Myanmar refugees leave China as battles ending

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A Myanmar refugee ducks under a security line as Chinese paramilitary police walk refugees over to the border gates leading into Myanmar in Nansan in southwestern China's Yunnan province, Monday. — AP

NANSAN, Aug 31 (AP): Myanmar refugees began heading home from China Monday as fighting between government troops and a rebel militia that left more than 30 people dead appeared to be over.
More than 30,000 civilian refugees streamed into China to escape the fighting, which broke out last week after hundreds of Myanmar soldiers moved into Kokang, an ethnically Chinese region in northeastern Myanmar run by a local militia.
The shooting ended Saturday, and hundreds of refugees were transported Monday to the border, where they walked through the gate, clutching bags and blankets. Yunnan provincial government official Li Hui said about 2,000 refugees had gone back by mid-afternoon Monday.
"We have been assured by the Myanmar side that things are stable on their side," Li said. "Whether they can maintain social stability is really their internal affair, so we do not know much about it."
Many refugees were returning to ruined homes and businesses, and it wasn't clear what percentage of Chinese investors who had moved in large numbers to Kokang in recent years would be going back.
At the border crossing, Chinese businesswoman Li Chunhua wept as she told of seeing looters carry off the entire stock of her clothing store.
"There's nothing left," Li said. "I was told I will not get any compensation. So what can I do?"
Hundreds of Kokang rebels had fled the clashes, surrendering their weapons and uniforms to Chinese border police and crossing to safety after several days of skirmishes.
Myanmar's junta said three days of fighting killed 26 government soldiers and at least eight rebels. It said the clashes had ended and "the region has now regained stability."