Myanmar pro-military factions hold an unusual protest demonstration in front of the Chinese embassy; “Internet fraud” stems from suspicions of “support for armed groups”: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web

[Bangkok = Daiki Fujikawa]On the 19th, a pro-military citizen and a pro-military citizen met in front of the Chinese embassy in Yangon, the largest city, over the ongoing fighting between the national army and three ethnic armed groups in Shan State, northeastern Myanmar, which borders China. Buddhist monks staged a demonstration against the Chinese government. The demonstration appears to have received permission from the Myanmar military, and it is unusual for it to be held in front of the embassy. The military may be becoming increasingly irritated because it believes China is supporting the armed groups.

According to information from the ground, the demonstration started at Mahabandula Park in the city center and moved to the front of the Chinese embassy. Participants reportedly accused China of interfering in internal affairs and selling weapons to ethnic armed groups.

Since the 2021 coup d’état, China has supported the national military through weapons and other means. In June, he mediated a peace conference between the military and three armed groups in Mong La, Shan State.

◆Is the conflict over the crackdown on internet fraud having an impact?

Meanwhile, in recent months it has increased pressure on the military to crack down on online fraud along the border with China. In China, young people who are deceived and taken away are forced to engage in fraud under house arrest, and the damage caused by fraud is becoming more serious. The movie “Kenkon Itteki” (original title: Kochu Ichigo), which is about a fraud group, has become a hot topic and a social issue.

In the Kokang Autonomous Region of Shan State, Chinese criminal organizations and pro-military militias are involved in online fraud, and some military officials are believed to have accepted bribes. However, the military reportedly did not take China’s concerns seriously.

In early October, Chinese authorities arrested 11 people, including businessmen from Kokang Autonomous Region, in Guangdong Province, China, on suspicion of being involved in a fraud. A Myanmar official pointed out, “China’s patience has probably reached its limit because the military has not cooperated in eradicating online fraud.”

Three armed groups, including the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), which aims to take back the Kokang Autonomous Region, took advantage of the opportunity to launch Operation 1027 on the 27th of the same month, with the aim of overthrowing the military government and eradicating online fraud organizations. .