"As the world prepares to label this weekend?s elections in Myanmar an undemocratic farce -- which of course they are -- a brewing potential crisis in the country?s border regions is being ignored. While cease-fire agreements have tempered the civil wars that have raged for much of Myanmar?s 62-year post-independence history, these conflicts have never been fully resolved. Fighting in the northeastern Kokang region in August 2009 forced more than 30,000 refugees to flee across the border to China. Now, the government?s aggressive tactics are increasing tensions in a high-stakes game of ethnic politics, one that carries significant potential for violent conflict..."