Kaladan News

Date: July 19 2004.

Japan Vows Aid to Burma Despite Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Detention

Chittagong, July 19: Japan is to provide 344 million yen (3.1 million dollars) in aid to help Burma battle environmental deprivation, regardless of the ongoing detention of opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, according to Myanmar Times.

Japan, last year threatened to suspend aid to Burma if the junta did not release pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, where she currently remains.

Ruling military junta arrested Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on May 30,2003, following a clash between her supporters and a pro-junta mob in northern Burma.

The money is aimed at fighting widespread erosion in central Burma caused by deforestation and drought, according to the semi-official weekly to be published Monday.

The weekly said the aid pledge had been signed under the Japanese government's grant aid scheme by ambassador Yuji Miyamoto.

When asked a trader from Rangoon about the aid of Japan to Burma said, “ It is not favorable to Burmese people, and it will be used indirectly by SPDC to fulfill their purposes. Japan is one of the donor countries, which mostly donated Burma in previous times in the name of humanitarian grounds. Its encouraged Burma indirectly or indirectly. It is bad luck for us, while the other countries imposed economic sanction to Burma to protest the detention of pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, especially, United States and European Union.”

“On the other hand, Burma has been increasing friendship with neighboring countries such as China, India, Thailand, Bangladesh and ASEAN countries and its also disheartens us, ”the trader further added. ##

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