JAPANESE EMBASSY ADVOCATES ENGAGEMENT WITH BURMESE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001058 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2013 TAGS: PREL BM JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE EMBASSY ADVOCATES ENGAGEMENT WITH BURMESE REGIME REF: A. TOKYO 5569 ¶B. RANGOON 1019 ¶C. RANGOON 993 Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.5 (B,D) ¶1. (C) Reftel A conclusion that there is a discrepancy between MOFA Tokyo and the Japanese Embassy in Rangoon matches our assessment that Japanese Ambassador Miyamoto and his senior staff strongly oppose their headquarters on Burma policy. As we noted in refs B and C, Miyamoto, and his political counselor, have made clear to us and others in Rangoon that they strongly advocate close and unconditional engagement with the Burmese regime, in contrast to Tokyo's evolving policy in the wake of the May 30 attack on, and subsequent detainment of, ASSK. ¶2. (C) Japanese Ambassador Miyamoto recently told COM that he plans to personally lobby Diet Members for support in reversing the GOJ decision to suspend new assistance to Burma. Miyamoto has made several semi-public comments on Japan's new aid policy, mostly recent at a meeting of the mini-Dublin Group on August 26, noting his less than favorable views on cutting assistance to Burma. He notes wryly that although he has seen press reports on the new GOP policy, he has yet to receive official instructions from Tokyo (Note: Myamoto will return to Tokyo this week for consultations followed by several weeks of personal leave). ¶3. (C) We do not see any evidence that Miyamoto plans to cease and desist his campaign to step up engagement with the SPDC. Given upcoming meetings between MOFA Division Director Yamanouchi and EAP DAS Daley, and between the Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister and Deputy Secretary Armitage, we believe it essential for Department principals to be aware of the Japanese Embassy's efforts to reverse GOJ policy. Japan's decision to suspend new assistance has weakened the confidence of the SPDC generals and presents a more unified front on the part of the international community. Continued Japanese pressure is essential to helping our efforts to press the regime to release ASSK and begin a meaningful political dialogue. Martinez