Myanmar rebels surrender in China

BEIJING: Some of the 30,000 odd refugees who fled into China have begun to return to their homes across the border after clashes subsided in
Myanmar on Sunday, Chinese official sources said.

Some of the armed Myanmar rebels, who had sneaked into China, have surrendered to Chinese authorities. The local government did not clarify whether they will be handed over to the military authorities in Myanmar, whom they had been fighting.

The surrender might cause problems for Chinese government, which may be under pressures from Myanmar to hand over the rebels. China is one of Myanmar’s closest allay and had protected it from international sanctions by using its veto power in the United Nations Security Council.

China rushed senior officials to examine the sensitive situation in the border region and talk to the surrendered rebels, many of whom are ethnic Chinese. It may be politically difficult for Chinese authorities to hand over the rebels to the Myanmar military.

"There was no way we would win," former rebel Ri Chenchuan told the Chinese media as he exchanged battle gear for ordinary clothes. The rebels, who formed part of the local police in the border region of Kokang, were clearly outmanned by the Myanmar army.
Campaign for Burma, a Washington based non-government organization, said about 700 Myanmar rebels fled fled from thousands of military troops into China. But tensions remained high in Konkang.

"The majority of the Kokang troops have surrendered to China," said Aung Din, the campaign's executive director. But is not clear if Peng Jiashen, who was recently interviewed by the Chinese media, has also surrendered on the Chinese side.