YANGON- Shan Organizations announced a statement on October 17th, calling on the Chinese government to handle boundary disputes which frequently occur along Ruili valley at the Myanmar-China border.

The Shan Organizations are Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, Township Peasants Association, Social Unity Association, Ancient Heritage and Historical Sites Preserve and Conservation Team as well as townselders from Namtkham Township.

The recent issue started when four Chinese citizens trespassed near Naung Kham village in Namtkham Township, northern Shan State, Myanmar-China border on October 9th by starting to dig at the roadside of the entrance of Naung Taung Township, near Namtkham village.    

Those Shan Organizations supported the Namtkham Township’s administrator who had sent a letter of complaint against the action to the officer of Ruili External Affairs Department in China.

“Now, there is no more digging going on. However, such problems had frequently occurred in Namtkham Township,” said Sai Kyaw Ohn, Chairman of Shan Nationalities Democratic Party.

China had hoisted its flag at the Myanmar-China border in 2013 after which Chinese soldiers had held a military parade, according to Sai Kyaw Ohn.

“When I was an MP in 2013, I sent an urgent letter to the President’s Office about their attempt. The President Office immediately ordered the Shan State Chief Minister to handle it,” said Sai Kyaw Ohn.

Shan locals also said that the boundary disputes frequently occurred at other points along Myanmar-China border, claiming that clear and defined boundary lines must be made.