The Man with the Plan

In a statement, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs thanked the Burmese side “for the detailed briefing [on the election] and emphasized the importance of comprehensively broad-basing the national reconciliation process and democratic changes being introduced in Myanmar [Burma].”

China, for its part, simply told the West to mind its own business. At a press conference on Sept. 7, Chinese spokeswoman Jiang Yu said, “We hope the international community can provide constructive help to the upcoming election and refrain from making any negative impact on the domestic political process and regional peace and stability.”

This was good enough for Than Shwe, who knows that all he really needs to get the job done is a free hand to do as he pleases inside Burma without having to worrying too much about negative repercussions beyond its borders. This was why, when visiting Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva attempted to convey other countries’ doubts about the credibility of the election during his trip to Burma on Oct. 11, Than Shwe told him he was “aware of the concerns, but did not want any outside help.”

With this cloud of neutrality now surrounding Burma’s election, Than Shwe can now proceed to declare victory, as long as he maintains his grip on the situation inside the country. He knows now that even in the distant West, he has allies who, while they don’t actually support him, are willing to let him win this one, if only so he’ll go away and make room for a new generation of leaders.