Kokang
Kokang
ကိုးကန့် / 果敢 | |
---|---|
Highest point | 2,548 m |
Area | |
• Total | 1,895 km2 (732 sq mi) |
Elevation | 1,000 m (3,000 ft) |
Population (2009) | |
• Total | 150,000 |
• Density | 79/km2 (210/sq mi) |
Shan State Special region 1 Kokang | |
---|---|
Country | Myanmar |
State | Shan State |
Formation of the MNDAA and SR1–SS | 11 March 1989 |
MNDAA lost power | August 2009 |
MNDAA regain power | 5 January 2024 |
Capital | Laukkai |
Official languages | |
Government | |
• Chairman | Peng Daxun |
• Vice Chairman | Li Laobao |
• Secretary-General | Song Kecheng |
Area | |
• Total | 1,895 km2 (732 sq mi) |
Highest elevation | 2,548 m (8,360 ft) |
Population | |
• 2009 estimate | 150,000 |
Currency | right |
Calling code | +86 (0)883 |
Kokang (Burmese: ကိုးကန့်; Chinese: 果敢; pinyin: Guǒgǎn; Wade–Giles: Kuo-kan) is a region in Myanmar. It is located in the northern part of Shan State, with the Salween River to its west, and sharing a border with China's Yunnan Province to the east. Its total land area is around 1,895 square kilometers (732 sq mi).[1] The capital is Laukkai. Kokang is mostly populated by Kokang Chinese, a Han Chinese group living in Myanmar.
Kokang had been historically part of China for several centuries and is still claimed by the
From the 1960s to 1989, the area was controlled by the
Etymology
The name Kokang derives from the Burmese ကိုးကန့်, which itself derives from the Shan ၵဝ်ႈ (kāo, "nine") + ၵူၼ်း (kúun, "family") or ၵၢင် (kǎang, "guard").
Demographics
In 2009, the population was reported to be around 150,000.
History
Chiefdom of Kokang
Yang Xiancai (
Recent history
After the collapse of the
In 2003, a ban on the
The 2008 Myanmar Constitution defines Kokang is a
2009 Kokang conflict
In August 2009, Kokang was the site of a violent conflict, the
2015 Kokang offensive
On 17 February 2015 Myanmar president Thein Sein declared a state of emergency and a three-month period of martial law in Kokang in response to fighting between government troops and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), a Kokang insurgent group.[10]
2023 Kokang conflict
In November 2023, the MNDAA began encircling and attacking Laukkai as part of Operation 1027, a joint effort by the Three Brotherhood Alliance coalition during the renewed civil war following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.[11]
The MNDAA successfully encircled and captured Laukkai, the capital of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone, with key victories in Chinshwehaw and other strategic border towns, leading to the surrender of the Tatmadaw's military and Border Guard Forces in Laukkai by December 26, ultimately securing control of the city by December 28.[12]
Rulers of Kokang
- Chiefs of Kokang
- De facto rulers
- Sao Edward Yang Kyein Tsai 杨振材: 17 May 1959–2 March 1962
- Lo Hsing Han 罗星汉: 2 March 1962–March 1969
- Pheung Kya-shin aka Peng Jiasheng: March 1969–12 March 1989
- Chairmen of the Shan State First Special Region
- Pheung Kya-shin aka Peng Jiasheng 彭家声: 12 March 1989–27 February 1993
- Yang Mao-liang 杨茂良: 27 February 1993–20 December 1995
- Pheung Kya-shin: 20 December 1995–24 August 2009 (in exile: 24 August 2009–16 February 2022)
- Bai Xuoqian白所成: 24 August 2009–20 August 2010 (acting)
- Pheung Daxun aka Peng Deren 彭德仁: 5 January 2024–present (in exile: 16 February 2022–5 January 2024)
- Chairmen of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone
- Bai Xuoqian: 20 August 2010–30 March 2016
- Zhao Dechen 赵德强: 30 March 2016–19 February 2021
- Li Zhanfu 李正福 aka U Myint Swe ဦးမြင့်ဆွေ: 19 February 2021–9 November 2023
- Brigadier General Tun Tun Myint ထွန်းထွန်းမြင့်: 9 November 2023–5 January 2024 (acting)
See also
- Burmese Chinese
References
- ^ a b "Myanmar fighters cross into China". Al Jazeera News. 30 August 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-63041-184-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-136-12514-0.
- ^ Li, Xue (20 May 2015). "Can China Untangle the Kokang Knot in Myanmar?". The Diplomat.
- ^ "Myanmar Regional Crime Webs Enjoy Post-Coup Resurgence: The Kokang Story". United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
- ^ Joint Kokang-Wa Humanitarian Needs Assessment Team, Replacing Opium in Kokang and Wa Special Regions (PDF)
- ^ "Myanmar Constitution-Chapter 2 | Amnesty International USA". Amnestyusa.org. Archived from the original on 2011-02-18. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
- ^ Auswärtiges Amt Myanmar Innenpolitik
- ^ 47 Myanmar soldiers reported dead in clashes with Kokang rebels
- ^ Soe Zeya Tun (17 February 2015). "Myanmar declares martial law in troubled Kokang region". Reuters. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ^ "After weeks of preparation, MNDAA says it has entered Laukkai". Myanmar Now. 1 December 2023.
- ^ Kyaw Oo (28 December 2023). "Most of Laukkai now under MNDAA control". Myanmar Now.