Chinese Consulate in Mandalay Attacked

While the Chinese government has been attacked verbally by the international community, the Chinese consulate in Mandalay was the scene of a hit and run gunshot attack by an unknown motorcyclist on Sunday, according to sources.

A protestor holds a banner during a rally denouncing the Chinese government's help for Burma's military junta in front of the Chinese embassy in Seoul [Photo: Reuters]

A local resident said that gunfire was heard early on Sunday morning. Several shots hit the embassy, but nobody was wounded, the resident added.

Security around the consulate has been beefed up since the attack and the authorities are currently investigating the incident, according to sources in Mandalay.

Critics and local residents alike view the isolated attack as a sign of growing discontent among the Burmese people in Mandalay against the Chinese government. However, it is not clear what the motive behind the attack was.

When asked about the attack, Chinese consulate staff refused to comment.

A veteran politician and former Burmese ambassador to China, Thakin Chan Htun told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the growing opposition to China is based on its support for the Burmese military regime.

“If Burmese people can’t control their annoyance against the Chinese people,” he said, “it could lead to riots between Chinese and Burmese people, just like the riots in the past.”

In 1967, a major riot occurred between Burmese and Chinese residents in Rangoon. The Chinese embassy in Rangoon was attacked by thousands of Burmese demonstrators, while more than 1,000 Chinese people were detained by police. All Chinese technicians were ordered to leave Burma, as well as a correspondent for the New China News Agency. Official Burmese sources say over 50 Chinese were killed; however, the Chinese authorities claimed that several hundred died.

In the wake of the 1967 riots, all Burmese students studying in China were recalled and China's aid program to Burma was suspended. The Chinese foreign minister also accused Burmese aircraft of intruding into Yunnan.

However, 40 years later, Sino-Burmese relations have warmed considerably.

Thakin Chan Htun added that China should not look out only for its business interests in Burma, but that it should discuss Burmese affairs openly with the other permanent members of United Nations Security Council.

International pressure on and discontent with the Chinese communist government has been growing since China vetoed the Burmese agenda from the UN Security Council in January.

The Chinese government still maintains that the violence inside Burma is an internal affair.

The Chinese ambassador to Thailand, Zhang Jiuhuan, told viewers on Thailand’s Channel 9 television on Monday that the future of Burma depends on the Burmese people. He said he had no right to speak out or express his opinion on behalf of the Burmese people.

Zhang Jiuhuan also said that China was not afraid of any Olympic boycott. He criticized the international media for reporting “unrelated issues” such as an international boycott of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of All Burma Buddhist Monks urged people around the world to boycott the Olympic and goods from China, in a statement released on Monday. The statement also warned China that Buddhist monks in countries around the world would lead the boycott against the Olympics which are scheduled to be held in Beijing in August 2008.

Meanwhile, Burmese people across the globe have been demonstrating against the Chinese government, calling for a halt to its investment in Burma and its support for the Burmese regime.

China is currently the largest importer to Burma and the third largest market for Burmese exports. Analysts estimate that Chinese investment helps maintain the junta’s grip on power and finances its military arsenal.