Chinese Ambassador Meets KIO Officials January 26, 2005
The Kachin Post
Chinese Ambassador to Burma, Mr. Li Jinjun, has met with local Kachin Independence Organization, KIO, officials from a border village, Mai Ja Yang, said village residents.
On January 22, Li Jinjun made an official visit to Mai Ja Yang, a village engulfed with Casinos run by Chinese businessmen, discussing to open an official immigration gate at the border near future. Li Jinjun also asked KIO officials to implement alternative economy, instead of dealing business with Casino boss.
Now, Chinese authority runs an unofficial immigration at Mai Ja Yang. KIO issues three to six months resident permit to Chinese citizens. Residents in Mai Ja Yang are concern that KIO would losing control the village and Casino business when Chinese opens official gate. “Chinese want Burmese authority to open official gate here,” said a resident.
At least 14 Chinese companies run Casinos in Mai Ja Yang and thousands of Chinese are working there. Mai Ja Yang, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Kachin State Capital Myitkyina, is under controlled by KIO. The organization granted Chinese businessmen to open Casinos and other business.
Chinese from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and even from north America visit Mai Ja Yang for gambling, said a village authority. Some Casinos offer direct flight with private jet to China-Burma border and free Hotel accommodation for gambling tourists.
The estimated investment of Chinese businessmen in Mai Ja Yang is over US $ 100 million. As well as Chinese spend millions of Yuan in Casinos outside of country.
In the early of January 2005, Chinese government has announced that it would launch a “relentless fight” against gambling, focusing on preventing Chinese from squandering money in Casinos abroad.
Yunnan provincial government reported that 68 Casinos in Myanmar and Laos were closed down in January. Since last December, Casinos in Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam along China’s southwestern border were forced to close down by the Chinese government with the help of neighboring countries.
