"What is happening on the streets of Rangoon . . . will shape the future of China's relations with the world."

Outside the Embassy of the PRC on Sunday, the activist I interviewed on video handed me a piece of paper. I put it in a bag and forgot about it until today.

The paper is a statement by a Thai-Burmese activist group that calls itself the Joint Action Committee for Democracy in Burma. I thought the letter really set a strong and positive tone for confronting China on Burma. Anyway, I was sufficiently impressed by the letter to reproduce it here.

We the Joint Action Committee for Democracy in Burma, formed with the concerned Burmese citizens residing Thailand who are totally against unlawful and brutal ruling of the SPDC government of Burma (Myanmar), would like to demand the government of China not to interfere our nation's internal affairs by providing various forms of assistance including selling arms and ammunition, doing business with the regime, providing diplomatic support by using veto to protect the regime from United Nations Security Council's action.

We have already aware that China has substantial economic interests in the country, provides large amounts of economic aid, and invests heavily in infrastructure projects there. Additionally, your government provides extensive logistical support to Burma's military government. The Burmese junta depends on Chinese investment, imports and armaments. All this make China uniquely placed to influence the Burmese regime. What is happening on the streets of Rangoon will shape not just the fate of the people of Burma, but the future of China's relationship with the world.

We have also noted that China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wang Guangya stated in recent UNSC meeting on Burma that the current situation in Myanmar does not pose any threat to international or regional peace and security. However, we would like to reveal the reality that only in Thailand we have over 2 millions of migrants, among whom are refugees and Internally Displaced Persons who have to leave their homeland because of the brutal suppression of SPDC regime. We also hope that many more influx of refugees will be here soon following the recent brutal crackdown of the peaceful protest of the people. This mass exodus does impact the peace and security of neighboring Thailand.

Your government always justifies that the problems in Burma are mere internal affairs and international intervention will destroy peace, stability and unity of our country. Nevertheless, the genuine desire of the people of Burma is to invite the international community to involve as a 'mediators' in our democratizing process. If your government honestly believe in non intervention of our internal affairs, please don't associate with neither SPDC nor any other parties whatsoever. And please abstain from voting at the United Nations Security Council meetings. Because we the people of Burma believe that involving in our country's politics without our consents is the intervening our internal affairs. We honestly believe that you will take our advice and reconsider your government's policy on Burma.

Sincerely,

The Joint Action Committee for Democracy in Burma