"'MYANMAR FAN CLUB' IN THE LIBERAL

[brelief@xxxxxxx]

     The following is an informal translation of an article which
appeared in the morning edition of the ASAHI SHIMBUN on Friday, June 5,
1998 (p. 7):

     "'MYANMAR FAN CLUB' IN THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY"

     On June 4th, a parliamentarians' group known as the "League to
Encourage Support for the Myanmar Government" (leader: Kabun MUTO,
director of the Liberal Democratic Party's Headquarters for the
Promotion of Administrative Reform) was organized within the Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP) to assist the entry of the Myanmar (Burma)
military regime into international society. Beginning with the United
States, foreign countries have imposed sanctions on the military regime
which seized power in a coup d'etat. Likewise, the Japanese government
halted economic assistance to the regime. The creation of this sort of
parliamentarians' group, giving encouragement and moral support to the
junta, is without precedent. It appears that around 30 LDP Dietmen have
joined the League.
     According to League leader MUTO, speaking at a press conference:
"Because it is under China's influence, Myanmar may have conflict with
India, causing regional instability. In order to avoid this, it is
necessary for Japan to support the present government, including the
reopening of Yen Loans." Myanmar ambassador to Japan Soe Win, who was
attending the League's first meeting, announced that Deputy Prime
Minister Maung Maung Khin will come to Japan in the middle of June (*)
and seeks a meeting with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.

* CHU JUN - means the period from the 10th to the 20th of a 30-day
month.

COMMENT: following the recent breakup of the coalition between the LDP
and its more progressive allies, the Social Democratic Party and
Sakigake Party, it appears that the ruling party is poised to take a
more rightist and pro-business stance on many issues, including foreign
affairs.

Donald M. Seekins
Okinawa, Japan

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