China being a neighbour of Burma, it would be better to tell Burma to do the right thing in relation to its political affairs rather than telling others to stop butting in Burma’s affairs, according to Than Khe, Chairman of All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) based on the Thai-Burma border.

“Elections will bring no benefit to the people of Burma. But China said elections are Burma’s internal affair therefore others have no right to butt in. It means that China is protecting the military junta. To be considered a good neighbour, it should do better to speak the truth and give positive suggestions,” he said in response to China’s message saying that it will never interfere in Burma’s internal affairs as it upholds the principle of non-interference during Senior General Than Shwe’s a five-day official visit from September 7-11.

Similarly, Aung Kyaw Zaw, a military and political observer based on the Sino-Burma border said that it is not suitable for China to tell the international community not to interfere in Burma’s matters, while it is supporting the Burma’s unfair elections for its business interests.

“Every country has its own interests like it [China] does. But it should not tell the international community to leave Burma’s elections alone. China knows well that the elections will just make the people of Burma legitimate slaves,” he said.

According to the junta owned newspaper ‘The New Light of Myanmar’ on September, 12, China’s President Hu Jintoa had promised that China will not support any group or campaign that will create anti-government activities along their shared border and movements that could affect regional stability and bilateral relations.

Aung Kyaw Zaw added, “China basically told them [military junta] to maintain border stability by peaceful means. The military regime is using Beijing’s words out of context.”

According to him, there are no ceasefire groups based along the Sino-Burma border that want to attack the military regime. They are only demanding their political rights. However, the military junta has never considered them and is just using force to create instability along the border.

“For instance, Kokang fighting (in 2009) was started by the junta’s military. Moreover, at the Mongko incident (which took place in 2000) it was the Burmese Army that had massacred more than 100 of people who surrendered,” he said.

On 24 October 2000, a faction of the Mongkoe Defense Army (MDA), a breakaway group from Kokang, had mutinied. A month later, the mutineers were executed, the MDA leader Mong Sala put in jail and the territory occupied by the Burmese Army.

Win Tin, a leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), told the Irrawaddy on Friday “China is one of the most powerful nations in the world and is the country with the world’s second largest economy. Therefore, it must take a more responsive role in Burmese affairs with respect to such issues as stability, democratization and ethnic minority rights.”

“If the Chinese leaders praise the regime while not being more responsive on issues that affect the people of Burma, China will fail to win the hearts of the people and this could affect China’s long term interests in the country. It could also undermine hope in the international community for China to become a responsive stakeholder in international affairs,” Win Tin was quoted by the Irrawaddy as saying.