Tokyo 'to freeze development aid to

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Subject: Tokyo 'to freeze development aid to Yangon' 

Tokyo 'to freeze development aid to Yangon' 
24/5/97
     TOKYO -- The Japanese government is to suspend official development aid to
     Myanmar to encourage the country's military regime to resume talks with
democracy
     advocates, a press report said yesterday. 

     The government would not restrict corporate investment in Myanmar, but
would
     freeze loans through the Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund to private
     sector-led projects, said the Nihon Keizai Shimbun. 

     Tokyo was also expected to stop humanitarian assistance in medical and food
     supplies, excluding small subsidies to non-governmental organisations,
said the daily. 

     No immediate comment on the report was available from the Japanese
government. 

     Press reports said Myanmar's State Law and Order Restoration Council had
     rounded up about 100 supporters of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
     ahead of a planned congress to mark the anniversary of her party's
election victory
     seven years ago. 

     Yangon has denied the reports. -- AFP.