Myanmar democrats urge Japan to change policy toward junta

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Asian Political News , May 28, 2001
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TOKYO, May 21 Kyodo

A labor union leader working for democracy in Myanmar urged Japan on Monday to use its influence with the country's ruling military junta to promote the cause of democracy.

Japan is in a position to use its ''economic and political influence on the Burmese military regime'' to ensure that dialogue will progress and be fruitful, Thaung Htun, representative of the U.N. Affairs of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), told the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan.

Thaung Htun said, ''There are lots of ways and means that the Japanese government can be helpful'' in aiding progress in dialogue between the military junta and Myanmar's pro-democracy movement led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

He said no ''unilateral initiative'' should be taken by any country in its relations with Myanmar, but instead they should coordinate ''with other international key players'' and ''in concert with the democracy movement'' to avoid undermining dialogue.

With Myanmar's dismal human rights records failing to improve, as evidenced by forced relocation and labor and the detention of more than 1,000 political prisoners, he said he is suspicious of the military junta's ''commitment'' to the dialogue process.

He said that no one seems to know the substance or direction of the talks, which began last October, and noted that dialogue has been stalled since March.

He specifically cited the Japanese government's plan to consider offering Myanmar a grant worth about 3 billion yen to repair an aging hydroelectric power station.

''We believe the Japanese government decision is very premature and...sends the wrong signal to the military...that they can continue to pretend...(and) deceive the world'' over having serious talks, he said.

He also downplayed Japan's stated reason of providing ''humanitarian assistance'' to poor people in Myanmar, saying this is hardly the case as the country's ''power distribution system'' shows the military elite and a select number of people amassing benefits for themselves at the expense of ordinary people.

Tin Win, of the outlawed Federation of Trade Unions-Burma (FTUB) Japan Branch, echoed these sentiments, saying the military leaders have ''definitely changed their tactics'' because of growing economic problems, ''but not their attitude.''

He also expressed his hopes for a ''comprehensive engagement'' involving the junta and the pro-democracy movement, thus going beyond the ''constructive engagement'' advocated by neighboring Southeast Asian countries to build economic and political ties with Yangon.

FTUB Secretary General Maung Maung, meanwhile, appealed to Japan ''to listen to us for once'' and not ''advocate the military regime'' especially at next month's annual meeting of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

He reminded Japan that even with the imposition of sanctions against Myanmar by the ILO last November, the junta still imposes forced labor.

The conference, hosted by the FTUB, was also attended by four other Myanmar unionists -- all unanimous in urging Japan to review its foreign policy toward Myanmar, particularly the resumption of large-scale official development assistance (ODA), until a full dialogue process emerges toward ''genuine national reconciliation.''

Japan is considering resuming grant aid to Myanmar, following the launch last October of dialogue between the junta and Suu Kyi after a hiatus of seven years. Japan suspended its ODA to Myanmar in 1988 when the country's junta seized power after Suu Kyi's party won the general election.

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