No.15 - 05/2006
19 May 2006

Politics

China key to opposition unity

Ongoing efforts by opposition groups to engage China has been welcomed by the Sino-Burma border based ceasefire groups, according to a high level source from one of the armed groups that has been at peace with Burma's military rulers since 1989.

"With China too close for comfort, it is not possible for us to take the initiative (to return to the opposition fold)," said the 45-year old source who is on a visit to the border yesterday. "And Beijing tends to look at Thai border-based groups as American proxies."

The ceasefire groups comprising, from north to south, New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) better known as Kokang group, United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army  Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS) better known as Mongla group, are already reeling from China's recent ban on teak, antimony and all other merchandise unlicensed by Rangoon coming across the border. "Joining groups they regard as pro-West would be the last straw," he told S.H.A.N. "Clear the deck with them and nothing will keep us from working together."

According to opposition sources, their own brand of Look-East policy has been in the upswing eversince Depayin, the bloody attack by pro-junta USDA (Union Solidarity and Development Association) members on 30 May 2003 on Aung San Suu Kyi's motorcade. "China wants reform and stability, both in one," an activist leaving for Beijing in March said, echoing Reuters' report on 13 February that the Chinese want Burma "to take more liberal policies" but that they "don't want a crisis," no matter which party is the government.

Another opposition source noted the declaration of independence by a group of Shans last year as a setback to the relationship with Beijing. "They found it to be at friction with their One China policy," he said.