The Chinese connection

All people interviewed by LNDO confirmed the presence of Han Chinese among the new settlers, although the numbers differed in each area.

An Akha displaced from an area south of Murng Hsat by the Wa newcomers mentioned that the Chinese were easily distinguishable from the Wa:

“There were some Chinese with them (the Wa settlers). They set up shops and sold various food items. They also made whiskey to sell from corn. I also saw some Chinese soldiers and officers with the Wa Army. They wore Wa uniforms, but they were whiter-skinned than the Wa, so it was easy to tell them apart. They spoke no language other than Chinese.” (LNDO Interview #5)

A Shan from the Murng Karn area, east of Murng Hsat, mentioned that among the 300 new Wa households moving into Murng Karn village, there were 30 Chinese households.

One area where Chinese were particularly concentrated was in Ban Hoong, south of Mong Hsat.

“Wei Hsiao Kang’s battalion 801 (of the UWSA) was based in my village, Ban Hoong. There were about 2,000 families of soldiers. In the army base there were also four Chinese quarters, about 250 houses, or about 1,000 people. These Chinese were involved in Wei (Hsiao Kang)’s military and economic affairs.” (LNDO Interview #3)