Myanmar Army Routs Ethnic Chinese Rebels in the North

NYT ^ | 08/31/09 | THOMAS FULLER

[TigerLikesRooster]

Myanmar Army Routs Ethnic Chinese Rebels in the North

By THOMAS FULLER

BANGKOK — The Myanmar military has overwhelmed rebels from an ethnic Chinese minority in the northern reaches of the country, the junta’s second victory over armed opponents in three months.

The routing over the weekend of the forces of the small, Chinese-speaking Kokang ethnic group gives Myanmar’s governing generals momentum in their campaign to quell armed opposition before elections and the adoption of a new Constitution next year.

Several well-armed groups, notably the Wa and Kachin, still stand in the way of the junta’s goal of complete control over the country. But a recently announced agreement of solidarity among the rebel groups, which had the potential to slow the central government’s advance against the Kokang, may be fraying.

The Myanmar government’s strategy, analysts say, appears to be to challenge the groups one by one and to try to capitalize on the many factions within each group.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Vanders9]

How about THAT for a “celebration of cultural diversity”?

[TigerLikesRooster]

Hmm... Myanmar and China at each other’s throat. I don't have a dog in the fight. I will watch and hope they fight as long as possible.

[Carry_Okie]

Hmm... Myanmar and China at each other’s throat.

With China's Chia Pet supplying nuke material to the Burmese? Perhaps it's more complicated than that.

[Sawdring]

Analysts said that the Chinese government had asked Myanmar's generals to refrain from initiating military campaigns before the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic on Oct. 1.

China needs to display tighter control of its little dragons before the grand party.