Chinese police invades Burma

Reporter: Pegasus
The Chinese police staged surprise raids on casinos in eastern Shan State on 6 July and rounded up more than 60 Chinese clients at the establishments, according to sources who turned up recently at the border.

The raiders who came in three trucks swept upon the 3 main casinos in Mongla opposite Daluo of Xixuangbanna prefecture in broad daylight. Local and Thai players however were left untouched.

Sources believe the city's authorities led by Sai Leun, 59, were somehow forced to cooperate with the Chinese law enforcement officials.

Mongla, once a booming city 240 km north of Thailand, barely manages to stay alive with tourists and gamblers coming from Thailand. Another income is from the zinc mines of Kengpin and Namyeu in Mongyang township, northwest of Mongla. As for the coal mines in Kengkharng, southeast of Mongla, and formerly an important source of revenue, they have been "left idle" for sometime now," according to a local Shan officer.

Power also having been cut off from China, the city's residents are getting electricity on a rotation basis just like the rest of Burma. A hydropower plant is presently being constructed, they said, but it has yet to be completed.

Mongla is the seat of the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS) also known as Shan State Special Region #4, a former Communist force that, like Wa, Kokang and others, concluded a ceasefire pact with Rangoon in 1989.

Related report: Mongla under double heat, 12 July 2005