incident, Pheung himself was driven out by his competitors from within the army and had fled after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
In December 2014, he told Chinese state media in an interview that the MNDAA was trying to regain some territories it lost in 2009.[7][8]
Violence
After six years of relative calm, fighting was first reported on 9 February 2015 in Laukkaing Township, Kokang Self-Administered Zone in the northern part of Shan state near Sino-Burmese border. The MNDAA troops, who were trying to retake the Kokang self-administered zone, had attacked Burmese army outposts near the town of Mawhtike on 9 February. Further fighting broke out in Tashwehtan, northwest of Laukkai in the morning of 10 February as Burmese army reinforcements arrived in the region.[5][6]
According to state-run newspaper, Global New Light of Myanmar, 200 Kokang renegades, as opposed to government-loyal Kokang units, attacked an army military base in the Konkyan Township and shelled the army headquarters on 12 February.[9]
A convoy of the Myanmar Red Cross Society, clearly marked with red cross insignia which was carrying its staff and at least two journalists, was attacked by MNDAA troops on 17 February after an aid mission in Laukkai township. Two members of the convoy were injured during five minutes of fire.[10] But MNDAA spokesperson, Tun Myat Lin, denied the charge.[11]
Allied group of Ta-ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Arakan Army (AA) are also fighting alongside the MNDAA. Some sources indicated that the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), United Wa State Army and National Democratic Alliance Army[12] were also involved, but KIA denied its involvement.[6][7][13][14][15][16]
The MNDAA is thought to be under the command of former leader Pheung Kya-shin, who was ousted from his position by a government-backed Kokang faction in 2009 and has since lived in relative obscurity in China.[16][17]
Civilians and refugees
The conflict had forced 40,000 to 50,000 civilians to flee their homes and seek shelter on the Chinese side of the border while some 4,500 others had taken refuge in Lashio, Shan State.[9][17][18][19]
On 13 March, a bomb hit a sugarcane field in Lincang, China killing four people and wounding nine others with Chinese government demanding a full investigation.[20][21] Burmese government issued a formal apology to China acknowledging the cross-border bombing.[22]
Child soldiers
The Reuters reported in March 2015 that the MNDAA uses child soldiers in the conflict.[23]
Foreign support
Burmese Minister for Information Ye Htut called on Chinese government to reign in any local officials who might be helping the group on their side of the border.[15] According to Burmese military intelligence, MNDAA forces are being supported by former Chinese soldiers recruited as mercenaries.[3][24] However, Chinese government claimed that it did not give military assistance to MNDAA and TNLA spokesman rejected the assertions by the Burmese government.[5]
References
- ↑ "47 Govt Troops Killed, Tens of Thousands Flee Heavy Fighting in Shan State". irrawaddy.org.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Myanmar says 126 soldiers have been killed in fight with Kokang army". Xinhua News Agency. April 19, 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 ABC News. "Myanmar Says Kokang Rebels on the Run Despite Allies' Help". ABC News.
- ↑ "Situation in Myanmar's Kokang region calm down gradually: officer". GlobalPost.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Myanmar Kokang Rebels Deny Receiving Chinese Weapons". Radio Free Asia.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://www.dvb.no/news/kokang-enlist-allies-help-in-fight-against-burma-army-myanmar/48184
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Myanmar Army Troops Recover Bodies of 13 Rebels in Renewed Clash". irrawaddy.org.
- ↑ "Thousands Reportedly Cross Into China to Flee Fighting, Airstrikes in Shan State". irrawaddy.org.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.dvb.no/news/47-burmese-soldiers-killed-in-kokang-conflict-state-media-burma-myanmar/48285
- ↑ "Red Cross Convoy Ambushed Near Laukkai". The Irrawaddy. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ↑ "Myanmar, Kokang Rebels Trade Accusations Over Red Cross Attack". VOA. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ↑ Thida Linn. "Military says ethnic groups supplying Kokang rebels". Eleven Myanmar.
- ↑ The Myanmar Times. "Ethnic allies join Kokang fight". mmtimes.com.
- ↑ Thida Linn. "Military chief discusses clashes with ethnic groups". Eleven Myanmar.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 AFP. "Myanmar airstrikes hit Kokang rebels". mizzima.com.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 http://www.dvb.no/news/burma-army-claims-26-kokang-rebels-killed-burma-myanmar/48343
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Tens of thousands flee war, airstrikes in Kokang region". DVB Multimedia Group. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- ↑ "By truck, by bike, by foot – the exodus from Laogai". DVB Multimedia Group. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- ↑ "Thousands Displaced by Kokang Fighting Arrive in Lashio". irrawaddy.org.
- ↑ "China threatens 'decisive' response after Myanmar bombing". Yahoo News Canada. 15 March 2015.
- ↑ "Myanmar’s Air Force Back in Kokang Amid After Chinese Ire Over Border Bombing". irrawaddy.org.
- ↑ Lun Min Maung , Ye Mon (6 April 2015). "Myanmar apologises to China over cross-border bombing". The Myanmar Times. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
- ↑ Stringer China (20 March 2015). "Myanmar's China-backed rebels". Reuters. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ↑ Post Publishing PCL. "Myanmar points finger in Kokang - Bangkok Post: news". http://www.bangkokpost.com''.
External links
Coordinates: 23°41′30″N 98°45′45″E / 23.69167°N 98.76250°E