Thailand's Money Helped to Support

[TheTruth@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Thailand's Money Helped to Support the Regime's Murderous Rampage

<< Subj:	 Re: NEWS - Japan, Myanmar leaders to meet during ASEAN summit
 Date:	11/25/99 10:18:59 AM Eastern Standard Time
 From:	hag2@xxxxxxxxxxx (Htun Aung Gyaw)
 To:	TheTruth@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, burmanews@xxxxxxxxx, burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx
(Burma Net-l @igc.apc.org), burmanet2-@xxxxxxxx
 
 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
 > >>