Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO4439
2007-09-25 08:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
VICE FOREIGN MINISTER HEADING TO BURMA
how-toVZCZCXRO6741 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHPB DE RUEHKO #4439 2680811 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 250811Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7874 INFO RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION PRIORITY RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY 2258 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/USFJ PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004439
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SN JA
SUBJECT: VICE FOREIGN MINISTER HEADING TO BURMA
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
Summary
--------
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004439
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SN JA
SUBJECT: VICE FOREIGN MINISTER HEADING TO BURMA
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka will visit Burma
September 29 to October 3 and is willing to convey a message
from the USG to Burmese officials, MOFA contacts said on
September 21. Japan is "deeply concerned" about the recent
crackdown, but is not planning to issue a public statement
condemning it because it might have "negative consequences"
for Japan's diplomatic channel with Burma. Tokyo is not
convinced a statement would induce a positive response from
the Burmese government, and would "not necessarily improve
the situation," according to MOFA. Japan shares U.S. support
for Special Adviser Gambari's efforts to facilitate
transition to a democratic government, and would welcome a
decision for Gambari to brief the UNSC following a Burma
visit. Singapore's DCM in Tokyo told Embassy Tokyo that
"Japan has no Burma policy." End Summary.
"Visit Has No Special Timing"
--------------
2. (C) Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka will visit Burma
September 29 to October 3 in response to a "long-standing
invitation" from the Burmese authorities, MOFA Principal
First Southeast Asia Division Deputy Director Atsushi
Kuwabara told Embassy Tokyo. There is "no special timing
behind the visit:" Yabunaka merely did not have time to
visit Burma up until now, Kuwabara explained. The VFM will
"convey what the Burmese government may not want to hear" and
will reiterate Japanese concerns about the slow pace of
democratization there. Burma must improve its human rights
record and "political environment" before Japan can
strengthen bilateral ties, Kuwabara said.
Still No Public Statement
--------------
3. (C) In response to Japanese Embassy Minister Counselor
Ishii's September meeting with DAS Marciel in Washington,
MOFA reexamined its decision to hold off on issuing a public
statement condemning the crackdown on protesters in Burma.
Nevertheless, it still has no plans to issue a statement at
this time, Kuwabara said. Japan is deeply concerned about
the situation in Burma, especially the detention of peaceful
demonstrators, but does not think a public statement would be
beneficial. Last September, Japan voted in support of
putting Burma on the UNSC agenda, and Japan has continued to
use bilateral channels with high-level Burmese officials to
"quietly call" for Burma to step up efforts to improve human
rights and democratization, Kuwabara stated.
4. (C) Japan, however, is not convinced a public statement
would induce a positive response from Burmese officials and
it would not necessarily improve the situation, he continued.
Moreover, it might have a negative effect on the channel
Japan uses to communicate with Burmese officials, Kuwabara
explained. Japan will continue to use this channel to
quietly pressure Burma on human rights and the importance of
democratization, he stated. Yabunaka is willing to pass
along a message from the USG to his interlocutors, he stated.
Support for Gambari Visit
--------------
5. (C) Japan supports efforts for Special Adviser Gambari to
visit Burma, particularly given the likelihood he would meet
with both senior regime leadership as well as Aung San Suu
Kyi. Tokyo does not have a strong preference on the timing
for when the visit should occur. Japan would welcome a
decision for Gambari to brief the UNSC following his visit,
Kuwabara noted.
One ASEAN Insider's View of Japan's Burma Policy
-------------- ---
6. (C) Singapore Embassy DCM Ong Eng Chuan told Embassy Tokyo
Political Officer September 21 that "at this point, Japan has
no Burma policy." They used to have good contact with both
Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD, but these have dried up.
Because the Japanese Government has no sense of where it
wants to go with Burma, its policy has been allowed to drift,
and "Japan uses certain ASEAN members' Burma policy as a
shield for itself," Chuan explained.
Schieffer
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SN JA
SUBJECT: VICE FOREIGN MINISTER HEADING TO BURMA
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka will visit Burma
September 29 to October 3 and is willing to convey a message
from the USG to Burmese officials, MOFA contacts said on
September 21. Japan is "deeply concerned" about the recent
crackdown, but is not planning to issue a public statement
condemning it because it might have "negative consequences"
for Japan's diplomatic channel with Burma. Tokyo is not
convinced a statement would induce a positive response from
the Burmese government, and would "not necessarily improve
the situation," according to MOFA. Japan shares U.S. support
for Special Adviser Gambari's efforts to facilitate
transition to a democratic government, and would welcome a
decision for Gambari to brief the UNSC following a Burma
visit. Singapore's DCM in Tokyo told Embassy Tokyo that
"Japan has no Burma policy." End Summary.
"Visit Has No Special Timing"
--------------
2. (C) Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka will visit Burma
September 29 to October 3 in response to a "long-standing
invitation" from the Burmese authorities, MOFA Principal
First Southeast Asia Division Deputy Director Atsushi
Kuwabara told Embassy Tokyo. There is "no special timing
behind the visit:" Yabunaka merely did not have time to
visit Burma up until now, Kuwabara explained. The VFM will
"convey what the Burmese government may not want to hear" and
will reiterate Japanese concerns about the slow pace of
democratization there. Burma must improve its human rights
record and "political environment" before Japan can
strengthen bilateral ties, Kuwabara said.
Still No Public Statement
--------------
3. (C) In response to Japanese Embassy Minister Counselor
Ishii's September meeting with DAS Marciel in Washington,
MOFA reexamined its decision to hold off on issuing a public
statement condemning the crackdown on protesters in Burma.
Nevertheless, it still has no plans to issue a statement at
this time, Kuwabara said. Japan is deeply concerned about
the situation in Burma, especially the detention of peaceful
demonstrators, but does not think a public statement would be
beneficial. Last September, Japan voted in support of
putting Burma on the UNSC agenda, and Japan has continued to
use bilateral channels with high-level Burmese officials to
"quietly call" for Burma to step up efforts to improve human
rights and democratization, Kuwabara stated.
4. (C) Japan, however, is not convinced a public statement
would induce a positive response from Burmese officials and
it would not necessarily improve the situation, he continued.
Moreover, it might have a negative effect on the channel
Japan uses to communicate with Burmese officials, Kuwabara
explained. Japan will continue to use this channel to
quietly pressure Burma on human rights and the importance of
democratization, he stated. Yabunaka is willing to pass
along a message from the USG to his interlocutors, he stated.
Support for Gambari Visit
--------------
5. (C) Japan supports efforts for Special Adviser Gambari to
visit Burma, particularly given the likelihood he would meet
with both senior regime leadership as well as Aung San Suu
Kyi. Tokyo does not have a strong preference on the timing
for when the visit should occur. Japan would welcome a
decision for Gambari to brief the UNSC following his visit,
Kuwabara noted.
One ASEAN Insider's View of Japan's Burma Policy
-------------- ---
6. (C) Singapore Embassy DCM Ong Eng Chuan told Embassy Tokyo
Political Officer September 21 that "at this point, Japan has
no Burma policy." They used to have good contact with both
Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD, but these have dried up.
Because the Japanese Government has no sense of where it
wants to go with Burma, its policy has been allowed to drift,
and "Japan uses certain ASEAN members' Burma policy as a
shield for itself," Chuan explained.
Schieffer