NEWS - Japan, Myanmar leaders to me

[hag2@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Re: NEWS - Japan, Myanmar leaders to meet during ASEAN summit

In 1988 Thailand reached an agreement with the Burmese regime and got the
logging and fishing concession rights which gave a huge amount of money to
the regime.  At that time the Burmese regime had a few foreign exchange
left and they were in great trouble.  But Thailand gave them an oxygen to
survive.  Now the regime's rerserve is slipping away and they are in great
trouble because of economic sanctions.  If the Japanese only think about
their economic interest and their dominate role in Asia, Japan will give
them an oxygen.  For the regime, Japan is the only country which they are
hoping for aids and loans because Japan has been the main supporter of the
Burmese military regime since 1970s.  Thr regime survival is greatly
depends on Japan's assistance.  If Japan ignore the democratic movement and
support the regime, Burma will be under military boots for the next ten
years.  If Japan really want to see the establishment of democratic
government in Burma, it need to pressure the Burmese regime to change it
course of intimidation and harrassment to its own people, especially NLD
party.

Htun Aung Gyaw
   
At 08:53 PM 11/24/99 -0500, Rangoon Post Co-Editor wrote:
>Japan, Myanmar leaders to meet during ASEAN summit
>
>  
>TOKYO, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The leaders of Japan and Myanmar will meet on
>Saturday for the first time since Myanmar's military took power in 1988
>by crushing a pro-democracy uprising, Japanese government officials said
>on Wednesday. 
>
>Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi will meet General Than Shwe, the
>head of Myanmar's ruling State Peace & Development Council (SPDC), on
>the sidelines of a summit of Southeast Asian leaders and their regional
>dialogue partners in Manila. 
>
>An official in Tokyo said no agenda was set for the bilateral meeting,
>but Japan is expected to put pressure on Myanmar's military government
>to be more flexible in domestic politics. 
>
>The last meeting between leaders of Japan and Myanmar took place in
>1984, but Tokyo has taken a softer approach towards Myanmar than the
>West, opting for engagement rather than sanctions. 
>
>As a result, Japan appears to have gained more confidence and trust from
>Myanmar's military government than from the West, political analysts
>say. 
>
>While Washington has maintained sanctions against Myanmar since May 1997
>for its human rights record, Tokyo lifted a freeze on economic aid in
>1995 after pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released
>from house arrest. 
>
>Japan also gave Myanmar a 2.5 billion yen ($23.9 million) loan in March
>1998 for safety projects at Yangon Airport, and a 800 million yen loan
>for a food production project. 
>
>The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will hold a leaders
>summit this weekend in Manila with dialogue partners Japan, South Korea
>and China. 
>
>23:54 11-23-99
>