Japan-Burma relations

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Websites/Multiple Documents

Description: 4,040 results for a Google search for "Burma OR Myanmar" (August 2017)
Source/publisher: "Japan Times"
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Description: About 889,000 results (August 2017)
Source/publisher: Various sources via Youtube
Date of entry/update: 2017-08-22
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
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Description: Documents in Japanese and English: General Information; Sanctions against Burma; Health Problems; Economy; Forced Labor in Burma; Ethnicity; Guns and Drugs; Gender and Sexualities; Human Rights and Freedoms. Also, "Burma Today Weekly" (Japanese edition). Very useful site.
Source/publisher: Burmainfo (Japan)
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: Japanese, English
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Description: Home page
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
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Description: Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1995-1997. Includes "Japan's Position Regarding the Problem of Massachusetts State Government Procurements"
Source/publisher: MOFA, Japan
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
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Description: Diplomatic Relations, Number of Japanese Nationals residing in Myanmar, Number of Myanmar Nationals residing in Japan, Trade with Japan (1998) Direct Investment from Japan, Japan?s Economic Cooperation, List of Grant Aid - Exchange of Notes in Fiscal Year 2002, VIP Visits. Statements by Japanese officials, Press Secretary?s Press Conference on Myanmar
Source/publisher: Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Description: Site entirely in Japanese
Date of entry/update: 2011-01-12
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: Japanese
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Individual Documents

Sub-title: Yokogawa Bridge Corp. Should Cut Ties to Myanmar’s Military
Description: "(Tokyo) – Japan’s Yokogawa Bridge Corp. apparently transferred over US$1 million in 2022 to Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), which is owned by Myanmar’s abusive military, for a Japanese government development aid project, Human Rights Watch said today. The Japanese government should suspend all ongoing non-humanitarian aid benefitting Myanmar’s junta, which has committed widespread and systematic crimes since the February 2021 military coup. The Japanese government should also ensure that Japanese companies, including Yokogawa Bridge Corp., end their business relationships with entities owned or controlled by Myanmar’s military. “Through Yokogawa Bridge Corp.’s business dealings with MEC, the Japanese government has effectively helped fund junta atrocities,” said Teppei Kasai, Asia program officer at Human Rights Watch. “The Japanese government should ensure that it is no longer providing non-humanitarian development assistance to Myanmar’s junta.” Human Rights Watch analyzed financial transactions that show that Yokogawa Bridge Corp. paid MEC about $1.3 million from July to November, 2022, for the Bago River Bridge Construction Project in Yangon. The funds were transferred in a series of payments from Yokogawa Bridge Corp. through Japan’s Mizuho Bank, Ltd. to MEC’s account in Myanmar’s Myanma Foreign Trade Bank. The Bago River Bridge Construction Project, approved in 2016 as part of the Japanese government’s official development assistance to Myanmar, includes a ¥31 billion (US$240 million) loan from Japan’s aid agency, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In March 2019, Yokogawa Bridge Corp. signed a contract to build the bridge. In response to a Human Rights Watch letter about the issue, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said the construction of the bridge resumed on April 1, 2022. The official added that the Japanese government is “not in a position to explain” Yokogawa Bridge Corp.’s payments to MEC as they are transactions “between private companies.” In response to a letter from Human Rights Watch summarizing information about these financial transactions and seeking their comment, Yokogawa Bridge Corp. declined to comment on “individual cases.” Mizuho Bank also declined to comment. The US, United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada have sanctioned MEC and Myanmar’s other military conglomerate, Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited, for their role in generating significant revenues that help fund the military. Since the coup, Myanmar’s military has been responsible for widespread and systematic human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians that may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes. Junta security forces have killed over 2,700 people, including at least 277 children, and have arbitrarily arrested over 17,000, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. The Bago River Bridge Construction Project’s ties to MEC came to light when a local media outlet, Myanmar Now, reported in March 2021 that a steel mill, the corporation owned in Hmawbi, Yangon, had been making substantial profits by supplying steel for two-thirds of the bridge’s construction. JICA subsequently confirmed to Human Rights Watch that Yokogawa Bridge Corp. finalized a contract with MEC and its affiliate in November 2019. In April 2021, Yokogawa Bridge Holdings Corp., which wholly owns Yokogawa Bridge Corp., stated that construction of the bridge had been halted due to the “situation on the ground,” and that it would “conduct business that respects human rights.” As previously documented by Human Rights Watch, Yokogawa Bridge Corp. and MEC had ties prior to the bridge project. In March 2014, Yokogawa Bridge Corp. signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MEC, according to a 2015 earnings document. The document says that Yokogawa Bridge Corp. has aimed to “build a relationship through technical cooperation,” while “cultivating” MEC into an “amicable steel fabricator.” The Myanmar military owns MEC, which generates vast revenue through businesses in sectors including manufacturing, mining, and telecommunications, according to a 2019 report by the United Nations-backed Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar. The fact-finding mission concluded that “any foreign business activity” involving Myanmar’s military and its conglomerates, including MEC pose, “a high risk of contributing to or being linked to, violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law.” It added that “at a minimum, these foreign companies are contributing to supporting the Tatmadaw’s [military’s] financial capacity.” In September 2022, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a follow-up report to the 2019 Fact-Finding Mission report, saying that not enough had been done to cut off the junta’s access to revenue, and urging the international community to “step up efforts to support the people of Myanmar and to ensure the military’s financial isolation in a coordinated fashion.” The UN human rights office also said that governments should “ensure their humanitarian and development assistance programs do not benefit the SAC [State Administration Council junta] or military-owned companies,” citing the Bago River Bridge Construction project, and recommended that “business enterprises active in Myanmar or trading with or investing in businesses in Myanmar, including supply chain operations, should undertake due diligence to ensure they do not enter into or remain in a business relationship of any kind with the Tatmadaw, or any enterprise owned or controlled by them (including subsidiaries) or their individual members.” On May 12, 2021, the UN Working Group on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises stated that: “Businesses must uphold their human rights responsibilities and put pressure on the military junta to halt grave human rights violations.” Specifically, the Working Group urged companies to “act in line with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to avoid contributing to human rights violations, or becoming complicit in crimes if they continue to operate in Myanmar.” The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights states that companies should “avoid causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts through their own activities, and address such impacts when they occur,” and “seek to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts that are directly linked to their operations, products or services by their business relationships, even if they have not contributed to those impacts.” Japan, which has not coordinated with allied governments in taking concrete action to press the Myanmar military to end its abuses, should impose targeted sanctions on junta leaders and military-owned entities, and ensure compliance by Japanese companies such as Yokogawa Bridge Corp.. “The Japanese government should stop providing funds to the Myanmar military and instead act on behalf of the people of Myanmar,” Kasai said. “Japan should not be enablers of the junta’s atrocity crimes.”..."
Source/publisher: Human Rights Watch (USA)
2023-01-23
Date of entry/update: 2023-01-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "We, the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and the elected parliamentarians, are deeply stunned and saddened to learn about the passing of His Excellency Shinzo Abe, Former Prime Minister of Japan on 8 July 2022. His Excellency Shinzo Abe, who has been a good friend of Myanmar, will be remembered for his political leadership and legacy to move Japan as a great nation. Myanmar’s people would never forget for his valuable support to develop economy, democracy, freedom and human rights in Myanmar. We express our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the bereaved family and to the people and Government of Japan and pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul.....၂၀၂၂ ခုနှစ်၊ ဇူလိုင်လ ၈ ရက်နေ့တွင် ဂျပန်ဝန်ကြီးချုပ်ဟောင်း မစ္စတာ ရှင်ဇိုအာဘေးကွယ်လွန်သွားခြင်းအတွက် ပြည်ထောင်စုလွှတ်တော်ကိုယ်စားပြုကော်မတီနှင့် မိမိတို့ ရွေးကောက်ခံလွှတ်တော်ကိုယ်စားလှယ်များအနေဖြင့် လွန်စွာ တုန်လှုပ်ဝမ်းနည်းမိပါသည်။ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံ၏ မိတ်ဆွေကောင်း တစ်ဦးဖြစ်သည့် ဂျပန်ဝန်ကြီးချုပ်ဟောင်း ရှင်ဇိုအာဘေး၏ ဂျပန်နိုင်ငံအား အင်အားကြီးသော နိုင်ငံဖြစ်‌စေရန် ဆောင်ရွက်ခဲ့သည့် ၎င်း၏ နိုင်ငံရေးခေါင်းဆောင်မှုနှင့် ကြိုးပမ်းအားထုတ်မှုတို့အား အမှတ်တရရှိနေလိမ့်မည် ဖြစ်ပါသည်။ မြန်မာ့နိုင်ငံ၌ စီးပွားရေး၊ ဒီမိုကရေစီ၊ လွပ်လပ်မှုနှင့် လူ့အခွင့်အရေးများ ဖွံ့ဖြိုးတိုးတက်စေရန် ဝန်ကြီးချုပ်ဟောင်း၏ တန်ဖိုးရှိသော အားပေးထောက်ပံ့မှုတို့ကို မြန်မာပြည်သူများအနေဖြင့် အစဉ်အမြဲ သတိတရရှိနေမည် ဖြစ်ပါသည်။ ဝန်ကြီးချုပ်ဟောင်း ကွယ်လွန်သွားခြင်းအတွက် ဝန်ကြီးချုပ်ဟောင်း၏ မိသားစု၊ ဂျပန်အစိုးရနှင့် ပြည်သူများထံသို့ ဝမ်းနည်းမှုနှင့် စာနာမှုတို့ ပေးပို့အပ်ပြီး ထာဝရငြိမ်းချမ်းပါစေကြောင်း ဆုတောင်းမေတ္တာပို့သအပ်ပါသည်။..."
Source/publisher: Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw
2022-07-08
Date of entry/update: 2022-07-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: ""We are deeply shocked and aggrieved to hear of the mindless killing of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo earlier today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan, and Mr. Abe's family and loved ones in this very difficult time. We pray for them to have peace, and for justice to be served. Myanmar has lost her great friend, Mr Prime Minister Abe and Myanmar will miss him dearly and greatly. Japan has contributed so much to the development of Myanmar and the education of her people. Many in Myanmar have come to regard Japan warmly, and seek to live, study or work there. Despite the ongoing crisis, this horrific and senseless act of violence has appalled the Myanmar people. Japan is renowned for its peace and her people are famed for their respect of law and custom. So egregious a crime is almost unthinkable in so peaceful a country. And yet, this brutal murder is made even more sinister by the fact that it was an assassination of a political figure during a democratic campaign. We echo Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's comments today; such an assault is nothing less than an attempt to undermine the very foundational principles of democracy. The political foundation upon which the Japanese state and society rest. Such an act cannot be tolerated; but democracy is robust, and the Japanese people are resilient. This heinous assault cannot, and will not prevent the peaceful and orderly democratic process. Elections will take place, the Japanese people's collective will be heard, and the outcome will be respected and enacted. Such is the strength of democracy, and such is the determination of a people who value that democracy. Let Japan show to the world, that no murder, or act of terror can deter a people who cherish their freedoms, and who are committed to their nation's values. We express our deepest condolences to the family of loved ones of Mr. Prime Minister Abe, and our solidarity with the people of Japan in this shocking time. We are certain that justice for this abominable act will be brought swiftly and decisively, and we pray that never again will the people of Japan, or of any nation, have to witness such a horrific crime. May Mr Prime Minister Abe rest in eternal peace. "..."
Source/publisher: Dr. Sasa via Ministry of International Cooperation Myanmar
2022-07-08
Date of entry/update: 2022-07-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "1. Since the coup in February last year, armed clashes have occurred intermittently between the Myanmar military and the citizens and Ethnic Armed Organizations who are resisting the Myanmar military-led regime, mainly in the southeastern and northwestern regions of Myanmar. As a result, about four hundred and forty thousand people have become internally displaced, and they are facing shortages of food and daily necessities. 2. Against such backdrop, the Government of Japan decided on April 1 to provide an Emergency Grant Aid of 8.3 million US dollars for humanitarian assistance to the populations in the south east area of Myanmar. This Emergency Grant Aid is to be delivered directly to the people of Myanmar through the offices of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 3. This assistance will be delivered to approximately one hundred and sixty-five thousand people..."
Source/publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
2022-04-01
Date of entry/update: 2022-04-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Questions about Yokogawa Bridge Corp.’s Ties Since Coup Go Unanswered
Description: "(Tokyo) – Japan-based Yokogawa Bridge Corp. should end its partnership with a Myanmar military-owned conglomerate, Human Rights Watch said today. In a February 2, 2022, response to a Human Rights Watch letter, Yokogawa Bridge Corp. declined to disclose the status of its partnership with the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), saying it did not comment on specific business deals. On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military overthrew the government and detained the democratically elected civilian leaders. Since then, Myanmar’s security forces have killed more than 1,500 people, including about 100 children, and detained over 10,000, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Foreign companies should end ties with Myanmar’s military enterprises. “If Yokogawa Bridge Corp. hasn’t done so already, it should immediately end its partnership with MEC without benefitting Myanmar’s military,” said Teppei Kasai, Asia program officer at Human Rights Watch. “Otherwise, it will be helping to fund military atrocities and risking its own reputation.” In March 2014, Yokogawa Bridge Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japanese Yokogawa Bridge Holdings Corp., signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MEC, according to a 2015 earnings document. MEC is owned by Myanmar’s Defense Ministry, controlled by the Quartermaster General’s Office, and is a “direct source of revenue” for Myanmar’s abusive military. According to the document, Yokogawa Bridge aims to “build a relationship through technical cooperation,” while “cultivating” MEC into an “amicable steel fabricator.” “Technological transfer through on-the-job training” for MEC by Yokogawa Bridge Corp. began in September 2014, including “measures to increase productivity and quality” and “technical guidance of construction engineering,” according to the document. Yokogawa Bridge Corp. also created an office in Yangon in July 2015, which the company says acts as a base for “information gathering and technological transfer.” In a Yokogawa Bridge Holdings Corp. document titled “Fifth mid-term business plan 2020 – March 2022,” the parent company said it will “strengthen” its relationship with MEC and seek “further development and expansion.” Yokogawa Bridge Corp.’s ties to MEC came under scrutiny after a local media outlet, Myanmar Now, reported in March 2021 that a MEC-owned steel mill in Hmawbi, Yangon, was supplying steel for two-thirds of the Japanese government-backed Bago River Bridge Construction project. In April 2021, Yokogawa Bridge Holdings Corp. stated that construction of the bridge has been halted due to the “situation on the ground,” and that it would “conduct business that respects human rights.” The 2015 earnings document detailing the nature of the MoU between Yokogawa Bridge Corp. and MEC was available for public viewing as of January 25, 2021. However, by May 12, 2021, documents dated before 2019, including the 2015 earnings document, had been removed. As of February 3, 2022, the documents remain unavailable on the company website. MEC is owned by the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, generating vast revenue through businesses in sectors including manufacturing, mining, and telecommunications, according to a 2019 report by a United Nations-backed Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar. The fact-finding mission concluded that “any foreign business activity” involving Myanmar’s military and its conglomerates including MEC pose “a high risk of contributing to or being linked to, violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law.” It added that “at a minimum, these foreign companies are contributing to supporting the Tatmadaw’s financial capacity.” The fact-finding mission advocated the “financial isolation” of the military to deter violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. The United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada have sanctioned MEC and the other military conglomerate, Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL), for their role in generating significant revenues that help fund the military’s abuses and enshrine its impunity. On May 12, 2021, the United Nations Working Group on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises stated that “Businesses must uphold their human rights responsibilities and put pressure on the military junta to halt grave human rights violations.” Specifically, the Working Group urged companies to “act in line with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to avoid contributing to human rights violations, or becoming complicit in crimes if they continue to operate in Myanmar.” The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights states that companies should “avoid causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts through their own activities, and address such impacts when they occur,” and “seek to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts that are directly linked to their operations, products or services by their business relationships, even if they have not contributed to those impacts.” Meaningful engagement, including communicating to stakeholders the steps a company has taken to mitigate risks and remedy harm already caused, are distinct responsibilities under these principles. “Yokogawa Bridge Corp. and its parent company should be transparent about any existing business relationships with MEC and the steps they are initiating to end collaboration,” Kasai said. “Transparency and regular stakeholder engagement are important aspects of a company’s human rights due diligence responsibilities.”..."
Source/publisher: "Human Rights Watch" (USA)
2022-02-09
Date of entry/update: 2022-02-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Japan’s defence ministry claims the program, which includes combat training, will inspire change from within. That’s not going to happen.
Description: "Japan was one of the first governments to issue a statement after the Myanmar military staged a coup on February 1 last year. Within hours of events unfolding in Naypyitaw, the Japanese leadership expressed “grave concern” and called for the release of those detained by security forces, including President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. Following its swift condemnation, the Japanese government took further action by halting new non-humanitarian development projects, while allowing existing aid projects to continue. Then on March 28, Japan’s defence ministry issued a joint statement with 11 allies criticising the military’s use of force against “unarmed civilians.” Japan even voted in favour of a Myanmar resolution at the United Nations General Assembly in June, a major shift from its repeated abstentions since 2017. All this begs the question: why does the Japanese government continue to train the Myanmar military? The Tatmadaw, along with other Myanmar security forces, has since the coup killed more than 1,400 people, detained over 10,000, and intensified abusive military operations in ethnic minority areas. Not only do Japan’s ongoing ties with the Tatmadaw contradict its condemnation of the coup, but they also undermine the international community’s efforts to hold the generals accountable for crimes against humanity and other abuses. Since 2015, Myanmar military cadets have been studying at Japan’s National Defense Academy, receiving both academic and military training. The program is authorised by the defence minister under article 100 of the Self-Defense Forces Act, which permits training and educating foreign nationals in Defense Ministry facilities. In December, a defence ministry official told Human Rights Watch that eight cadets from Myanmar were attending the academy, and at least two of them joined after the coup. The academy’s curriculum includes combat and the use of firearms. In addition to the cadets, two Tatmadaw officers are being trained at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Training, Evaluation, Research and Development Command, and at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Command and Staff College, according to a defence ministry document obtained by Human Rights Watch. Another defence ministry official said that the program is designed to bring change from within the Tatmadaw by showing cadets, who are expected to become officers, how Japan’s armed forces operate under strict civilian control. However, the official also conceded that the ministry does not keep track of the career paths the trainees take after the program, meaning that they do not monitor or evaluate whether this actually happens. The Japanese government should simply look at the Tatmadaw’s long record of human rights abuses and absence of deference to civilian authority and recognize that this program is not going to bring about the reforms they say it will. In August 2017, two years after Japan began the program, the Myanmar military under the current junta leader and commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, carried out crimes against humanity and possible genocide against ethnic Rohingya in Rakhine State, forcing more than 740,000 to flee to Bangladesh. At least 600,000 Rohingya who remained in Myanmar are confined to camps and villages under guard of local authorities and security forces, under conditions that amount to the crime against humanity of apartheid. Even before 2017, in long-running conflicts with ethnic armed groups, the Myanmar military has for many years committed summary killings, rape, indiscriminate shelling, torture, arson, and other abuses with impunity. And now, six years after the program began, Myanmar is in turmoil because of the Tatmadaw’s coup. The Japanese government should immediately suspend the program and cut defence ties with the Tatmadaw, as New Zealand and Australia, Japan’s regional allies, did soon after the coup. Otherwise Japan risks being complicit in the Tatmadaw’s atrocities..."
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Source/publisher: "Human Rights Watch" (USA)
2022-01-19
Date of entry/update: 2022-01-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "On July 21, the Government of Japan decided to provide up to 700 oxygen concentrators, utilizing the fund for an ongoing project implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Myanmar. Since the end of June this year, the situation of COVID-19 has been deteriorating rapidly in Myanmar with the surging number of patients and hundreds of deaths per day. Under such circumstances, there is an urgent need to immediately provide oxygen concentrators for the necessary treatment of the people of Myanmar. Through this assistance in collaboration with UNOPS, the Government of Japan will directly support the people of Myanmar by providing health care facilities in Yangon Region with oxygen concentrators necessary for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. In addition to this, the Government of Japan will soon grant 14 ambulances to health care facilities in different areas of Myanmar that treat COVID-19 patients. These ambulances will be used for emergency transport of patients suffering from COVID-19..."
Source/publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
2021-07-21
Date of entry/update: 2021-07-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "H.E. Dr. Sasa's address to Japanese Parliamentarians, Professors and Researchers - ဒေါက်တာဆာဆာ အပြည်ပြည်ဆိုင်ရာပူးပေါင်းဆောင်ရွက်ရေးဝန်ကြီးဌာန၏ပြည်ထောင်စုဝန်ကြီးနှင့် အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေးအစိုးရ၏ပြောရေးဆိုခွင့်ရှိသူ မှ ဂျပန်ပါလီမန်အမတ်များထံသို့ ပန်ကြားလွှာ - ミャンマー国民統一政府 国際協力大臣兼ミャンマー広報担当 ササ医師の日本の国会議員とのセミナーにおける演説 (仮訳) 2021 年6月6日..."
Source/publisher: Ministry of International Cooperation Myanmar
2021-06-06
Date of entry/update: 2021-06-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Japanese language version of H.E. Dr. Sasa's address to Japanese Parliamentarians, Professors and Researchers - ミャンマー国民統一政府 国際協力大臣兼ミャンマー広報担当 ササ医師の日本の国会議員とのセミナーにおける演説 (仮訳) 2021 年6月6日..."
Source/publisher: Ministry of International Cooperation Myanmar
2021-06-06
Date of entry/update: 2021-06-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Konnichiwa! Thank you for having me, I am really grateful to you all for giving me this opportunity. The brave people and National Unity Government of Myanmar greatly appreciate the People, Parliament and Government of Japan for standing with us at this critical moment in our history. This is the darkest of hours and the most pivotal moment in the history of Myanmar. While the fate and future of Myanmar hangs in the balance, the strong and continued support from the people, parliamentarians, and Government of Japan and its International alliance are absolutely crucial in stopping this reign of terror and great tragedy in Myanmar. More than ever before, the 54 million courageous citizens of Myanmar need the continued strong friendship and coordinated support and recognition from the people, parliamentarians and Government of Japan in fulfilling the hopes, aspirations and dreams of those who have suffered so much for far too long under the hands of the brutal and cruel military generals and their regime. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my sincere thanks to the People, Parliament and Government of Japan for standing in solidarity with the 54 million citizens of Myanmar in this very difficult time in our history. Thank you for being a strong voice for the people of Myanmar and extending the visas for our grateful citizens living in Japan. Thank you for your leadership at G7 on behalf of the people of Myanmar, and for the recognition of CRPH and NUG as important voices of the people of Myanmar. Thank you for joining countries that have imposed an arms embargo in solidarity against the cruel and ruthless military junta in Myanmar. The duty of a nation’s military is to defend and protect its people. However, under the command of Min Aung Hlaing, the supposed guardians of our nation are doing precisely the opposite of their duty and continue arbitrarily murdering and detaining the brave and innocent civilians of Myanmar without cause on a daily and hourly basis. The people of Myanmar unanimously consider Min Aung Hlaing and those who report to him as terrorists and perpetrators of crimes against humanity. It has been four months since Min Aung Hlaing and his gunmen instigated this illegal coup d’etat and took the nation hostage. Since the 1 st of February 2021: Nearly 900 civilians have been murdered by the junta, including at least 72 children. Nearly 6,000 civilians have been arrested by the junta, and over 1,900 are evading arrest warrants. I have been charged with high treason by these military generals who are in fact the ones committing high treason against the people of Myanmar themselves. The junta continues using the ASEAN Summit as a propaganda tool while the junta forces make daily raids on private homes in villages, towns, and cities across the nation. The torture and cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians under the junta forces continue. They have abolished free media outlets in the vain attempt to stop the truth from getting out. Harassment and imprisonment of journalists continue under the junta. We are however thankful to courageous Japanese journalist Mr. Yuki Kitazumi for his bravery in reporting the true situation inside the prisons that he observed while illegally detained. We were all relieved by the news of his release, but more than 40 more journalists remain behind the junta’s cruel prison bars. The violence we are seeing by the junta is both systematic and widespread. It is clear that they are engaging in crimes against humanity against by using heavy battlefield weapons against unarmed civilians. They have been purchasing these weapons from China and Russia, among other countries by using the stolen wealth of the people and Country of Myanmar. As a result, Myanmar is now quickly becoming a failed state: Nearly a million people have become displaced, food insecurity is rising sharply, and the UNDP is predicting that over half of the population of Myanmar (approximately 27 million people) will be living in poverty within a year. The WFP analysis has also shown that more than 3 million people in Myanmar are going to face hunger in the coming months, while so many have already had to flee their homes and are facing hunger hiding in the jungle. It will be heart breaking to count the number of deaths caused by not only the deepening crisis of violence, but also by the tragedy of poverty and hunger that has begun. We, the sovereign citizens of Myanmar, are doing all that we can to prevent these great tragedies of violence, genocide, criminal atrocities, poverty and hunger by courageously and peacefully resisting the junta’s efforts to cause us maximum pain, suffering, death and destruction. They continue trying to take away our freedom and democracy with their blood-stained battlefield weapons. The peaceful Civil Disobedience Movements (CDM) led by dauntless medical and health workers, schoolteachers, students, activists, and joined by hundreds of thousands of civil servants and private sector workers continues unabated. Make no mistake, this is the most powerful peaceful movement ever to rise against a military junta. Day after day the defenseless people of Myanmar march across the nation and continue to demonstrate enormous valiancy in the face of the murderous and oppressive military dictators. This peaceful movement has even been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, however, this peaceful movement deserves not only the Nobel Peace prize, but also the full support of the People, Parliamentarians and Government of Japan, and the international communities. The citizens of Myanmar have initiated strong domestic sanctions against the junta through this peaceful movement of CDM, strikes and other acts of civil disobedience. We are boycotting junta produced goods, and a large percentage of civil servants are refusing to support the junta’s work. The sanctions that have been imposed to date by Japan and the International Community have been a helpful start to supporting our domestic efforts. While the brutal crackdown by the junta and its forces continue, opposition to the junta remains strong and unanimous among the people of Myanmar. However, greater help and support from the people, Parliament and Government of Japan and its allies from the international community are vitally important. We have three core requests to present to the People, Parliament and Government of Japan and its allies from around the world: 1) Engage with the National Unity Government as the sole legitimate representative of the people of Myanmar. We are comprised of leaders elected in Myanmar’s democratic November elections as well as leaders of ethnic states and regions. The people of Myanmar recognize us as the sole legitimate government and our hope is that you will also work with us as the sole legitimate government of Myanmar as well. 2) Help us address a growing humanitarian crisis. We need aid. The National Unity Government knows how to get aid to where it needs to go. A humanitarian crisis is growing due to conflict and the spread of COVID-19. Myanmar’s economy is in collapse and millions are already, or at risk of being, without water, food, sanitation, shelter and medicine. (UNWFP estimates 6.4m people will be without food in Myanmar by October 2021). We desperately need aid for 1) FOOD SECURITY, 2) HEALTH 3) SHELTER, 4) EDUCATION: 3) Help us put more financial pressure on the junta. It is critical for the nations of the world who stand with us to band together in a coordinated campaign of further sanctions that would cut the flow of revenue to this murderous regime. We are respectfully requesting that the Government of Japan ensure that no funds from any entity under the control of Japan, whether public or private, be allowed to continue to be transferred to the Junta, its business entities, leaders or their families. The largest source of revenue to the junta, the oil and gas sector, remains unscathed by the international community. Coordinated and targeted sanctions and legislation would make a clear legal obligation for companies to stop the flow of this revenue to the junta. We must not continue to allow this illegal junta to spend the wealth of the people of Myanmar in murdering the people of Myanmar. Therefore, the Government of Japan and the International Community must place sanctions against Myanmar Oil and Gas and all state-owned enterprises, including the transfer of dual use technology, and impose an international arms embargo and a strict no-fly-zone above the territory of Myanmar by whatever means necessary. These measures are critically vital to prevent civil war and another genocide in Myanmar. Our National Unity Government Myanmar is ready, willing and able to help in all of these coordinated efforts. This is the first time in the history of Myanmar that there has been a National Unity Government with the full support of the people. We need the endorsement, recognition, acknowledgement and engagement from the Government of Japan and the free countries and leaders from around the world who believe in freedom, justice and democracy. This is the first time in our history that elected members of Parliament, political parties, ethnic leaders, ethnic armed organizations and grass roots civil society organizations have come together as one united people to oppose the common enemy. This is the greatest opportunity of the century. We must then seize upon this window of opportunity and put an end to this wicked, illegitimate regime, and begin afresh with a transparent and inclusive federal democratic union of Myanmar. As the true legitimate and democratically elected Government of Myanmar, the National Unity Government of Myanmar is here to help generate the will of the brave people of Myanmar by whom, and for whom it was elected. This united will of the people is: - Building of a Federal Democratic Union of Myanmar where both Federal States and Federal Union Governments are by the people and for the people, and where the rights of ALL regardless of race, sex, culture, ethnicity, background, and religion are equally respected, protected and promoted. It will be a place where power and resource sharing will be based on the principles of equality and self-determination, and where the three branches of Parliament, Judiciary and Executive will function independently. - Total eradication of military dictatorship and the current genocidal military which has become a cancer to the country and people of Myanmar, and to replace it with an ethical and inclusive armed force that belong to the people of Myanmar and is led by the civilian government. - Complete nullification of the 2008 constitution created by the junta and for the junta, and repealing and replacing discriminative laws, such as the 1982 citizenship law, with new laws and a federal constitution for the people of Myanmar. This will be done in an inclusive manner and only with the consensus of ALL the stakeholders. A constitutional convention and referendum will be held on the permanent draft constitution which will be won by the people and belong to the people of Myanmar for generations to come. I am very proud of the courageous people of Myanmar who are on the front lines of this movement to liberate our nation from a brutal military regime, and for their bravery and their commitment to human rights, a federal democracy and freedom for ALL the people of Myanmar. Mark my words: we, the opposition to the illegal junta, will win in our struggle to liberate Myanmar from the brutal military junta, and on the other end of this fight we will emerge an inclusive Myanmar that is committed to democracy, human rights, and to being a responsible partner in the global community. With the help of the People, Parliament and Government of Japan, our vision and our dream will become a powerful reality and will bear testimony to our strong friendship and unyielding gratefulness. Sincerely, Arigatou..."
Source/publisher: Ministry of International Cooperation Myanmar
2021-06-06
Date of entry/update: 2021-06-06
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Description: "Joint Statement: The National Unity Government of Myanmar and The Japan Parliamentary Group Supporting Democratization in Myanmar composed of Japanese nonpartisan voluntary Diet members jointly held "The 1st Online Conference" on 26th May, 2021 and shared common ground about the harsh current situation of the Myanmar people under the Myanmar military junta. As the result of discussions on linkage and cooperation in the future for the early recovery of the democratic system, we agreed on the following and confirmed that we will develop activities to realize it in the future : 1. We never admit the legitimacy of coups and governance by the Myanmar military. W e urge the Japanese government and the international society also to do so. 2. We declare that we are, and will always be, with the people of Myanmar who seek peace, freedom and an immediate restoration of democracy. We also urge the Japanese government to declare this at home and abroad. 3. We ask the Japanese government to recognize that the National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG) and Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) are the legitimate representative government and parliament of the Myanmar people elected by the general election last November. And we also urge the Japanese government to embark on a formal dialogue to restore the democratic system and to reconstruct the social and economic system for the Myanmar people. 4. We urge the Japanese government and the international society to use all diplomatic resources and ways of negotiation with the Myanmar military and do their best to realize the following matters immediately : (1) Immediately stop the use of force and violence against citizens. (2) Immediately and unconditionally release Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counselor and Foreign Minister of Myanmar, other democratic executives and officials, and all citizens who have been unfairly arrested, imprisoned, or restrained. (3) Promptly return all rights to the democracy chosen by the people in the election last November. 5. We urge the Japanese government to suspend immediately all support and cooperation in the interests of the Myanmar military, directly or indirectly, such as Official Development Assistance (ODA) and public-private investment and lending for development and not to resume it except for emergency humanitarian assistance to innocent citizens until the requirements above are fully achieved. 6. We declare that the responsibility of all soldiers and police officials who have violated the freedom and human rights of Myanmar people/citizens and have taken their lives and property should be pursued by justice. And we urge the Japanese government and the international society to impose strict punishment on them under legal judicial decisions, including the use of the International Criminal Court. 7. We strongly condemn the Myanmar military for continuing to use heavy weapons, including air strikes, on ethnic areas. We urge the Japanese government to strongly demand the Myanmar military to stop this immediately and to provide promptly in a reliable way emergency support of daily necessities, such as water, food, and sanitary goods, to inhabitants and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in ethnic areas who are suffering from damages. 8. We strongly condemn the countries that sells and provide weapons, etc. to the Myanmar military and demand that they immediately suspend such actions. We urge the Japanese government, in close cooperate with Western countries, to elucidate the actual situations of the selling and buying of weapons, and make the utmost efforts to achieve a global arms embargo on Myanmar as soon as possible. 9. We ask the Japanese government to take supportive measures toward the Myanmar people who seek protection or asylum from the Japanese government to escape from crackdowns and persecution by the Myanmar military or police so that they can live at ease without anxiety, permitting stable stay in Japan, such as granting Special Permission to Stay in Japan in addition to actively protecting them as refugees under the 1951 Convention until the completion of the transfer to democracy......အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေးအစိုးရ ပြည်ထောင်စုအဖွဲ့ဝင် ဝန်ကြီးများ နှင့် မြန်မာနိုင်ငံအရေး ကူညီဆောင်ရွက်ပေးနေသော ဂျပန်နိုင်ငံ လွှတ်တော် ကိုယ်စားလှယ်များ အဖွဲ့တို့ ပထမဆုံးအကြိမ် တွေ့ဆုံဆွေးနွေးမှုကို မေလ ၂၆ ရက် ၂၀၂၁ ခုနှစ်တွင် ပြုလုပ်ခဲ့ပါသည်။ အဆိုပါဆွေးနွေးပွဲအပြီး အမျိုသားညီညွတ်ရေးအစိုးရ နှင့် မြန်မာနိုင်ငံအရေး ကူညီဆောင်ရွက်ပေးနေသော ဂျပန်နိုင်ငံလွှတ်တော်ကိုယ်စားအဖွဲ့များအကြား ပူးတွဲကြေညာချက်တစ်စောင်ကို ထုတ်ပြန်လိုက်ပါသည်။ အဆိုပါ ပူးတွဲကြေညာချက်တွင် အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေးအစိုးရနှင့် ပြည်ထောင်စုလွှတ်တော်ကိုယ်စားပြုကော်မတီတို့ကို မြန်မာနိုင်ငံပြည်သူလူထုက နိုဝင်ဘာလရွေးကောက်ပွဲတွင် ရွေးကောက်တင်မြှောက်လိုက်သော တရားဝင် ကိုယ်စားပြုအစိုးရနှင့် လွှတ်တော်အဖြစ် အသိအမှတ်ပြုရန် ဂျပန်နိုင်ငံလွှတ်တော်ကိုယ်စားလှယ်များက ဂျပန်အစိုးရကို တိုက်တွန်းကြောင်း၊ မြန်မာပြည်သူလူထု၏ လွတ်လပ်ခွင့်နှင့် လူ့အခွင့်အရေးများကို ချိုးဖောက်ခဲ့ကြသော အသက်အိုးအိမ်စည်းစိမ်ကို ဖျက်ဆီးခဲ့ကြသော စစ်သားနှင့် ရဲတပ်ဖွဲ့ဝင်များအားလုံးသည် ထိုက်တန်သော တရားစီရင်မှုရရှိသင့်ကြောင်းကြေညာပြီး ထိုသို့ကျူးလွန်ခဲ့သူများကို အပြည်ပြည်ဆိုင်ရာ စစ်ရာဇဝတ်ခုံရုံးအပါအဝင် မျှတသော တရားစီရင်မှုအောက်တွင် ထိရောက်သော အပြစ်ဒဏ်များချမှတ်နိုင်ရေး ဆောင်ရွက်ကြရန် ဂျပန်အစိုးရနှှင့် အပြည်ပြည်ဆိုင်ရာလူ့အဖွဲ့အစည်းများကို မိမိတို့တိုက်တွန်းပါကြောင်း၊ စစ်ကောင်စီအနေနှင့် လက်နက်ကြီးများ၊ တိုက်လေယာဉ်များအသုံးပြု၍ တိုင်းရင်းသားဒေသများကို အားတိုက်ခိုက်နေခြင်းကို ပြင်းထန်စွာရှုံချကြောင်း စသည့် အချက်များနှင့် အခြား ပြင်းထန်သော တောင်းဆိုမှုများပါဝင်ပါသည်။ ပူးတွဲကြေညာချက်ကို အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေးအစိုးရမှ ဒုတိယသမ္မတ ဒူဝါလရှီးလမှ လက်မှတ်ရေးထိုးပြီး မြန်မာနိုင်ငံအရေးကူညီဆောင်ရွက်နေသော ဂျပန်နိုင်ငံလွတ်တော်ကိုယ်စားလှယ်များအဖွဲ့ ဥက္ကဌ Mr. Nakagawa မှ လက်မှတ်ရေးထိုးခဲ့ကြပါသည်။..."
Source/publisher: National Unity Government of Myanmar
2021-05-28
Date of entry/update: 2021-05-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "An arrested Japanese reporter returned home Friday after being released by Myanmar’s ruling junta in what it called a gesture of friendship to Japan. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Yuki Kitazumi was released after efforts by Japanese diplomats and others. The reporter boarded a plane at Yangon’s airport and landed in Japan on Friday night. Kitazumi, a freelance journalist and former reporter for Japan’s Nikkei business news, said in brief comments at the airport that he learned of his release the night before and was told to pack his bag in 10 minutes. “As a journalist I wanted to stay in Yangon and keep reporting, but I had to come back, and that is my regret,” he said. He said he hopes to keep telling the world about what’s happening in Myanmar. The military seized power on Feb. 1, ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. It has faced large, constant popular opposition, which it has tried to suppress by using force that has cost hundreds of lives and by muzzling the news media. Myanmar’s army-run Myawaddy TV said Kitazumi was arrested on April 18 for “inciting” anti-military civil disobedience and riots. “Although the journalist is a lawbreaker, the case will be closed and he will be released at the request of the Special Envoy of the Japanese Government for National Reconciliation in Myanmar, in view of the close ties and future relations between Myanmar and Japan,” the junta said in a statement read on TV. Japan has criticized the military government’s deadly crackdown on opposition but has taken a milder approach than the United States and some other countries that imposed sanctions against members of the junta. Kitazumi was also charged with violating visa regulations. He was the first foreign journalist to be charged under a statute which the state press has described as aiming at “fake news.” He has posted reports and views about developments in Myanmar on Facebook. Hours before his arrest, he posted a video showing Myanmar citizens gathering at a Tokyo temple to pay tribute to people killed by Myanmar security forces trying to quell protests. Kitazumi had been detained briefly by police in late February while covering pro-democracy protests in Myanmar. The announcement that he had been granted clemency came a day after a military court sentenced a Myanmar journalist, Min Nyo, to three years in prison on similar charges. Min Nyo is a correspondent for the Democratic Voice of Burma, an online and broadcast news agency which has continued to operate despite being banned by the junta. A statement issued by DVB said Min Nyo was covering a March 3 anti-junta protest in the town of Pyay, 260 kilometers (160 miles) northwest of Yangon, when he was arrested and severely beaten by police. About 80 journalists have been arrested since the military’s takeover. Roughly half are still detained and most of them are being held under charges similar to the one for which Min Nyo was convicted, as are many activists opposed to the military regime. Rights group Amnesty International said Min Nyo’s case showed the ruthlessness of the junta and the risks faced by journalists reporting on the junta’s abuses. “Min Nyo’s conviction must be quashed, and he should be released immediately -– along with all other journalists, activists and human rights defenders imprisoned and detained solely for their peaceful opposition to the military coup,” the group’s deputy regional director, Emerlynne Gil, said in a statement. ___ This story was first published on May 14, 2021. It was updated on May 15, 2021 to correct the name of the journalist on first reference. He is Yuki Kitazumi, not Yuki Kigazumi..."
Source/publisher: "Associated Press" (New York)
2021-05-15
Date of entry/update: 2021-05-16
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Description: "On 1 February 2021, military television channel Myawaddy told the people of Myanmar that a state of emergency had been declared. President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, both senior members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), had been arrested. Former vice president Myint Swe — now serving as President — used his constitutional authority to declare the state of emergency, then transferred state power to the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw), Min Aung Hlaing. The Tatmadaw claimed that widespread election fraud in the November 2020 elections resulted in the NLD landslide victory. On 2 February 2021, they announced that a new State Administrative Council had been formed to take over all state legislative, judicial and executive functions. This has been called a coup by most Western media. After 10 years of varying levels of cooperation between the Tatmadaw and the NLD, the democratic transition has taken a serious U-turn. But given the strained relations between the Tatmadaw and the NLD — and given the fragility of all democratic transitions — the potential for such a reversal was always there, lingering in the shadows. Most Western governments and media outlets were quick to denounce and condemn the Tatmadaw and tried to draw attention to what they saw as a slow and weak response from the Japanese government. Certainly, Japan was not included in the 15 February statement by ambassadors to Myanmar that called for the military to show restraint and condemned the detention of political leaders. But Japan was a signatory to the G7 Foreign Minister’s statement on 3 February, ‘condemning the military coup’. On 21 February and again on 28 February, the Japanese government said it ‘strongly condemned’ the situation in Myanmar. In the same statement it said, ‘the government of Japan once again strongly urges the Myanmar military to release those who are detained … and swiftly restore Myanmar’s democratic political system’. Leaving aside Western governments’ failures to facilitate positive change in Myanmar — and ignoring the high probability that they are merely appealing to domestic activist stakeholders at a relatively low political cost — Japan’s different approach to the coup in Myanmar does raise questions. The day after the Tatmadaw took power, Japan’s State Minister of Defence Yasuhide Nakayama told Reuters, ‘If we do not approach this well, Myanmar could grow further away from politically free democratic nations and join the league of China’. This reveals the Japanese government’s understanding of the geostrategic significance of Myanmar in the region. China’s increasing influence in Myanmar has long been a concern for Japanese leaders. Fear over increasing dependence on China was one of the factors that led to the Tatmadaw deciding to initiate political reforms and open up Myanmar in 2011. The government of Japan was instrumental in this process, facilitating re-engagement between the international community and the government of Myanmar. On the condition that democratisation proceeded, Japan cancelled much of Myanmar’s outstanding debt in 2012. But more importantly perhaps, Japan provided a bridge loan to Myanmar to enable it to clear its arrears with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in the same year. This allowed these financial institutions to begin development aid and support the democratic transition of then-president Thein Sein. Japan’s diplomacy should also be viewed within the framework of relations with ASEAN, a key strategic partner for Japan. Tokyo has spent decades investing in the stability and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries and Japan’s economy is heavily dependent on them. On 10 February there was a phone call between the foreign ministers of Japan and Indonesia, with the main issues discussed being the situation in Myanmar and issues related to the South China Sea and the East China Sea. For Japan — and for ASEAN alike — these issues are all linked. The Japanese government’s approach to the coup in Myanmar is in some ways a middle road between the ‘distant’ Western states that prioritise human rights and democracy and the ‘local’ Asian states that prioritise stability and development. In this way, Japan is treading a fine line between its position as a liberal democracy and its dependence on stability and development in Southeast Asia. The overriding international concern for all states in Southeast Asia is China’s rise and responses to the coup in Myanmar are best understood within that framework..."
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Source/publisher: "East Asia Forum" (Australia)
2021-04-17
Date of entry/update: 2021-04-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Join Targeted Economic Sanctions, Global Arms Embargo; Review Aid
Description: "The Japanese government should take urgent action to pressure the leaders of the military coup in Myanmar to restore the democratically elected government and respect human rights, Human Rights Now, Human Rights Watch, Japan International Volunteer Center, Justice For Myanmar, and Japan NGO Action Network for Civic Space said today. In a letter to Japan Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on February 25, 2021, the organizations urged the Japanese government to take joint action with other countries, including imposing targeted economic sanctions against the Myanmar military and companies that it controls, supporting a global arms embargo, and triggering human rights-based conditionals enshrined in Japan’s Official Development Assistance programs and charter. “As a major and influential donor, the Japanese government has a responsibility to take action to promote human rights in Myanmar,” said Teppei Kasai, Asia program officer. “It should urgently review and suspend any public aid that could benefit the Myanmar military.” The organizations also said in their letter that Japan should join other concerned governments in imposing targeted economic sanctions against the military-affiliated companies, including Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), while assisting Japanese companies with direct or indirect ties to the military to terminate their business relationships responsibly..."
Source/publisher: "Human Rights Watch" (USA)
2021-02-25
Date of entry/update: 2021-02-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Topic: Business
Sub-title: Japanese Beverage Giant Should Release Investigation Report
Topic: Business
Description: "Japan-based Kirin Holdings Company, Ltd. should publish its investigation report on the military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. (MEHL) and swiftly cut ties with the company, Human Rights Watch said today. Kirin announced the conclusion of an investigation by Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory LLC on January 7, 2021, but declined to publish the report for confidentiality reasons. “Kirin should regain some trust of consumers, investors, and rights groups by releasing the details of its investigation into the operations of its Myanmar military business partner,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Kirin’s business association with MEHL raises serious human rights concerns that need urgent action, not further obfuscation behind an investigation whose results are kept secret.” In its January 7 statement, Kirin said the investigation by Deloitte was “inconclusive as a result of Deloitte being unable to access sufficient information required to make a definitive determination.” Kirin said the investigation aimed to determine the “destination of proceeds received by” MEHL from Myanmar Brewery Ltd. (MBL) and Mandalay Brewery Ltd. (MDL), and that it would provide a “further update” on its business activities in Myanmar by the end of April. Kirin owns a majority stake in Myanmar Brewery Ltd. and Mandalay Brewery Ltd. in partnership with the military-owned-and-operated MEHL. In 2015, Kirin bought 55 percent of Myanmar Brewery Ltd., 4 percent of which it later transferred to the military-owned firm. In 2017, Kirin acquired 51 percent of Mandalay Brewery Ltd. in a separate joint venture with the firm. Myanmar’s armed forces, the Tatmadaw, have been responsible over many years for numerous grave violations of human rights and war crimes against the country’s ethnic minority populations. These abuses culminated in the August 2017 campaign of ethnic cleansing against the ethnic Rohingya population in Rakhine State, including killings, sexual violence, and forced removal. Human Rights Watch found that Myanmar’s security forces committed crimes against humanity and genocidal acts in those 2017 operations against the Rohingya..."
Source/publisher: "Human Rights Watch" (USA)
2021-01-08
Date of entry/update: 2021-01-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "An agreement was signed between Myanmar and Japan on July 6th for the Human Resource Development Scholarship Program, according to the announcement of the Japan Embassy in Myanmar. On behalf of the Myanmar government, Bharat Singh, Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar Maruyama Ichiro signed and exchanged the agreement. The Japanese government will be providing cash assistance of Yen 627 billion for human resource development in the education sector. Moreover, the Japanese government will provide scholarships for post-graduate studies, 44 Master degree students and four Ph.D students, in the 2020-21 academic years. From the beginning of Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship in Myanmar in 2001, totaling 545 Myanmar young and highly capable government officials and private sector participants had been dispatched to Japan under this program. The Japanese Embassy also announced that the Japanese Ambassador and Bharat Singh, Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations also signed agreements on three projects in Nay Pyi Taw on July 2nd. The assistance of US$20.5 million was earmarked for upgrading of waterway indicators in Yangon River and then it would provide water distribution programs in Yangon and Mandalay Regions and upgrading of wireless devices..."
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
2020-07-09
Date of entry/update: 2020-07-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has delivered COVID-19 testing kits to Myanmar’s National Health Laboratory (NHL) to help with the rapid detection of the virus, the Japanese aid agency said in a statement on Tuesday.
Description: "The kits, which contain primer and testing reagents, worth ¥400,000 (K5.21 million/US$3600) will boost the country’s ability to prevent entry of the deadly disease. JICA officials said they handed over the first batch of the kits in response to an urgent request from the NHL. The aid agency said Japan will do its best to help Myanmar in the fight against COVID-19. “Myanmar has had relatively higher rates of infection from major infectious diseases compared to other ASEAN counties, which requires it to strengthen its capacity to respond to and diagnose such diseases,” the statement said. “Since 2005, through Japan’s development assistance, JICA has provided technical cooperation to enhance the country’s capacity to handle major infectious disease.” The NHL has been designated by the Ministry of Health and Sports as the lead institution to perform diagnosis of suspected COVID-19 cases. The laboratory performed parallel testing for COVID-19 with the World Health Organization’s designated laboratory, with consistent results. The NHL began independent testing for COVID-19 last Thursday. As of Monday, 40 people suspected to have the disease had tested negative, and Myanmar had no confirmed cases..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-02-26
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Kirin has stakes in two breweries and donated directly to the military, which the UN says is ‘indefensible’
Description: "Japanese beverages giant Kirin – parent brewer of a suite of Australian beer brands such as XXXX, Tooheys, and James Squire – could pull out of the brewery it co-owns with the Myanmar military, after facing international condemnation for its business partnership with an army accused of genocide. The company’s president and chief executive, Yoshinori Isozaki, said in a statement the company recognised the “challenges of operating in frontier markets” and was working to improve its practices. “Human rights is fundamental to all of our business activities … we are reviewing strategic options for our operations in Myanmar.” Kirin’s review of its partnership with the Myanmar military is being led by its international advisory board, whose members include Australians Sir Rod Eddington and Paula Dwyer. Kirin owns a little over half of both Myanmar Brewery and Mandalay Brewery in partnership with Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL), a conglomerate of the Myanmar military, accused of committing genocide in its persecution of the Rohingya ethnic and religious minority. The business partnership with Kirin provides not only much-needed foreign currency for the isolated Myanmar military – which is subject to global arms embargoes – but also, crucially, is a source of international legitimacy..."
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Source/publisher: "The Guardian" (UK)
2020-02-15
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Past the numerous izakaya bars and chain restaurants flanking Takadanobaba’s Sakae-dori street, there’s a simple brown building with a signboard reading “Swe Myanmar.” Although Swe Myanmar is one of many Myanmar restaurants in Takadanobaba, known to many as Tokyo’s “Little Yangon,” one aspect makes it unique: The owner, Than Swe, 56, is a foreign national who has been granted refuge in immigrant-averse Japan, where only one in 250 applicants are granted asylum status. While Than Swe and his wife, Than Than Kyaing, 56, are happy to operate the restaurant, the business was more of a last resort than a lifelong desire. In 1989, Than Swe fled to Japan when he was just 26 in fear of government persecution for his role leading student democratic protests against the military dictatorship. Before leaving, Than Swe had worked closely with Aung San Suu Kyi as a member of the initial group that directed the popular uprising, simultaneously working as a university geology instructor. “Seeing Aung San Suu Kyi and many protesters arrested one after another, I made up my mind to flee the country,” Than Swe says, recalling the harsh military crackdown. At that time, Than Swe was one of a small number of people in the country, then called Burma, to hold a valid passport. Such documents were only issued to those scheduled to go abroad on approved business trips, and Than Swe had been issued his in anticipation of a future trip to Japan..."
Source/publisher: "Japan Times" (Japan)
2020-02-01
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Topic: East-West Economic Corridor, Electricity, Infrastructure, Japan, Japanese Embassy, loan agreements, ODA, Official Development Assistance, Power, rural development, sewerage, Southern Economic Corridor, Traffic, Urban Development, wastewater treatment, Water
Topic: East-West Economic Corridor, Electricity, Infrastructure, Japan, Japanese Embassy, loan agreements, ODA, Official Development Assistance, Power, rural development, sewerage, Southern Economic Corridor, Traffic, Urban Development, wastewater treatment, Water
Description: "Myanmar and Japan have signed four loan agreements worth about US$1.1 billion (120.915 billion yen, or 1.61 trillion kyats) to fund sewerage, urban development, power distribution and infrastructure improvement projects in seven regions and states in Myanmar. The four Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan agreements were signed on Tuesday between Japanese Ambassador Maruyama Ichiro and U Maung Maung Win, Myanmar’s deputy minister for planning, finance and industry, with the aim of improving living standards and economic and social development in Myanmar, the Japanese Embassy in Yangon said in a statement. About 45.9 billion yen will go towards developing Yangon’s sewerage system. The funds will be used to renovate and expand wastewater treatment plants, lay sewer pipes and improve living standards in the central business district of Yangon. Currently, much of Yangon’s human waste and domestic and industrial wastewater flows into the Yangon River untreated, resulting in poor water quality..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2020-01-22
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Japan announced yesterday that it is providing loans totalling ¥120.9 billion (US$1.1 billion) to Myanmar for four infrastructure projects.
Description: "Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar Ichiro Maruyama and Myanmar’s Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry U Maung Maung Win signed agreements for the loans in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday. The projects that the loans will be used for are the Yangon sewerage system development, urban development for the reduction of traffic congestion and the damage caused by flooding in Yangon, power distribution improvement in Yangon and Mandalay, and regional infrastructure improvement in Chin, Rakhine, Mon, Kayin, and Tanintharyi. The ¥45.9 billion sewerage system development project in Yangon will provide funds to renovate and expand waste water treatment plants, to construct sewer pipes and to improve the living environment of local residents in the central business district of Yangon, where about 10 percent of Myanmar›s population reside. Currently, most of human waste, domestic wastewater and wastewater from businesses flows into rivers untreated, causing water quality deterioration. By implementing this project, the capacity to treat wastewater will be increased up to about seven times by 2030 (two years after project completion), and the amount of wastewater treatment is expected to be about 130 times the current amount. Estimated to cost ¥24 billion, the project to reduce of traffic congestion and the damage caused by floods in Yangon will involve work to improve drainage, take measures against traffic congestion at level crossings on main roads and upgrading of the Yangon Circular Railway Road..."
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-01-22
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Tokyo-based human rights activists on Wednesday decried recent remarks by Japan's ambassador to Yangon, who told local media he did not think the Myanmar military committed genocide on the Rohingya Muslim minority in the country. More than 730,000 Rohingya fled the Southeast Asian nation to Bangladesh in 2017 after a military-led crackdown. The United Nations has said the campaign was executed with "genocidal intent" and included mass killings and rape. The military offensive has sparked a series of ongoing legal cases filed in recent months at courts across the globe, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), both based in the Hague. Zaw Min Htut, vice president of an advocacy group, Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan, said the ambassador's remarks were "disturbing". "I am very disappointed and appealing again to the Japanese government. Please try to help Rohingya people and don't side with criminals," Zaw Min Htut told foreign correspondents in Tokyo..."
Source/publisher: "Japan Today" (Japan)
2020-01-16
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The opening ceremony of the Japan-Myanmar Aung San Vocational Training Institute (JMASVTI) was held in conjunction with the stake-driving ceremony at the institute in Singu Ward, Insein Township, Yangon, yesterday morning. The JMASVTI project is funded by the Japanese government and is being built on the grounds of the former technical high school (Aung San) and equipped with necessary apparatuses. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had signed an agreement with Myanmar in December 2018 to establish JMASVTI. Present on the occasion were Upper House’s Deputy Speaker Aye Tha Aung, Education Minister Dr Myo Thein Gyi, Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein and his cabinet members, Regional Parliament Speaker Tin Maung Tun, the Japanese Ambassador, appointed officials from JICA and JMASVTI..."
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
2020-01-11
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Strategic competition between Tokyo and Beijing moves into a new realm
Description: "The Japanese government announced in late December that it will launch an aid program to help internally displaced people in a conflict zone in Myanmar's northern state of Kachin to return home. China has strong influence in northern Myanmar, including Kachin. Countrywide, Japan and China are tussling for diplomatic sway by helping with various infrastructure projects. Their rivalry is now spilling over into Myanmar's sensitive internal ethnic conflicts. The Japanese program aims to assist people displaced by Kachin's decadeslong ethnic conflict, and is due to begin in the first half of 2020. The Japanese government, together with the nonprofit Nippon Foundation, will contribute $5 million to help 3,000 people return to their villages who were forced to flee due to fighting between Myanmar troops and the rebel Kachin Independent Army..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Nikkei Asian Review" (Japan)
2020-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Japan will launch a 390 million yen ($3.6 million) project in May in Myanmar to boost irrigation and agricultural management as part of efforts to increase productivity and eradicate poverty in the Southeast Asian country. Development of the agriculture promotion system, the improvement of the rice value chain, among other things, will be conducted in six townships in the Shwebo district of the Sagaing region, home to some of the largest irrigated farmland in Myanmar. The Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Myanmar government signed an agreement for the project in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw last week. The two sides also aim to secure a stable water source by establishing a water management organization for farmers and improve profitably by obtaining a geographical indication tag for Shwebo Pawsan, a high-end variety of local rice. The project, designed to improve the income and management skills of farmers, runs from May 2020 to November 2024, according to JICA..."
Source/publisher: "Japan Today" (Japan)
2019-12-31
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "A ceremony was held in eastern Myanmar to mark the completion of 2,900 homes built under a reconstruction support project by the Nippon Foundation, a Japanese charity group, for refugees and other victims of ethnic conflicts in the Southeast Asian country. The ceremony took place in the village of Lay Kay Kaw in the state of Kayin on Wednesday to celebrate the completion of the second stage of the reconstruction project in Kayin and the neighboring state of Mon. The support project has been carried out at the request of the government of Myanmar and ethnic armed groups, including the Karen National Union, which have agreed on a ceasefire with the government. Besides the homes, 34 schools, 11 medical facilities and 33 wells were built using ¥3.6 billion in funds provided by the Japanese Foreign Ministry in the first stage of the project that started in March 2016 and the second stage from November 2017. In the third stage launched in October this year, ¥2.5 billion will be used to build homes and a job training facility aimed at helping local residents become financially independent. “Myanmar can exert its potential for development if it overcomes the challenges it faces,” Ambassador to Myanmar Ichiro Maruyama said at the ceremony..."
Source/publisher: "The Japan News" (Japan)
2019-11-29
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "A consecration ceremony was held Monday for a Buddha statue donated by Myanmar for victims of the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan. Monks from the Southeast Asian country, which also suffered damage from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, offered prayers in front of the 5-meter-high marble statue. It was placed last month on a hill overlooking Shizugawa Bay in the town of Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture. The hill is in a forest park created by the operator of Minami Sanriku Hotel Kanyo to commemorate the disaster that left more than 15,000 people dead. A Myanmar trading house gave the statue to the hotel operator, which had shown officials of the company around the disaster-hit area. "While this may be minuscule for the rebuilding, I hope it will be a tourism resource to bring about exchanges between people," said Maung Htet Myat Oo, the 52-year-old co-head of Tomosada International Trading Co..."
Source/publisher: "The Mainichi" (Japan)
2019-11-25
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in December 2015 was a notable milestone in the economic integration of Southeast Asia. However, despite the AEC’s ambitious vision, the on-the-ground reality of Southeast Asian regionalism continues to raise some concerns. One such concern is the vast income gap among the ASEAN member states, which might become an obstacle to developing a true sense of regional solidarity and unity. Per capita income in the region’s richest country, Singapore, is over six times higher than in the poorest, Myanmar. ASEAN member states regard the vast income gap as a ‘matter of urgency’. To enable equitable development, the AEC requires that older ASEAN member assist newer members (known as the CLMV countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) in their efforts to enhance their economic capacity. Since 2000, when ASEAN leaders adopted the Initiative for ASEAN integration, the older six member have been supporting CLMV countries in five key areas: food and agriculture, international trade, small and medium-sized enterprises, education, and health and wellbeing. According to a recent study, the CLMV countries are divided by a two-layer economic structure: Cambodia and Vietnam have been successful in bringing down the income gap with their older and richer ASEAN peers while Laos and Myanmar have lagged behind..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "East Asia Forum" (Australia)
2019-03-16
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: China’s endeavor to strengthen its influence in Myanmar’s northernmost state of Kachin has caused spreading discord in the region.
Description: "Myanmar’s dependence on China is easy to see. Brightly colored Chinese company signs and billboards are prominent, Chinese-looking businessmen stroll along the streets of Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, and Chinese tourists seem to be everywhere. While I was visiting, a Chinese crew happened to be filming in Yangon, disrupting traffic and causing general confusion. Native residents looked resigned, their expressions appearing to say that there was nothing they could do. Where Chinese influence is most pervasive, however, is not in the city but in a region populated by ethnic minorities far from Yangon. I went to see for myself, traveling by plane from Yangon via Mandalay to make my way to Myitkyina in Myanmar’s northernmost state of Kachin which shares a long border with China’s Yunnan Province. There, I found China’s local activities a disturbing reality for the people who live there..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: nippon.com (Japan)
2019-07-29
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: While Western investors have shied away due to human rights violations related to the northern Rakhine crisis, Chinese and Japanese investors showed visible interest in the state at the Rakhine Investment Fair on February 22.
Description: "State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who attended the fair, said economic development could be the answer to much of Rakhine State’s woes, where communal conflict in recent years has turned away investors and damaged growth. With a political solution difficult to achieve under the circumstances, the government believes that developing the state’s economy may be one way of lessening the conflict between communities and eventually ending it. Rakhine Chief Minister U Nyi Pu said at the fair that economic development supported by local and foreign investors was “the best solution for sustainable peace and development in the state”. More than 700,000 Muslims fled northern Rakhine to Bangladesh since late 2017 after a crackdown by the military, which followed attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. Almost all of those who fled are still living in border refugee camps. In light of the alleged atrocities in the region, the UN-mandated Fact-finding Mission on Myanmar (UNFFM) recommended that companies ensure their operations are compliant with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) when conducting business in Rakhine..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times"
2019-03-03
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: US, EU and Japan are all mounting economic, financial and strategic counters to China’s peaceful rise narrative
Description: "Days before China started to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its people’s republic, communist leaders issued a policy declaration entitled “China and the World in the New Era” which hailed “a development path with Chinese characteristics.” Reporting on the document’s release on September 27, the state-run Global Times newspaper opined that “China has grown into a giant” that has taken aim at “Western logic – that a country is destined to seek hegemony after becoming strong.” That, according to the Global Times, “does not apply to China” and its strictly peaceful, not confrontational, rise. China is only interested in global development and “win-win cooperation”, the paper asserted. While no one would dispute that China’s people’s republic has emerged into an economic and political superpower on its 70th anniversary, the paper’s other conclusions are not generally shared by rival powers..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Asia Times" (Hong Kong)
2019-10-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar is a country of rich ethnic and religious diversity which has struggled for many years with issues of ethnic conflict. Two Japanese men have gained attention for their concerted behind-the-scenes efforts to attain peace in these complex circumstances. Armed Resistance by Ethnic Minorities There are said to be as many as 20 ethnic minority groups in Myanmar, and many minority forces in the country continue resistance against the rule of the central government. Relations between groups are delicate, with certain ethnic groups experiencing division due to divergence of opinions. The military strength of some is a source of embarrassment for the government. Pivoting this extremely complex ethnic antagonism towards resolution is the greatest challenge facing the country. The failure to achieve peace with ethnic minorities has for many years provided justification for military control and the suppression of democracy. Despite the county’s great potential, this has been a cause of economic stagnation. The country is making steady progress towards realizing peace, although it tends to be overshadowed by the Rohingya crisis. Two Japanese men have acted as mediators behind the scenes in the peace process: Imoto Katsuyuki, head of a nongovernmental organization retrieving human remains, and Sasakawa Yōhei, as a special envoy of the Japanese government..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: nippon.com (Japan)
2019-08-21
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Japanese culture, including anime and movies, is currently enjoying a wave of popularity in Myanmar, particularly among the youth, and there is a sharp rise in people learning Japanese.Japan enjoys favorable relations with many countries worldwide. Due to its proximity to China and the Korean Peninsula, it is easy to gain an impression of anti-Japan sentiment, resulting from historical and territorial issues. But in fact, Japan has positive relations overall with the great majority of countries. Among these countries, one that stands out in particular for me is Myanmar, which I was recently able to visit. Now, the two countries are linked with daily direct flights, and there is much interest in investment by Japanese companies. But coverage of Myanmar in the Japanese media mainly relates to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the Rohingya crisis. The pro-Japan sentiment of the Burmese people receives little attention. In January and February 2019, a Japanese film festival was held in Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital, and Mandalay, its cultural capital. It screened recent Japanese films including an entry in the Chihayafuru series, Her Love Boils Bathwater, Honnōji Hotel, and the hit anime In This Corner of the World. Event organizers were surprised at the popularity, with over 20,000 attending, double the numbers from last year..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: nippon.com (Japan)
2019-07-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: 'Drowned out by the noise of the Rugby World Cup and overshadowed by the deadly devastation wrought by Typhoon Hagibis was a meeting between Japan’s leaders and an alleged war criminal, which went largely unreported by the media and unnoticed by the public. Myanmar military commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing – whom a United Nations-backed fact-finding mission found should be “investigated and prosecuted” for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakhine state – visited Tokyo this month at the invitation of Japan’s Defense Ministry. There he met with government ministers, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe reportedly told Min Aung Hlaing that the Myanmar military should address the allegations of human-rights violations in Rakhine state by implementing proposals from the government-created Independent Commission of Inquiry. Abe apparently did not mention ongoing efforts by the UN and concerned governments to carry out a genuinely independent and impartial investigation into the atrocities, according to a Defense Ministry press release..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Asia Times" (Hong Kong)
2019-10-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Japan is keen on businesses for the development of the whole Taninthayi Region including Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and are now carrying out research into the project, says Aung Htoo, Deputy Minister of Commerce. Despite plans that have been in development regarding the implementation of Dawei SEZ over a decade ago, it was delayed. Among the extant SEZs in Myanmar, Thilawa SEZ see the most development and is being implemented together with the Japanese government. “Dawei SEZ was implemented over 10 years ago by joining hands with the Italian-Thailand Company. But, it was long-delayed project and the company’s budget is weak. On the other hand, we need to fulfill basic requirements for success in implementing the project. There have been many facts. For example, we are going to rent the land plot and provide secure transportation access. Moreover, we are going to approve the environmental conservation, EIA and SIA reports,” said Aung Htoo. Delays were reportedly due to the infrastructural weaknesses, particularly with the roads and electricity supply. “Both governments recognized that there have been challenges to the implementation of Dawei SEZ. For Dawei SEZ, such as the Ministry of Electricity by their electricity distribution. Moreover, both sides are going to review their policy concerning the Special Purpose Vehicle-SPV,” said Assistance Secretary Khin Maung Lwin of the Ministry of Commerce..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
2019-11-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grant agreement worth of 444 million Japanese yen to spend on implementing the project for provisions of agriculture and construction equipment in the rural areas in Myanmar, according to JICA Myanmar Office. The grant agreement signing ceremony between The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) took place at the office of the ministry in Nay Pyi Taw on November 4. Also present on the singing ceremony were Deputy Minister Hla Kyaw of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Permanent Secretary Kyaw Min, Director-General Kyaw Swe Lin of Planning Department, Director-General Soe Hlaing of Mechanized Farming Department, Director-General Khin Thet of Rural Road Department of the Ministry of Construction, and CEO Mr. Masayuki KARASAWA of the JICA. The grant agreement was signed with the financial aid by Japanese government. This financial aid is intended to local people from Ayeyawady Region and Chin State, said an official of JICA Myanmar Office..."
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
2019-11-07
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Japan is playing a central role in assisting Myanmar’s ongoing financial reforms and attempts to achieve industrialisation. Japan is interested in Myanmar from both an industrial and a financial perspective, while Burmese officials see Japan as a natural partner for financial cooperation. Japan’s public–private assistance for financial development in Myanmar emerged in a Financial Services Agency (FSA) working group specialising in ‘international expansion’ in 2012. The working group proposed a collection of policy suggestions such as offering technical assistance for financial development and support for financial deregulation in Asia to promote the internationalisation of business activities by Japanese firms and financial institutions. Reflecting on these policy suggestions, the Japanese cabinet approved Japan’s Revitalization Strategy in 2013, where it articulated that ‘by taking in the growth of Asia, the government will vitalise stock markets and improve asset management markets to build a No. 1 financial/capital market in Asia’. In 2014, the revised growth strategy further pledged that ‘the government will also support Japanese firms’ and financial institutions’ activities in Asia’. In recent years, Southeast Asia has become a key foreign direct investment (FDI) destination for Japanese firms, partly because of rising labour costs in China. Since 2013, the ASEAN–4 nations — Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand — have attracted more FDI from Japan than China. Japanese financial institutions, particularly banks, are also shifting their weight towards Southeast Asia. Japanese bank claims on Asia have grown 105 per cent since the end of 2008, as Japanese banks expand their client base from Japanese firms to local entities and even individual customers overseas. The IMF predicts that this expansionary trend is likely to continue over the medium term. There is new empirical evidence that banking FDI precedes and promotes manufacturing FDI. Indeed, coupled with the overseas re-expansion of Japanese banks, Japanese companies are eager to hold stakes in local companies or even proceed with mergers and acquisitions. This will enable them to enhance their market shares in Southeast Asian economies..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "East Asia Forum" (Australia)
2019-06-21
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-07
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Size: 39.12 KB (4 pages)
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Sub-title: Carmaker chases Suzuki, Ford and Hyundai in Southeast Asia's final frontier
Description: " Toyota Motor began work Friday on an auto assembly plant in Myanmar, becoming the sixth automaker to venture into production in a country seen as the last untapped growth market in Southeast Asia. The $52.6 million plant in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone outside Yangon will produce Hilux pickup trucks. It is slated to go online in February 2021. "Through local production, we'll supply high-quality vehicles in a timely manner," said Susumu Matsuda, deputy head of Toyota's China and Asia operations, at the groundbreaking ceremony. The move fills the last gap in Toyota's Southeast Asian production map and solidifies its position in a country of 50 million where auto manufacturing is just starting to take root. Suzuki, which found success as an early mover in India, and Hyundai Motor affiliate Kia Motors began making cars in Myanmar in 2013. Nissan Motor and Ford Motor followed later, and Hyundai started up an assembly plant here this past February..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Nikkei Asian Review" (Japan)
2019-11-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myint Thu, Myanmar ambassador to Japan, expressed thanks for Japan’s stance of voting on the draft resolution on “Situation of Human Rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar” tabled by the European Union (EU) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on 26 September 2019 at the 42nd Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, during his meeting with Mr. Wakamiya Kenji, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan at the latter’s office on September 30. The draft resolution tabled by the EU and the OIC was put to a vote at the 47-member Human Rights Council held in Geneva where seven countries including Japan did not support the resolution and abstained in the voting. At the session of the United Nation Human Rights Council, the representative of Japan felt disappointed at the insufficient time for scrutinizing the draft resolution. Transparency is needed in the draft resolution. Japan’s recommendations have not been found in the draft resolution. Therefore, Japan did not support the draft resolution and abstained in the voting, according to the report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 27..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
2019-10-04
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Toyota Motor Corp is planning to build an automobile factory in Myanmar, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learnt. An official announcement could come before the end of the month, with construction on the plant to start this year. The plant would be located in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone on the outskirts of Yangon and would assemble pickup trucks through so-called knockdown production, in which parts imported from Japan and other nearby nations are put together at the new plant. Myanmar has a population of about 50 million people, on a par with South Korea and Spain. It is also a young nation, with an average age of 27.9. While it is one of the poorest countries in Asia, it has seen strong economic growth recently and is expected to grow at annual rates of 6 to 7 per cent. Though only about 17,500 new automobiles were sold in the country in 2018, the figure more than doubled compared to the previous year. Toyota currently exports about 2,000 passenger and commercial vehicles to Myanmar per year and sees the market as one with strong growth potential..."
Source/publisher: "The Straits Times" (Singapore)
2019-05-27
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Japanese companies are becoming interested in the local industry which will manufacture products in Myanmar and export them to India, China and Thailand, said Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr. Ichiro Maruyama, at Japan-Myanmar Resource, Trade and Investment Expo 2019 at Inya Lake Hotel in Yangon on October 19. “There are many Japanese companies which are very interested in the local market as Myanmar has many populations. Myanmar borders Thailand, India and China. That’s why, many Japanese companies are interested in exporting Myanmar-made products to neighbouring countries,” Mr. Ichiro Maruyama said. “Japanese companies are also interested to import raw materials from neighbouring countries and produce the products using these raw materials. Then, they want to sell these products in the local market,” he added. From 1988-89 FY till September 30, 2019, Japan’s total investments in 117 businesses exceeded 1.2 billion US dollars, according to the figures from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA)..."
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
2019-10-20
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Oppose Investments Harming Ethnic Rohingya, Benefiting Military
Description: "The Japanese government should publicly hold Myanmar to account for military atrocities committed against Rohingya and other ethnic minorities, Human Rights Watch said today. It should discourage Japanese investment that would benefit the military or at the expense of minority groups. On October 21, 2019, Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s de facto leader, is slated to speak in Tokyo at a conference sponsored by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to promote investment and business opportunities in Myanmar. When she has spoken at previous investment forums in Japan, Aung San Suu Kyi has downplayed or ignored the military’s serious abuses against the Rohingya. “The Japanese government has been pitifully reluctant to speak out against abuses by Myanmar’s military, so officials should use Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to raise these issues directly,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Japan’s recent re-election to the UN Human Rights Council should encourage the government to improve its human rights foreign policy, including by calling on Japanese companies not to contribute to rights violations in Myanmar.”..."
Source/publisher: Human Rights Watch (USA)
2019-10-19
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Japanese investment in Myanmar reached an all-time high of about $1.48 billion in fiscal 2017 following the nation’s transition from military to civilian rule in 2011, boosted by large-scale commercial complex and steel manufacturing projects. According to Myanmar’s Ministry of Planning and Finance, Japanese investment in fiscal 2017 through March this year more than quintupled from a year earlier, topping the previous record of $1.02 billion in fiscal 2014. Japan became the fourth-biggest foreign investor in fiscal 2017 after Singapore, China and the Netherlands, according to the Japan Desk in the ministry’s Directorate of Investment and Company Administration. The investments consisted of those from Japan or via third countries such as Singapore, endorsed or approved by the ministry or Myanmar’s Special Economic Zone authorities. Investments through third countries accounted for nearly two-thirds of the total. The sharp increase was attributable to a $333 million real estate project in Yangon, the nation’s commercial capital, by construction firm Fujita Corp. and its Japanese and Myanmar partners, and a $400 public-private partnership project led by major general contractor Kajima Corp..."
Source/publisher: "The Japan Times" (Japan)
2018-05-29
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: If Japan and China focus on different rail systems in Myanmar, can their division of labor create a new pattern for cooperation?
Description: "Myanmar Railways (MR) has been variously criticized for its low efficiency and increasing costs. Solutions are needed. Since the country’s independence, the British colonial era meter gauge rail system has not been modernized much. Antiquated semaphore signals and manual blocking systems are still broadly in service, suggesting both the limited capacity of lines, and the poor maintenance of tracks. Rolling stock operates at significantly reduced speed, only 40km/hr on average. It takes trains about 15 hours to complete the 620 km journey between Mandalay and Yangon, much slower than buses, which can make the trip in as little as 8 hours depending on the type of bus in question. Unsurprisingly, then, MR’s share of land transport in Myanmar has been dropping in the last three decades and the company faces rising deficits. Naypyidaw is aware of the challenge, but it has the same dilemma other Southeast Asian countries face: whether to upgrade the existing meter gauge system for practicality’s sake, or to establish an entirely new standard gauge system for higher speed connection with China. Based on Myanmar’s financial capacity, upgrading the existing system is already a difficult ask, not to mention building an entirely new rail network. However, thanks to Japanese and Chinese capital, upgrades to the existing system are ongoing, and a standard gauge system is likely to be built. Tokyo has financially and technologically modernized the MR network, mainly the Yangon circle line and the trunk line between Yangon and Mandalay, in addition to improving five MR maintenance sites. These projects are scheduled to be finished by 2024, after which MR passenger services will reach a top speed of 100 km/hr, and more than double of the amount of service. Furthermore, more efficient freight services will contribute to Myanmar’s blooming inland dry port projects, a considerable factor for import and export costs..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Diplomat" (Japan)
2019-02-13
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The Japan - Myanmar Vocational Training Institute, funded by the Japanese government, will now accept the first batch of trainees,, according to the Ministry of Education. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had signed an agreement with the government in December last year, aiming to establish Japan-Myanmar Aung San Vocational Training Institute. The three-year course in Automobile Maintenance and Industrial Electrical Engineering for an AGTI Diploma will start in December. Each course will accept 20 trainees who will be selected depending on the marks of English and Maths Subjects in the matriculation exam. “Firstly, Japanese teachers together with Myanmar teachers who were trained in Japan will be teaching the trainees,” said unidentified officer from Technology, Vocational and Practicing Department..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
2019-10-17
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "About 3.85 million people studied Japanese at a record 18,604 institutions overseas in fiscal 2018, with the number of institutions soaring in Asia, including in Myanmar, according to a survey released this week, the Mainichi reported. The number of Japanese language institutions jumped 3.7-fold to 818 in Vietnam from the previous survey in fiscal 2015 and nearly tripled to 400 in Myanmar, said the survey by the Japan Foundation, a government-backed organization conducting international cultural exchange programs. "The increase in Vietnam and Myanmar reflects our cooperation with local governments over language education measures, as well as the entry into these countries by Japanese companies," a Japan Foundation official said..."
Source/publisher: "Mizzima" (Myanmar)
2019-10-13
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called on Myanmar's military chief to address allegations of human rights violations against minority Rohingya Muslims. Some 700,000 Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh since Myanmar's security forces launched a massive sweep operation against Rohingya militants in 2017. On Wednesday in Tokyo, Abe held a meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar's Defense Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Abe said Japan hopes efforts by Myanmar's military will improve the situation. He also recognized the commander-in-chief's decision to halt military action against the minority people..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "NHK WORLD-JAPAN"
2019-10-10
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Sub-title: The Embassy of Japan in Myanmar, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), and consultancy company Synergy Focus International will be organising the Japan-Myanmar Resource,Trade and Investment Expo 2019 for the first timeat the Yangon Convention Centre
Description: "The event will largely cover sectors like real estate, banking, insurance, tourism, and SMEs. The organisers say the event will feature 160 booths by up by large companies from Myanmar and Japan, among them tour, construction, industrial, banking, and insurance companies. Another 60 booths will be occupied by members of SME associations. The event will feature introductions and business matching sessions with participants of in the event. “We will make arrangements to hold this kind of event where local companies can get models for product manufacturing and best services from international companies. This is not only for product sales but also for partnership, technological discussions, exchanging notes on Japanese tradition and culture, and business data. I hope those who attend the event will be able to build connections and gain opportunities to explore foreign markets for their products,” said Synergy Focus International CEO U Lin Kyaw Tun. “Myanmar companies can connect with international companies, especially Japanese companies, and expand their market at the event and from there, they can cooperate with Japanese companies for Myanmar’s reforms,” said U Thaung Han, the CEO of Max Myanmar Group, one of the event’s main sponsors..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2019-10-04
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Two steel manufacturing companies in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone near Yangon are ramping up production and set to expand their markets and products.
Description: "JFE Meranti Myanmar Co Ltd (JMM) announced last week that it is set to introduce its first locally produced coated-steel products under the brand ALZU this December. JMM says the products are intended for both local and export markets. The company is a joint venture between Japanese companies JFE Steel Corp, JFE Shoji Trade Corp, Marubeni-Itochu Steel Inc, and Hanwa Co Ltd, and Singapore-based Meranti Steel Pte Ltd. JMM. is a US$85 million subsidiary owned by a Singapore-based holding company whose largest stakeholder is Japan-based JFE Steel Corp. According to JMM, its ALZU brand will provide premium aluminum-zinc alloy-coated and colour-coated steel products. The products are designed and manufactured by JMM in Myanmar for use in roofing, walling, and other related applications for a variety of industrial, commercial, residential, and institutional projects. “Myanmar’s economy is evolving rapidly and has huge growth potential, but the country needs good infrastructure and building materials to support it,” said JMM CEO Sebastian Langendorf. “Many new buildings will need to be built, and old ones will need to be renovated or replaced. In order to play a key role in building the Myanmar of the future, JFE MERANTI is introducing ALZU, a durable coated-steel product that is suitable for the Myanmar climate, so developers can create buildings with long-lasting integrity.” “We believe that leading the way with coated steel in Myanmar will allow the industry to develop into a powerful force for the nation’s development. And we plan to help secure Myanmar’s bright economic and industrial future. For us, for the industry, and for Myanmar, the launch of ALZU is just the beginning,” Langendorf, said..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2019-10-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Description: "Myanmar Railways has been variously criticised for its low efficiency and increasing costs. Solutions are needed. Since the country’s independence, the British colonial era Meter Gauge Rail System has not been modernised much. Antiquated semaphore signals and manual blocking systems are still broadly in service, suggesting both the limited capacity of lines, and the poor maintenance of tracks. Rolling stock operates at significantly reduced speed, only 40km/hr on average. It takes trains about 15 hours to complete the 620 km journey between Naypyidaw and Yangon, much slower than buses, which make the trip in eight to ten hours. Unsurprisingly, then, MR’s share of land transport in Myanmar has been dropping in the last three decades and the company faces rising deficits. Naypyidaw is aware of the challenge, but it has the same dilemma other Southeast Asian countries face: whether to upgrade the existing meter gauge system for practicality’s sake, or to establish an entirely new standard gauge system for higher speed connection with China. Based on Myanmar’s financial capacity, upgrading the existing system is already a difficult ask, not to mention building an entirely new rail network..."
Source/publisher: "Belt & Road News" (China)
2019-02-15
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Description: "Myanmar Railways has been variously criticised for its low efficiency and increasing costs. Solutions are needed. Since the country’s independence, the British colonial era Meter Gauge Rail System has not been modernised much. Antiquated semaphore signals and manual blocking systems are still broadly in service, suggesting both the limited capacity of lines, and the poor maintenance of tracks. Rolling stock operates at significantly reduced speed, only 40km/hr on average. It takes trains about 15 hours to complete the 620 km journey between Naypyidaw and Yangon, much slower than buses, which make the trip in eight to ten hours. Unsurprisingly, then, MR’s share of land transport in Myanmar has been dropping in the last three decades and the company faces rising deficits. Naypyidaw is aware of the challenge, but it has the same dilemma other Southeast Asian countries face: whether to upgrade the existing meter gauge system for practicality’s sake, or to establish an entirely new standard gauge system for higher speed connection with China. Based on Myanmar’s financial capacity, upgrading the existing system is already a difficult ask, not to mention building an entirely new rail network..."
Source/publisher: "Belt & Road News" (China)
2019-02-15
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Description: "Myanmar has officially permitted the use of the Chinese and Japanese currencies in cross-border payments, as the Asian giants vie for dominance in one of the region’s last frontier markets. The directive means that the yuan and yen join the euro, the US Dollar and the Singaporean dollar as designated currencies for settling international trade in Myanmar, where the central bank is desperate for foreign investment after years of economic sanctions and financial mismanagement. China, which shares a 2,200km (1,360-mile) border with Myanmar, has been keen to draw its southern neighbour into the “Belt and Road Initiative”, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s grand infrastructure plan for Eurasia. China is Myanmar’s biggest trading partner, with bilateral trade topping US$700 million last year, according to Myanmar’s Ministry of Commerce. Japan is also a big trade and investment partner, with Japanese companies maintaining a steady presence in the country since the end of British colonial rule in the 1940s, right through its economic isolation due to Western sanctions from 2003..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "South China Morning Post" (Hong Kong)
2019-01-31
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar is proving to be a major test of strategic economic cooperation between the United States and Japan one which reveals wider foreign policy differences between the allied nations. Those differences make substantial collaboration towards realising a “free and open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) in specific countries difficult, despite joint strategic interests and aligned high-level political visions. In Japan’s pursuit of a policy response to China’s infrastructure Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), economic cooperation with partners in third countries to beef up the financing on offer has emerged as a key component. Strategic commercial cooperation is arguably most opportune and necessary in Myanmar because the country is at a fraught stage in its democratisation, set into motion in 2010 when it pivoted to form closer ties with countries like the United States and Japan in order to reduce economic over-dependence on China..."
Source/publisher: "Belt & Road News"
2019-06-21
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "On this day in 1943, Dr. Thein Maung was appointed first Myanmar ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Japan. Dr. Thein Maung earned a medical degree in Kolkata, India before making his name as a politician and lawmaker during British colonial rule in Myanmar. He served as finance minister in 1943 in Dr. Ba Maw’s government under Japanese rule. Less than one month after he became finance minister, he was appointed ambassador to Japan. Taking the helm of the Myanmar embassy in Japan’s capital, Tokyo, he helped Myanmar scholars studying in Japan amid bombings by the Allies during World War II. After Japan lost the war and surrendered to the Allies, he was detained as a war criminal in Sugamo Prison in Tokyo. A few months after detention, the ailing ambassador managed to leave Japan for Myanmar with the help of his Japanese friends. Unfortunately, he died on the ship bound to Myanmar. The 55-year-old first Myanmar ambassador to Japan was buried at sea..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy"
2019-08-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Myanmar continues to woo Japan and the US as a source of investments even as the global growth outlook dims considerably with investors preferring to stash their money in safe-haven assets such as US Treasuries and gold.
Description: "State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who gave the keynote speech at the Myanmar-Japan-US Forum on Fostering Responsible Investment held on August 20, held up Myanmar’s strategic location between South Asia, China and the rest of ASEAN, a growing economy as well as reforms that were underway as reasons why US and Japanese investors should look to the country as an investment destination. “Myanmar, positioned at the crossroads of Asia, constitutes a key bridge between East and West; a link between India and China, a doorway to ASEAN. Myanmar seeks to capitalise on this favourable position by connecting these rising geo-economic regions, offering a strategic trade conduit, providing a gateway to the Indian Ocean, and thus benefitting the country and the region broadly,” she said. Her speech comes at a time when foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments, an indication of future FDI flows, has slowed down according to the December 2018 edition of the Myanmar Economic Monitor published by the World Bank. The Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) expects US$5.8 billion in FDI for the current fiscal year between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019, little changed from the $5.7 billion that was received in fiscal 2017/2018, which began on April 1, 2017 and ended on March 30, 2018. DICA data showed that for fiscal 2016/2017, the country received $6.6 billion of investments..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times"
2019-08-21
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Japan-backed Thilawa Special Economic Zone is one of nation’s few economic and infrastructure success stories
Description: "Every morning hundreds of cars, trucks and other vehicles carrying factory workers squeeze into a two-lane bridge across Yangon’s Bago river. The buzz of industrial activity results in often nightmarish traffic jams, a rare phenomenon for Myanmar’s still nascent and in many ways hamstrung manufacturing sector. Initiated by then-president Thein Sein in 2013, the Japan-backed Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is widely viewed by business leaders as Myanmar’s foremost economic success story. It also has advocates in high political places, with de facto national leader Aung San Suu Kyi repeatedly hailing Thilawa as a “crowning success” that “highlights the type of positive partnership that can be achieved between our respective public and private sectors.” The 2,500-hectare Thilawa has so far secured over US$1.6 billion in approved investment, including from multinationals such as German retail group Metro AG, US aluminum can manufacturer Ball and Japanese automaker Toyota..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Asia Times"
2019-08-19
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Description: "THILAWA, Myanmar: A Japan-backed special economic zone in Myanmar is expanding as an alternative production hub for China and Vietnam, attracting growing numbers of Japanese and other foreign firms to the outskirts of Yangon. More than half of the total developed area of 5.83 million square metres in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone is already occupied, said Tomoyasu Shimizu, president of Myanmar Japan Thilawa Development Ltd, or MJTD, the operator of the economic zone. Since its opening in 2015, 105 companies have moved into the zone or signed tenancy contracts through last month, with 90 firms under full foreign ownership and 13 foreign-Myanmar joint ventures..."
Source/publisher: "Bangkok Post"
2019-06-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Topic: Refugee Rights, Asylum Seekers ,Internally Displaced People
Sub-title: Foreign Minister Taro Kono Should Use Trip to Raise Rohingya’s Plight
Topic: Refugee Rights, Asylum Seekers ,Internally Displaced People
Description: "Japan’s foreign minister, Taro Kono, should raise critical human rights issues during his visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar from July 29 to July 31, 2019, Human Rights Watch said in a July 26 letter to the foreign minister. “Foreign Minister Kono should press the Bangladeshi government about arrests under its draconian digital security laws and online censorship that is stifling peaceful criticism and dissent,” said Kanae Doi, Japan director. “While in Myanmar, Foreign Minister Kono should urge the government to ensure that humanitarian agencies, human rights groups, and independent media have access to ethnic Rohingya and other at-risk minorities.” Kono should press the Bangladeshi government to drop politically motivated charges against critics and the opposition. Bangladesh should also amend the Digital Security Act to ensure the right to freedom of expression, investigate enforced disappearances, and ensure that any repatriation of Rohingya is voluntary. In Myanmar, Kono should urge Aung San Suu Kyi’s government to end the arbitrary arrest and detention of government critics, reform or repeal the Media Law and other abusive legislation to eliminate restrictions on basic rights, end institutionalized discrimination against the Rohingya, and fully cooperate with international fact-finding mechanisms..."
Source/publisher: Human Rights Watch
2019-07-29
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Located 20 kilometres north of Dawei, capital of Tanintharyi Region in Myanmar's southeast coast bordering Thailand, the Dawei SEZ comprises 20,000 hectares of land and includes industrial as well as port facilities. Italian-Thai Development pcl (ITD), a Thai construction firm, was to take the lead in the project with the initial memorandum of understanding between the Myanmar and Thai governments signed in 2008. After the project stalled in 2013, both governments remained committed to completing it, but efforts to woo other investors after sidelining ITD has been unsuccessful. Ministry of Commerce assistant secretary U Khin Maung Lwin said Japan will participate fully in the project and that ministerial-level meeting will be held where matters concerning ITD's role will also be discussed. Japan is no stranger to developing SEZs in Myanmar, as Japanese companies were involved in the development of the Thilawa SEZ, south of Yangon. Myanmar officials in particular prefer the Japanese to take part due to their reputation for quality and trustworthiness while U Khin Maung Lwin said the government wanted the project to start as soon as possible. "It would better with Japanese participation, and the Japanese government has also expressed interest," he said. Both the Myanmar and Thai governments have tried to involve Japan before this but unsuccessfully. However, this time around the Japan International Cooperation Agency has carried out a survey of Tanintharyi Region's coastal strip and will be releasing a report soon. The SEZ, it is believed, will have positive effects for Dawei and its surrounding areas, with electricity supply and better transportation among them. The manufacturing industries will benefit, and so will tourism, fisheries and agriculture. U Kyi Soe, a regional hluttaw member of parliament for Yephyu township said Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand can return and work in the Dawei SEZ because with Japanese involvement, there will also be Japanese factories setting up that can provide jobs. Dawei SEZ management committee vice-chair U Myint San said critical infrastructure such as a two-way road and electricity has been left uncompleted and needed to be ready. "A loan will be obtained from the Thai government for the infrastructure, tenders will be called after that and we hope to construct the road by mid-2020," he said. Myanmar government officials said with the environmental impact and social impact assessments have been conducted, the land-lease will be sent to Thailand. "Myanmar's part required to start the project will be done," U Khin Maung Lwin said. Initially, ITD was promised a 75-year lease for the SEZ. It is understood that ITD will then have to resume the project and will have to provide reasons if the company cannot continue. Meanwhile, U Myint San said given the deadline of 2015 has passed for the completion of the project, the delay and implementation showed that ITD has not been following the contract. "There must be clear policy for this," he added. U Myint San said the initial forecast was for the project to be completed within eight years. Because construction of the basic infrastructure has not begun, the SEZ's management committee has proposed that both the basic infrastructure and the first phase of the project be implemented simultaneously. The Dawei SEZ's troubles include land appropriation by the government that has created controversy as no compensation in cash or land has been given to the owners. Speculators who bought land also suffered when the project floundered. ITD is also mired in the compensation issues as local politicians alleged that there was no adequate compensation and now want the land compensation issues to be settled first before the project starts. U Than Win, a local activist, said the assessments need to be done thoroughly and locals need to be informed..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Myanmar Water Portal via "Myanmar Times"
2019-07-25
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: Abstract: "Myanmar and Japan have had an important shared history since the Pacific War, when Japan occupied the British colony of Burma and established the country?s first postcolonial state and army. The period from 1941 to 1945 also witnessed the ?militarization” of Myanmar as the country was turned into a battlefield by the Japanese, the Allies and indigenous insurgents. After independence from Britain in 1948, the Union of Burma continued to suffer insurgency and became a deeply conflicted society, especially under the isolationist socialist regime of General Ne Win (1962?1988). However, Japan played a major role in Myanmar?s economic development through its allocation of war reparations and official development assistance (ODA), especially yen loans. During the period of martial law from 1988 to 2011, Tokyo exercised some self-restraint in giving aid due to pressure from its major ally, the United States, with its human rights agenda. However, with the transition from junta rule to constitutional government in 2011 came a dramatic increase in Japanese ODA, as Tokyo forgave large amounts of debt and invested in ambitious new special economic zones (SEZ). Japan will no doubt benefit from Myanmar as close ties are expanded: Not only will Japanese companies profit, but Japan will have access to Myanmar?s raw materials and gain ability to compete more effectively with an economically expansive China. On Myanmar?s side, though, it is unlikely that anyone other than the military and crony capitalist elites will benefit from the flood of new yen loans and infrastructure projects. This paper argues that without a political resolution of Myanmar?s many conflicts, including the establishment of genuinely open political institutions, the aid of Japan (and other countries) is likely to make these deep-rooted social and ethnic conflicts even worse."
Creator/author: Donald M. Seekins
Source/publisher: Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs , 34, 2
2015-09-04
Date of entry/update: 2015-10-07
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 232.55 KB
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Description: Introduction: "Myanmar has been receiving international business attentions since 201 1. Strong growth potential and expectation for the transformation of the Myanmar?s political situation and foreign relations are attracting large foreign direct investment (FDI) from Japan as well as many developed countries. Industrialization is an import ant issue for developing countries for economic development. Myanmar urgently requires industrial competitiveness by catching up with technological capability. Human resource development plays a crucial role in building skills and technological capability, and for realizing a nation?s industrial competitiveness. Myanmar as the latest comer in ASEAN for industrialization, investing in broad human capital development is fundamental to develop into a modern industrial economy. Developing countries can maximum utilize the late comers? advantages during the process of industrialization. This paper aims to analyse the current human resource development in manufacturing industry and strategies of Japanese government and industries in investments for it. This paper tries to analyse the case of Japanese technology transfer in manufacturing industry. Especially, it focuses on the implementation process of the effective production system from Japan to Myanmar. Each country has each development process. When Japan started initial phase of industrialization, Japan tried several strategies to catch up developed countries. The Japanese development path and the Japanese human resource development strategies over yeas are studied for leaning evolutionary process over years. For this, this paper focuses on the innovative aspect of Japanese human resource development practices and its transfer to Myanmar.".....Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015.
Creator/author: Yuri Sadio, Than Than Aung
Source/publisher: International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015
2015-07-26
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 461.02 KB
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Description: Introduction: " Over the past decade, there has been a substantial change in Japan?s foreign policy position on democracy support. Its 1992 Official Development Assistance (ODA) Charter committed the country to provide foreign aid in a manner that promotes democracy abroad (MOFA, 10992). The second Abe administration, which came to power in December 2012, has taken Japan?s policy of democracy support a step further. The 2012 ODA white paper, which was released in March 2013, not only expressed Japan?s intention to strengthen democracy abroad but also prioritized it above traditional focuses of Japanese foreign aid such as human security and hard infrastructure assistance. In Burma, Japan has a vital interest in nurturing friendly relations to increase its political and economic clout in the country. This is principally true because Burma, which is undergoing a process of democratic reform, is currently attempting to restrain Chinese influence, long a dominant force in the country. Furthermore, Japan is investing a significant amount of ODA in rebuilding Burma?s economic infrastructure. After the liberalization process began in 2011, Japan started assisting Burma on the rule of law and economic reform through a series of seminars, and in November 2013 it initiated a legal capacity building project..."...Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015.
Creator/author: Khen Suan Khai
Source/publisher: International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015
2015-07-26
Date of entry/update: 2015-08-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 184.94 KB
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Description: "Myanmar on Wednesday announced its first round of licenses to foreign banks, with Japan?s three biggest banks, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp and Mizuho Bank winning three of the nine licenses on offer. This was more than any other country, with Singapore the only other country to be awarded more than one license. The news comes as both the Japanese government and major companies are investing in infrastructure and building industrial parks in what is referred to as a ?final frontier” for Southeast Asian investment."
Creator/author: Clint Richards
Source/publisher: The Diplomat
2014-10-02
Date of entry/update: 2015-01-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: SUMMARY: "On March 25 Ambassador met with visiting Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Tanaka to discuss Tanaka?s recent official visit to Burma. Tanaka said he delivered "a strong message" to the SPDC on democracy and the release of ASSK. Tanaka reported that Prime Minister Soe Win did not show any flexibility, blaming the NLD and outsiders for the lack of progress. Tanaka said that Japan was increasingly concerned with the situation in Burma, especially in light of China?s growing regional influence. Tanaka urged continued close U.S.-Japanese cooperation, along with engagement with ASEAN." END SUMMARY
Source/publisher: US Embassy, Bangkok, via Wikileaks
2005-03-30
Date of entry/update: 2011-09-07
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: "...The book looks at Burma?s ?tragedy? as being a result of both internal and external factors, thus placing the country?s history in a global context. It demonstrates that Japanese attitudes and actions towards the country throughout different periods were mainly guided by Japanese self-interest and lacked a deeper understanding of Burma?s ?real? problems. Japan did not liberate Burma in 1942, nor did it do so later. This thesis might also be applicable to the relations of other countries with Burma. The country was and is a fine projection screen for fantasies about what Burma ?is? in connection with practical self-interests of varying kinds – economic as well as humanitarian. The book also provides detailed facts and figures on Japanese investment in Burma, as well as the cultural background behind Japanese perceptions of the country and its protagonists. What is missing, however, is an evaluation of the activities of the many Japanese NGOs working in post-1988 Burma; these provided help for many projects in the country and thus contributed to the emergence of segments of civil society in Myanmar..."
Creator/author: Hans-Bernd Zöllner
Source/publisher: Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs 1/2009
2009-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2011-08-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Support Commission of Inquiry in UN Resolution on Burma " "Establishing an international Commission of Inquiry would be a significant step to end impunity in Burma. As one of the few Asian member states of the International Criminal Court and a major Asian democracy, Japan is in the unique position to take the lead in reaching out to other Asian neighbors to join this critical movement to seek justice for Burma?s people..."
Source/publisher: Human Rights Watch
2010-09-22
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English, Japanese
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Description: "While few Japanese take more than a passing interest in Burma, a dedicated handful try to understand a country in some ways connected to their own..."
Creator/author: Neil Lawrence
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 14, No. 5
2006-05-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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2010-09-21
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), on 21 October, established a panel to examine complaints by the European Communities and Japan that a Massachusetts law had violated provisions of the plurilateral Agreement on Government Procurement..."
Source/publisher: WTO NEWS
1998-10-29
Date of entry/update: 2010-08-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Executive Summary: "Myanmar, also known as Burma, is an exception to many of the success stories of countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Throughout the postwar period the country has pursued a foreign policy line that has been obstinately indepen-dent, with a basic stance towards the outside world pervaded by a sense of noli me tangere. Once it was one of the key Asian countries convening the 1955 Bandung Conference at which the non-aligned movement was launched, but policies pursued since have made the country a peripheral member of the international community. One of the country?s key relationships in the postwar period has been with Japan. The beginning of this bilateral relationship goes back to the Second World War period. In December 1941, Japan began a mili-tary campaign into Southeast Asia and a puppet government for Burma under the Burmese nationalist Ba Maw was set up on August 1, 1942, which replaced British colonial rule. In May 1945, the British Army returned to Rangoon and the colonial masters regained power but two years later they agreed to hand over the ruling of the country to the Burmese, and Burma became independent in January 1948. In 1954, an agreement on war reparations was reached be-tween Japan and Burma totalling US$200 million over ten years, which began to be paid out the following year. Not only was aid from Japan forthcoming but it was increasing, from about US$20 million in the 1960s to around US$200 million in the 1970s. The aid amounted to a total of US$2.2 billion during 1962?1988. Japan became the largest aid donor to Burma. For Japan, the agreement with Burma was important in that a window of opportunity opened for Japan?s diplomacy towards Southeast Asian countries that had been at a standstill since the end of the Second World War. After a military coup in 1988, Japanese ODA to Burma was suspended‚ in principle,‛ and new aid was limited to projects that were of an ‚emergency and humanitarian nature.‛ Nevertheless, Japan was soon again accounting for the lion?s share of aid to the country. General elections took place in Myanmar in May 1990 and resulted in a serious setback for the military junta. The oppo-sition National League for Democracy (NLD) secured a landslide victory. The outcome did not result in a new government, since the ruling military ignored the election result of the NLD and refused to hand over power. In 1992 a shift of Japan?s ODA policy was announced with the adoption of Japan?s ODA Charter, which prescribed that decisions on ODA should be tak-en after taking into account the recipients? record on military spending, de-mocracy, moves towards market economy, and human rights. From this pe-riod a carrot and stick policy as codified in the ODA Charter has been applied to Myanmar which represented a clear break with Japan?s previous ‚hands-off‛ stance. A bifurcated Myanmar policy pursued by the Japanese govern-ment emerged, resulting from its efforts to relate to the two important political forces confronting each other in Myanmar. Nevertheless, there has been a strong bias on part of the Japanese government towards favoring relations with the ruling military. Relations between Japan and Myanmar have been receding ever since the military junta took power in 1988 and Japan instituted its policy of carrots and sticks. For Myanmar?s ruling junta, Japan?s carrot and stick policy was unwel-come news when it was first introduced, and has been seen ever since as an attempt by Japan to interfere in what the junta considers Myanmar?s internal affairs. With the junta in Myanmar facing international isolation after its sup-pression of democracy, China?s exchanges with Myanmar increased drastically. Soon after the 1988 coup, China had become the main external supporter of the Myanmar junta. In order to coming to grips with the situation around Myanmar a proposal has been launched focusing on the formation of an international coalition strong and viable enough to institute change. Due to its strong historical ties and good relations inside and outside Myanmar, Japan is one candidate for playing a key role in such an endeavor. With its strong links with all major forces, Japan occupies a pivotal position with a viable chance of bringing to-gether critical actors into a process of dialogue and reform. Two recent devel-opments increase the possibility that Japan and China would cooperate in such an endeavor. During Prime Minister Abe Shinzō?s visit to China in 2006 after only one week in office, he admitted that China played the key role in the negotiations with North Korea and expressed hope that China would exercise its influence. It was in realization of the fact that, in dealing with North Korea, Japan?s strong-handed policy of ‚dialogue and pressure‛ had not worked, which made the Japanese government conclude that united international ac-tion was needed if negotiations were to progress, and that chances were great-er to reach results if the Chinese could be persuaded to use their influence to talk the North Koreans out of their provocative policies. The second move that has a bearing on Japan?s Myanmar policy are the events surrounding the cold-blooded killing of the Japanese photographer Nagai Kenji during demonstra-tions in Yangon on September 27, 2007. An important step taken by Japan was the fact that Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo brought up Myanmar in talks over the phone with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China the day after the fatal shooting, and asked that China, given its close ties with Myanmar, exercise its influence and Premier Wen said he will make such efforts. Abe?s visit to Beijing broke the ice between China and Japan, and a series of top-level meetings have followed. The two countries have clarified that they seem themselves to bear a responsibility for peace, stability, and development of the Asia-Pacific region and have agreed to together promote the realization of peace, prosperity, stability, and openness in Asia. Not only that, the two governments pledged to together forge a bright future for the Asia-Pacific re-gion. If Japan and China see themselves as bearing a responsibility for the peace, stability, and development of the Asia-Pacific region, it is hard to see how they can avoid being annoyed by the existence in their immediate neigh-borhood of a country that is widely treated an international outsider, especial-ly if they want to live up to their declared aim of aligning Japan?China rela-tions with the trends of the international community."
Creator/author: Bert Edström
Source/publisher: Institute for Security and Development Policy (Sweden)
2009-10-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-02-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Two Japanese foundations active in Burma have a past linked to World War II far-right war criminals..."From the very beginning, Burma was one of the countries where the Sasakawa Foundation and its sister organization, the Nippon Foundation, were especially active. Apart from being an associate of Kodama, Sasakawa was also close to Nobusuke Kishi, the Japanese prime minister from 1957 to 1960—and, in the late 1940s, also a prisoner in Sugamo. Kishi led the once influential Burma Lobby in Japan, and the Japan-Burma Association counted among its members 11 trading companies allowed to operate in various aid projects in Burma prior to 1988. In more recent years, the Sasakawa and Nippon foundations have supported seminars organized in Rangoon by the Myanmar [Burma] Institute of Strategic and International Studies on ?Research on International Economy in Myanmar? as well as various health projects. The Sasakawa Foundation has also in part financed the Myanmar Times, a weekly newspaper established in March 2000, which the Australian monthly The Diplomat in its November-December 2007 issue quoted critics as describing as ?little more than a cheerleader for the junta.?..."
Creator/author: Bertil Lintner
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 15, No. 12
2007-12-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-04-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: The shooting of a Japanese cameraman by Burmese security forces shocked the Japanese public and government, but what about official foreign policy?
Creator/author: Yamamoto Munesuke
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 15, No. 12
2007-12-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-04-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Japan?s historical influence over Burma has waned since the days it helped Aung San in his independence struggle. Donald M Seekin explains Japan?s "frequently ambiguous" foreign policy
Creator/author: Donald M. Seekins
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 15, No. 12
2007-12-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-04-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: ABSTRACT: "Independent Myanmar and Japan had long held the strongest ties among Asian countries, and they were often known as having "special relations" or a "historically friendly relationship."Such relations were guaranteed by the sentiments and experiences of the leaders of both countries. Among others, Ne Win, former strongman throughout the socialist period (1962-1988), was educated and trained by the Japanese army officers of the Minami Kikan, leading to the birth of the Burma Independence Army (BIA). Huge official development assistance provided by the Japanese government also cemented this special relationship. However, the birth of the present military government (SLORC/SPDC) in 1988 drastically changed this favorable relationship between the two countries. When the military seized power in a coup, Japan was believed to be the only country that possessed sufficient meaningful influence on Myanmar to encourage a move toward national reconciliation between the junta and the opposition party led by Aung San Suu Kyi. In reality, Japan failed to exert such an influence due to its sour relations with the military government and reduced influence in the new international and regional political landscape. What is worse, Japan seems to be losing its say on Myanmar issues in the international political arena, as it has been wavering in limbo between the sanctionist forces, such as the United States and the European Union, and engagement forces, such as China and ASEAN."... Keywords: Myanmar (Burma), Japan, China, ODA, Foreign Relations, Cold War JEL classification:F14, F35, N45
Creator/author: Toshihiro Kudo
Source/publisher: Institute of Developing Economies (IDE Discussion Paper 118)
2007-08-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-04-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: "There was a flurry of articles last week about how Japan plans to suspend, or in fact suspended, economic aid (ODA: Official Development Assistance, which is comprised mainly of yen loans, grants and technical assistance) to Burma, thereby stepping up the pressure on the military junta to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Most news reports say that the aid that is being frozen is further, or new, ODA. Given that Japan has long pursued an engagement policy with Burma, and is the largest provider of economic aid to Burma (2.1 billion yen of grants-in-aid was provided in fiscal year 2002), a suspension would carry a certain weight with the military regime. ...Japan?s engagement policy with Burma has always been based on a �gcarrot and stick�h approach, which traditionally has involved far more "carrots" than �gstick.�h Notwithstanding the uncertainties surrounding the suspension of new ODA, Japan?s freeze is a rare, and probably short-term, application of a �gstick.�h The Japanese government�fs preference has been, and will continue to be, for �gcarrots,�h a posture that is due in part to apparent concern about China replacing Japan as a likely source of economic assistance to, and political influence on, Burma. In this context, therefore, it is essential that governments and non-governmental groups monitor Japan?s Burma policy -- and be wary of overly optimistic or inaccurate news accounts concerning that policy. There is little doubt that, without pressure from other countries (notably the U.S.) and interested citizens, even a decision to suspend new ODA would likely have been much slower in coming. Such pressure must continue."
Creator/author: Yuki Akimoto
Source/publisher: Burma Information Network - Japan
2003-06-28
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : htm
Size: 17.51 KB
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Description: Contents: "Human resource development for industrial research in Myanmar", by Sein Zaw Than; "Koizumi met Special Envoy of UN" by Isao Koga (unofficial translation); "Citizen groups in Japan continue action on Suzuki"; "Symposium on Alternatives of Opium in Burma" (unofficial translation); "First Westerner headed for Diet".
Source/publisher: Burmainfo (Japan)
2002-02-10
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Chapter 1: ODA and Foreign Investment p7; Chapter 2: Japanese Policy Towards Myanmar p14; Chapter 3: Baluchaung Hydropower Plant No 2 p19; Chapter 4: Tasang Dam and Yadana Gas Pipeline p22; Chapter 5: The UNOCAL Case p26; Chapter 6: Panel Discussion p30; Chapter 7: Development in Other Countries 40; Chapter 8: Reviewing Development p43; References: p45. "...One objective of the symposium was to examine how development has affected people and the environment in Burma. Another objective was to examine the roles of the Japanese government, of private companies, and of individuals in development in Burma. Each speaker had his or her own ideas about what is best for Burma. Does Burma need development? If so, what kind of development does it need? For development, is it necessary for other countries to give Official Development Assistance (ODA)? Should ODA be given under the current military regime? Should companies invest in Burma now? Do ODA and investment help the people of Burma? ..."
Creator/author: (Speakers): Ms. Taeko Takahashi, Mr. Teddy Buri, Ms. Hsao Tai, Ms. Yuki Akimoto, Mr. Nobuhiko Suto, Mr. Shigeru Nakajima
Source/publisher: Mekong Watch, Japan
2001-12-15
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: In recent years Japan has attempted to assert itself as a major player on the Asian political stage, only to have its efforts rebuffed by its neighbors and its major strategic partner, the United States. But, writes Neil Lawrence, Asian countries struggling out of a major economic crisis may finally be ready to give Japan the leading role it has long coveted. But doubts remain about Japan?s political values.
Creator/author: Neil Lawrence
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy", Vol. 8. No. 4-5
2000-04-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Officials in Japan, historically Burma?s largest creditor, have been left shaking their heads over the SPDC?s latest efforts to tap into the wealth of Asia?s richest nation.
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy", Vol. 8. No. 2 (Business section)
2000-02-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Burmese dissidents living in Japan face an uncertain future, as the countryremains an inhospitable haven for political asylum-seekers.
Creator/author: Neil Lawrence/Tokyo
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy", Vol. 8. No. 10
2000-10-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Japan?s resumption of ODA to Burma?s junta begs questions about its motives and what its political values really are.
Creator/author: LJN
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy", Vol. 6. No. 2
1998-04-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Japanese trading company Mitsubishi Corporation has announced that it will provide US $70 million to build a floating storage offloading FSO facility for the Yetagun offshore oil and natural gas project in Burma by the end of July. [Nippon Oil, holder of 20% in Yetagun, merged with Mitsubishi Oil in April 1999 to form Japan?s biggest oil company, the Nippon-Mitsubishi Oil Corporation(NMOC) known also as Nisseki Mitsubishi Oil Corp.]
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy", Vol. 8. No. 7
2000-07-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: "Japan?s response to the political crisis in Burma after the establishment of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) in September 1988 reflected the interests of powerful constituencies within the Japanese political system, especially business interests, to which were added other constituencies such as domestic supporters of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?s struggle for democracy and those who wished to pursue ?Sun Diplomacy,? using positive incentives to encourage democratization and economic reform. Policymakers in Tokyo, however, approached the Burma crisis seeking to take minimal risks--a "maximin strategy"--which limited their effectiveness in influencing the junta. This was evident in the February 1989 "normalization" of Tokyo?s ties with SLORC. During 1989-1998, Japanese business leaders pushed hard to promote economic engagement, but "Sun Diplomacy" made little progress in the face of the junta?s increasing repression of the democratic opposition." Online publication with kind permission of the author and the Journal of Burma Studies
Creator/author: Donald M. Seekins
Source/publisher: Journal of Burma Studies, Vol. 4 (1999)
1999-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Burma-Japan relations go back to before World War II, and the opinions of Japan?s "old Burma hands" are often better informed about internal conditions than those of Western observers, even if one doesn?t entirely agree with them. But a new Japanese perspective on Burma has emerged, which could be described as "Aung San Suu Kyi-bashing" or "hitching one?s wagon to the star of Asian values."
Creator/author: Donald Seekins
Source/publisher: "Burma Debate", Vol. V No 1
1998-12-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: The wife of former dictator Ne Win was in Tokyo recently to conduct research for a project to "rewrite modern Burmese history," according to a report from Radio Free Asia?s Burmese-language service. Ni Ni Myint, who is also the director of the Historical Research Center in Rangoon, was accompanied by several other historians on her trip to meet Japanese experts on Burmese history. This was her second visit to Japan in two years.
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy", Vol. 8. No. 10 (Intelligence section)
2000-10-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Tokyo has sent its strongest signal yet that it is not going to allow opponents of Burma?s military regime to obstruct the Japanese Way to Democracy.
Creator/author: Neil Lawrence
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy", Vol. 8. No. 9
2000-09-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Traslated Statements by the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Yoriko Kawaguchi) and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, regarding the situation in Burma (after the incident of 30 May, 2003)
Creator/author: BurmaInfo (Japan)
Source/publisher: Burmainfo (Japan)
2003-06-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English and Japanese
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