JAPAN PERSUADING MYANMAR TO DEMOCRA

[BurmaWatch@xxxxxxx]

Subject: JAPAN PERSUADING MYANMAR TO DEMOCRATIZE

Japan persuading Myanmar to democratize

 .c Kyodo News Service  

  
YANGON, Dec. 4 (Kyodo) - By: Yuichi Narikawa Japan has recently stepped up 
its efforts at persuading Myanmar's ruling junta to promptly start carrying 
out democratic reforms. 

Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi made such a pitch Nov. 28 when he met 
Myanmar's leader Gen. Than Shwe on the sidelines of a summit of Asian leaders 
in Manila. Obuchi told his counterpart that reforms by Myanamr could lead to 
greater economic cooperation from Japan. 

Two days later, former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto arrived in Yangon for 
a four-day visit as head of a private delegation to the country. He asked 
Gen. Than Shwe to implement democratic reforms and initiate dialogue with 
pro-democracy movement leader Aung San Suu Kyi. 

On the face of it, the responses from Myanmar's generals appeared positive. 

Gen. Than Shwe, chairman of Myanmar's ruling State Peace and Development 
Council, as the junta calls itself, reportedly told Obuchi in Manila that the 
military government will form a democratic government in the future. 

Brig. Gen. David Abel, Myanmar's national planning minister, also said it was 
''our objective to have a democratic government.'' 

Still, the junta's efforts are not exactly visible, due perhaps to 
differences of culture or interpretation. On the other hand, Myanmar's 
leaders apparently hope to instill understanding among the Japanese 
government of Myanmar's intentions. 

Myanmarese Foreign Minister Win Aung said the recent contacts with Japanese 
government officials will help Japan ''understand the real situation of our 
country.'' 

Even so, Hashimoto, a top foreign policy adviser of Obuchi, emphasized that 
Japan will not change its policy of maintaining relations with both the 
military government and the pro-democracy movement led by Aung San Suu Kyi, a 
Nobel laureate. 

Hashimoto reportedly visited Myanmar minus the advisory title due to concern 
over reactions to the trip by some Western countries. He criticized the 
stance of the United States and European countries of adamantly opposing the 
junta for its lack of human rights and democracy. 

Hashimoto said such attitudes serve only to ''drive the Myanmar leadership 
into a corner and make it more and more obstinate. The ones who will suffer 
the worst consequences are the citizens.'' 

The former premier expressed hope that continued bilateral talks with the 
country's leaders will eventually lead to changes in the military government. 

Hashimoto also said that during the trip, he discovered that Myanmar is 
working hard on antidrug measures. Yet the international community continues 
to view the country in a bad light, he said, due to its inability to explain 
itself to the world. 

Hashimoto suggested that supporting the country in areas of general concern 
such as humanitarian aid and antidrug policies would help improve its economy 
and that democratic reforms could be accelerated along with a stronger 
financial situation. 

Myanmar and Japan currently enjoy a healthy relationship. Diplomatic sources 
say Hashimoto was treated like an official state guest, although 
misunderstandings and differences in perceptions will likely continue to 
hinder communication between the two countries. 

For example, Hashimoto offered advice and numerous proposals, such as on the 
importance of Myanmar projecting a good image to the world and the need to 
recruit foreign financial advisers. Yet Abel later said no proposals were 
made during the discussions. 

Abel repeated the assertion that the military government is trying to 
establish a new Constitution as a prerequisite to the transfer of control to 
a civil government, but that it has not been able to resolve delicate 
problems involving ethnic minorities in the country. 

The minister also said it was problematic that Europe and the U.S. are 
forcing Japan to refrain from resuming aid to his country. Furthermore, he 
said Myanmar looks upon China as a ''very good friend'' that ''always comes 
to help when we need it.'' 

Myanmar's close relationship with its neighbor, however, is a cause for 
concern in terms of regional security, diplomatic sources said. 

The sources have said U.S. State Department officials are trying to avoid 
policies that might cause Myanmar to become closer to China and thereby 
further isolate it from the rest of the world. 

It remains to be seen to what extent Japanese leaders can influence Myanmar's 
leadership so as to help bring about significant change in the country.