Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO4699
2007-10-05 08:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

JAPAN CONSIDERING AID REDUCTION FOLLOWING

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM BM SN JA 
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VZCZCXRO7608
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHPB
DE RUEHKO #4699 2780839
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 050839Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8323
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION PRIORITY
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY 2266
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004699 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO EAP/MLS AARON COPE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10-04-2007
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SN JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN CONSIDERING AID REDUCTION FOLLOWING
YABUNAKAfS BURMA TRIP


Classified By: Charge D' Affairs Joseph R. Donovan for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004699

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO EAP/MLS AARON COPE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10-04-2007
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SN JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN CONSIDERING AID REDUCTION FOLLOWING
YABUNAKAfS BURMA TRIP


Classified By: Charge D' Affairs Joseph R. Donovan for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka met with
Deputy Foreign Minister U Maung Myint, Ministry of Defense
Acting Deputy Chief of the Office of Military Security
Affairs (OCMSA) Colonel Aye Ko, and Minister of Information
Brigadier-General Kyaw Hsan on October 1. According to MOFA
First Southeast Asian Division Principal Deputy Director
Atsushi Kuwabara, Yabunaka urged them to exercise
self-restraint when responding to protesters, pushed for the
release of political prisoners, including Aung Sang Suu Kyi,
and emphasized the need for Burmese leaders to engage in
dialogue with pro-democracy groups. Yabunaka expressed deep
concern over the death of the Japanese journalist killed in
Burma on September 27 and called on Burmese officials to
return his camera and video to his family. The Burmese
officials listened to his message and explained their own
"roadmap to democracy" for Burma. They insisted, at some
times with deep emotion, that the demonstrators in Burma were
started by foreign protestors.


2. (SBU) After meeting with Yabunaka on October 3, Foreign
Minister Komura spoke, saying that Japan will consider "ways
to narrow humanitarian assistance." Komura stated it would
not be appropriate to stop humanitarian assistance such as
polio vaccines, but said Japan may consider suspending some
aid projects "for the time being." (Note: MOFA is now using
the term "humanitarian assistance" in the present situation,
unlike previously when it referred to "ODA to Myanmar.")


3. (C) ODA to Burma in 2006-07 was approximately USD 30
million per year, while from April 2005 to March 2006, ODA to
Burma was USD 25.68 million, with grant aid comprising USD
6.65 million and technical cooperation USD 19.03 million.
Repayment of yen loans, last made in 1987, was USD 190,000.
In late April 2007 at the end of FY2006, Toru Maeda, then
Director of the MOFA First Assistance Planning Division, told
AID Counselor that MOFA plans to provide USD 30-33 million
for the next few years unless there are significant changes.


4. (SBU) Present ODA projects include: Project for the
Afforestation in the Dry Zone; Human Resource Development
Scholarships Project; Myanmar-Japan Center for Human Resource
Development; Strengthening Child-Centered Approach in the
Union of Myanmar (Education); Major Infectious Diseases
Control Project; The Eradication of Opium Poppy Cultivation
and Poverty Reduction Project in Kokang Special Region;
Ayayawady Delta Integrated Mangrove Rehabilitation and
Management Project; the Joint Research Project on Traditional
Medicines; Project on ICT Human Resource Development at ICT
Training Institute; Reproductive Health Project; and Rural
Water Supply Technology in the Central Dry Zone. These
projects are complemented by Grant Aid for NGOs and the
Embassy's Grassroots Grants.


5. (C) In the wake of the murder of Japanese photo journalist
Kenji Nagai, the Diet and the public are calling into
question Japan's ODA to Burma. MOFA First Assistance
Planning Division Director Kozo Honsei told AID Counselor on
October 5 that MOFA is preparing responses to the Diet
concerning all present ODA projects. Honsei said that Japan
will not pursue the construction of the Cultural Center in
Rangoon as planned, and he expressed relief that Japan and
Burma had not exchanged notes on this ODA projects, thus
making it easy to postpone or cancel it. Honsei also said
that MOFA will be limiting the entry of Burmese public
servants into Japan and freezing the scholarship and training
program of government officials. He said that the
"termination or postponement of other projects will depend
upon how well MOFA responds to the Diet, the political
parties especially the DPJ, and to the public at large." He
added that the return of journalist Nagai's video camera will
also influence ODA decisions.
DONOVAN