Bangkok : Thai officials say Chin Peng, who led a bloody insurgency against British rule in Malaysia and had lived in exile for five decades since then, has died in a Bangkok hospital.
He was 90 years old. Bangkok Post reported he died of old age and was pronounced dead at 6.20am.His relatives will perform religious rites for him on Friday. He was Malaysia’s best-known former communist guerrilla. He led an insurgency against British and Commonwealth forces during the period known as the Emergency, the bloodiest time in the country’s modern history. Some 10,000 people are believed to have been killed. Chin Peng lost a legal struggle in recent years and lived in exile in Thailand and was not allowed to return to Malaysia.
Government leaders insisted his return would upset many Malaysians who lost their loved ones during the communist insurgency. AGENCIES
CHRONOLOGY OF CHIN PENG’S LIFE
Ong Boon Hua, better known as Chin Peng, the notorious leader of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), was born in October 1924 in the small seaside town of Sitiawan, Perak.Oct 22, 1924 : Born as Ong Boon Hua in a small seaside town of Sitiawan, in Perak state, Malaya.
Jan 1940 : Accepted as probationary member of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM); was put in charge of Communist members in Sitiawan.
Dec 1941 : Joins the fight against the Japanese in the Chinese Anti Enemy Backing Up Society (AEBUS).
Jan 10, 1942 : Later joined the first batch of the Malayan Peoples Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) after AEBUS was dissolved. Became the liaison officer between the MPAJA and the British military in South-East Asia.
March 6, 1947: He was elected the Secretary-General of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP).
June 16, 1948 : The Malayan colonial administration de clared a state of emergency after members of the MCP killed three European plantation managers at Sungei Siput. The party was declared illegal.
Dec 28, 1955 : Baling Talks was held with David Marshall and Tunku Abdul Rahman. Was unsuccessful because of surrender terms. After the Baling Talks, Chin Peng left to Thailand. Ah Hai replaces him as acting Secretary-General in Malaya.
1960 : The Emergency was declared at an end, however, fighting still continued. The emergency lasted for twelve years.
Dec 2, 1989 : Chin Peng, Rashid Maidin and Abdullah CD met with representatives of the Malaysian and Thai governments and a peace treaty was signed between the communists and the two countries. The emergency war was over.
2005 : Chin Peng was pending to return to Malaysia. His hearing was scheduled for May 25, 2005, and the High Court postponed it to July 25, 2005. This application was subsequently rejected.
June 2008 : Chin Peng's lost his bid to return to Malaysia when the Court of Appeal demanded he showed iden tification papers to prove his Malayan citizenship.
September 16, September 2013 : Chin Peng dies of old age in Bangkok, Thailand.
In this file picture dated 25/2/90, Chin Peng (left) is seen having a discussion with
a CPM member at the Peace Village near Betong. NST Archives
This file picture dated 28/11/89, was taken during the Baling Talk. NST Archives
In this file picture dated 3/12/89, Chin Peng (middle) and Abdullah C.D (in dark glasses)
arriving for the signing of the Haadyai Agreement 1989. NST Archives
New Straits Times Latest September 16, 2013