introduction
Myanmar's Kokang region, an ethnic minority autonomous region on the border between China and Myanmar, was once the center of the drug trade in the Golden Triangle. Here, there is a Chinese woman whose name is passed down, she is Yang Jinxiu. Born into a hereditary ruling family, Yang Jinxiu was engaged in opium smuggling, controlled the army in the Kokang region, and became the de facto ruler. She not only became a popular figure in the Golden Triangle region with her courage, wisdom and charm in a male-dominated society, but also cooperated with the CIA, Kuomintang guerrillas and other forces to influence the course of Myanmar's history. This article explores how Yang Jinxiu created her legendary life in an environment of war, poverty and discrimination, and the impact and controversy she left behind in history.
Childhood and education
Yang Jinxiu was born on June 4, 1927 in the mountains of northern Burma, she was the fourth daughter of Kokang Tusi Yang Kaitai and his favorite child. She rejected traditional female roles from a young age, liked to learn to use two guns, and was nicknamed "Miss Hairy Leg". She received a Catholic education and attended the Guardian Angel Convent School in Larrio. According to her relatives, she rebelled against the cruel custom of foot binding at a young age.
In 1948, Yang Jinxiu married Duan Shaowen, the son of Mubang Tusi, which was arranged for her by her parents. Her parents died before she got married. However, she soon discovers that she does not like his character and subsequently separates. In 1950, she gave birth to a son, Duan Jib. Duan Jib later became a teacher, working in Chiang Mai, Thailand. According to her sister Judy Yang, Duan Shaowen was afraid of Yang Jinxiu and was allegedly thrown a urine pot when he tried to have sex with Yang Jinxiu.
Drug trafficking and governance
Yang Jinxiu began her drug career in the early 1950s, and she found that selling opium was more profitable than selling tea. Later, using his family's influence and wealth, he organized an army composed of young people of the Kokang ethnic group, known as "Little Brother Yang Jinxiu". Her little brothers were not only loyal to her, but also had an extraordinary admiration for her. Once, one of her younger brothers braved the enemy's bullets in order to send her a bouquet of flowers.
Yang Jinxiu's army controls the opium trade route from the plateau to the lowlands, and she clashes with other drug lords and government forces, killing you to death. Yang Jinxiu is not only brave and fearless on the battlefield, but also resourceful at the negotiating table. Once, when she negotiated with a Burmese general, the general demanded that she hand over half of her opium revenue as taxes. Yang Jinxiu said: "Okay, then you will give me half of the bullets as compensation." The general was speechless and had to back down.
Yang Jinxiu not only made a lot of money, but also won the respect and support of the local people. She used her own money to build her own private jet airport, radio station, hospital, school, and other facilities, and provided some social benefits. She also cares about the culture and traditions of the Kokang people and has sponsored some Kokang artists and craftsmen to make some beautiful batik fabrics.
In 1959, after Yang Jinxiu returned to Kokang, he took over his brother Yang Kaicai's former army and became the de facto ruler of Kokang. During her tenure, she encouraged the drug trade and gambling, which drew high taxes. It also established its own private bank and currency exchange and issued its own currency, "Yang Kim Xiuyuan". This currency is more popular than the official Myanmar currency because it is made with real gold and silver, not printed on paper.
Yang Jinxiu also has his own unique skills in drug trafficking. She imported opium not only from India, but also from Turkey, and mixed them to make a special variety called "Yang Jinxiu Opium". This opium is said to be one of the purest and strongest opiums, and users experience extreme pleasure and hallucinations.
Yang also worked with the British East India Company to grow large quantities of poppies in India and ship them to China by British ships. This avoided restrictions and regulations on opium cultivation and transportation by the Burmese government, and took advantage of British commercial advantage and diplomatic protection in China.
She also has her own sales strategy and marketing tools, not only setting up her own sales points and warehouses in China's coastal cities, hiring trusted middlemen to handle distribution and collection, but also distributing her own leaflets and flyers throughout China to promote her opium brands and preferential prices, and provide free trial smoking services. She even sponsored some entertainment programs such as theater, song and dance, circus, etc., interspersed with her own advertising slogans and slogans.
Cooperation and arrest
While selling drugs, Yang Jinxiu also cooperates with some international forces for his own interests and political goals. And one of her most famous partners is the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
In the 1950s, in order to stop the expansion of communism in Asia, the United States supported the anti-communist activities of the remnants of the Kuomintang forces in Burma. Known as the "lone army" who "rode the tiger and could not get down", these Kuomintang soldiers established some strongholds in northern Burma and fought a long battle against the Burmese government army and the Burmese Communist Party.
Yang Jinxiu had close ties with these Kuomintang soldiers, and she provided them not only with opium and weapons, but also with intelligence and manpower. He also used his own airfield to help the CIA drop supplies and equipment on Kuomintang soldiers. She was also personally involved in a special operation organized by the CIA called Operation Paper. The purpose of the operation was to deliver a shipment of CIA-supplied weapons, including rocket launchers, machine guns, grenades, etc., to anti-communist forces in northern Myanmar.
In order to complete the task, Yang Jinxiu personally led a horse team composed of Kokang youths to deliver the weapons from Kokang to northern Myanmar. She traveled along a dangerous and difficult mountain road when she was attacked by Burmese army and bandits. And she was not afraid of life and death, led the horse team to fight fiercely with the enemy, and personally used bazookas and machine guns to repel the enemy's attack.
After several days and nights of arduous trekking, Yang Jinxiu finally delivered the weapons to their destination and handed them over to the Kuomintang soldiers. She accomplished this dangerous and important mission, winning the praise and trust of the CIA and Kuomintang soldiers.
However, this operation also caused trouble for Yang Jinxiu. In 1953, she was arrested by Burmese authorities on charges of aiding Kuomintang soldiers to enter the country illegally. He was then imprisoned for 5 years in Mandalay. In prison, she met political prisoners and intellectuals and studied English and French.
In 1959, Yang Jinxiu returned to Kokang after his release and became the de facto ruler of Kokang. She continued to liaise with CIA and Kuomintang soldiers and participated in a number of international conferences.
In 1963, Yang Kim so was arrested again by Burmese government forces. This time because she is considered the leader and supporter of the rebels in the Kokang region. She was held in Insein prison in Yangon for another five years. There she was said to have been tortured and nearly blind.
After his release in 1968, Yang Jinxiu left Kokang and lived a relatively quiet life in Yangon. Her work with CIA and Kuomintang soldiers also came to an end.
Romance and old age
Yang Jinxiu had a romantic relationship with Myanmar movie star Vawawin Swe. She gave him many gifts and added her name to the deed of her Yangon mansion. They had planned to get married and wanted to adopt a child. Unfortunately, this relationship ended because of Yang Jinxiu's imprisonment. Vawawinri married a government official shortly after she was imprisoned, and Yang Jinxiu could only be saddened.
After his release in 1968, Yang Jinxiu left Kokang and lived a relatively quiet life in Yangon. She has also had relationships with other women, including singer Vawawinri and beauty pageant champion and guerrilla Louisa Benson Craig.
Her view of love is very open, not bound by tradition, and does not care about the eyes of others. She often said, "I am a free woman and I will be with whoever I love." ”
In 1989, Yang was recruited by Khin Nyunt, the Myanmar Directorate of Military Intelligence, to help the Burmese government negotiate a ceasefire with ethnic rebels. She has used her influence and connections in the Kokang region to play an important role in the peace process. She also took the opportunity to return to Kokang and visit her relatives, friends and subordinates. She also made a request to Chinnyunt: to let her see Wawavinri again. Chinnyu acceded to her request and arranged a secret meeting. Yang Jinxiu and Vawawinri hugged each other and cried in a hotel, reminiscing about the good old days they had.
In July 2007, Yang Jinxiu died in the northern border city of Mujie. She enjoyed the official funeral held for her by local officials and was respected and remembered by the local people and the Kokang people. Her coffin was placed on July 4 and displayed to the public outside Mujie City Hall, where hundreds of people came to pay their respects. In her will, she donated most of her fortune to charities and schools in the Kokang area, leaving only some jewelry and jewelry for her lovers as souvenirs. She also wrote: "I have no regrets about my life, I have done many things and loved many people. I hope you can all be happy and don't cry for me. ”
Yang Jinxiu's legendary life shows the choices and influences that a woman can make in a turbulent era. She is both a drug trafficker and war leader, as well as a love seeker and peace promoter. She has left a deep mark on Myanmar's history and caused a lot of controversy. Some consider her a hero and philanthropist, others a criminal and tyrant.
In any case, in this male-dominated society, Yang Jinxiu lived the life he wanted in his own way, without bending to anyone or any rules. She is a complex and interesting character who leaves an unforgettable impression in our hearts.