Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO488
2008-02-25 04:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
how-toVZCZCXRO5964 PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #0488 0560416 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 250416Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1968 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6266 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 8661 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4830 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6871 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9933 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1835 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2136 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7902 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8491 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000488
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - BURMA
UNCLAS TOKYO 000488
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - BURMA
1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Monday morning included
China's fivefold increase in exports over the past six
years since its accession to the WTO in 2001.
2. "Empty Promise of Democracy Will Not Work" The
liberal Asahi editorialized (2/24): "Burma's military
government has announced that it will establish a new
constitution and call a general election in 2010. Under
ordinary circumstances, we would have welcomed this as
a step toward democracy. However, there are too many
problems with Burma's plans.... Burma was the subject
of harsh international criticism following its bloody
crackdown on monks who had been staging antigovernment
rallies. The Burmese government's announcement appears
to be aimed at reducing the international pressure....
The military government should immediately release
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi ahead of a national
referendum in May in order to create an environment
where the opposition is free to campaign. If the
government fails to do so, it will inevitably be
criticized for holding a sham election. Such an
election is unacceptable as a democratic procedure.
Concern about Burma's path toward democracy was
expressed at an ASEAN foreign ministerial. The
international community, including the UN and Japan,
needs to increase its commitment to the nation."
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - BURMA
1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Monday morning included
China's fivefold increase in exports over the past six
years since its accession to the WTO in 2001.
2. "Empty Promise of Democracy Will Not Work" The
liberal Asahi editorialized (2/24): "Burma's military
government has announced that it will establish a new
constitution and call a general election in 2010. Under
ordinary circumstances, we would have welcomed this as
a step toward democracy. However, there are too many
problems with Burma's plans.... Burma was the subject
of harsh international criticism following its bloody
crackdown on monks who had been staging antigovernment
rallies. The Burmese government's announcement appears
to be aimed at reducing the international pressure....
The military government should immediately release
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi ahead of a national
referendum in May in order to create an environment
where the opposition is free to campaign. If the
government fails to do so, it will inevitably be
criticized for holding a sham election. Such an
election is unacceptable as a democratic procedure.
Concern about Burma's path toward democracy was
expressed at an ASEAN foreign ministerial. The
international community, including the UN and Japan,
needs to increase its commitment to the nation."
SCHIEFFER