Keep in mind that the Burma/China border was not completely established until the mid 1900s. In fact, one of the reasons for the Kachin rebellion which began in 1962 was that U Nu agreed to a border that "gave" several Kachin villages to China. Also, Kachin is a recent collective term that covers Jinghpaw/Jinpo, Maru, Lashi, Atsi, Rawang and some times Lisu, all of whom live in both China and Burma for years and have for centuries before either country took their present shape. Jinghpaw/Jinpo/Singpo and Lisus also have substantial populations in India.
The Thai/Tai/Dai people are similarly live in several different countries from India (Assam and Siam share the same root) to Vietnam. In the early 19th century the King of Chiang Mai, at that time a vassal kingdom of Bangkok, made several raids in to China and forcible resettled numerous Tai Lue villagers in northern Thailand, which had been depopulated due to the wars with Burma. The Shan State was actually made part of Thailand during WWII by the Japanese occupation, I guess my point is borders aren't as rigid as they might appear, and there have always been all sorts of interaction between cultures for centuries. In Kutkai, everybody speaks four different languages as part of every day life.
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20th October 2009, 12:53 PM
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