Today [Thursday, 27 August 2009], many more refugees have been fleeing into China in order to escape clashes of the Burma Army and Kokang that have taken since this morning, according to sources.

The first shoot out was staged by the Kokang at about 07:00 at Mangpiang village, Laogai, which reportedly killed 3 Burmese soldiers and dozens of weapons were also seized by the rebel group, said a local resident who declined not to be named.

The fighting marked the very first time for the Burma Army and the Kokang since the latter concluded a ceasefire agreement with Rangoon in 1989.

“People were very shaken and just rushed to China when they heard the shootings,” he said.

However, people who do not possess Chinese ID cards were not allowed entry, except Chinese and Kokang, he added.

“Hundreds of Chinese policemen are guarding in front of the gate,” he said.

Thousands of people have already fled to Nan San (Nam Hsang in Shan) Township since Monday [24 August 2009], when the Kokang issued a statement that “People have to be prepared all the time.”

According to the latest report, Peng Jiasheng’s faction was reported to have seized back their arms repair workshop which was raided by the Burmese Army on Monday night, August 24 [2009].

The two sides nearly came to blows with each other on 8 August [2009] when the Burma Army demanded to investigate reports of Kokang force having an arms factory.  Since then, thousands of Burmese troops were moved into Kokang.

The Burmese military has been pressuring all ethnic ceasefire groups since April [2009] to transform themselves into a border guard force under the government’s control ahead of their elections planned for 2010.