JAPAN "SERIOUSLY CONCERNED" ABOUT TREATMENT OF SUU

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001103 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM BM JA SUBJECT: JAPAN "SERIOUSLY CONCERNED" ABOUT TREATMENT OF SUU KYI REF: STATE 46562 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor W. Michael Meserve per 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Japan is "seriously concerned" about the Burmese authorities' treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) and her transfer from house arrest to Insein Prison, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said May 15. The Japanese Government has raised its concerns with the Burmese Ambassador and has called on the Burmese government to advance democracy with the participation of "all related people," including Suu Kyi, Nakasone added. ¶2. (C) MOFA Asia Deputy Director General Kazuhide Ishikawa told Embassy Tokyo May 15 that Asia Director General Inomata had called Burmese Ambassador Hla Myint earlier in the day to convey Japan's deep concern. Inomata told the Burmese ambassador that this is a "crucial time" for Burma's relations with the international community, including the United States and Japan, and that the Burmese authorities should take seriously the international community's concerns. In response, the Burmese ambassador reportedly echoed the Burmese Foreign Ministry's May 14 explanation of the legal charges against Suu Kyi and the legal process currently underway, Ishikawa said. ¶3. (C) Burma's actions come at a very bad time, Ishikawa continued. Japan has taken gradual steps encourage Burma to move towards greater democratization, but in light of this treatment of ASSK, "Japan's policy and efforts to date will have to be reconsidered; this will badly affect our future thinking," Ishikawa said. Southeast Asia I Director Keiichi Ono added that now is the time for the international community to speak out and try to positively shape the Burmese authorities' actions. "Once ASSK is sentenced, it will be too late to get them to change their minds," he predicted. ZUMWALT