TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - BURMA

UNCLAS TOKYO 001835 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 Wednesday morning included the conviction on Tuesday of Aung San Suu Kyi. ¶2. "Burmese Junta Poses Threat to Asia" The liberal Asahi editorialized (8/12): "The international community, including Japan, is calling on Myanmar's (Burma's) junta to release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. The junta should immediately accept this demand.... The junta's selfish actions are casting a shadow over all of Asia. Its suspicious military cooperation with North Korea is especially worrisome.... Secretary of State Clinton expressed last month in Thailand the U.S.'s concern about the possibility that North Korea is transferring military technology to Myanmar. If Myanmar is engaged in developing nuclear weapons, the approach to security in Asia will change drastically.... Japan needs to urge China to exercise its influence over Myanmar, and Beijing should take the issue seriously. The Japanese government should strengthen its international coordination regarding Myanmar in order to make UN sanctions on North Korea effective." ¶3. "Conviction Reverses Democratization" The moderate Yomiuri stated in an editorial (8/12): "The military government plans to conduct general elections next year as part of its democratization policy. However, despite the reduced sentence, the junta will not be able to declare democratization if Aung San Suu Kyi, who leads the largest opposition party, remains under house arrest.... Japan has provided assistance to Myanmar's junta that was limited to humanitarian purposes. Japan needs to patiently continue its call for the junta to stop its oppression of human rights." ¶4. "Unjust Conviction Unacceptable" The business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (8/12): "Myanmar's democratization has become even more remote, as it has become extremely difficult for Aung San Suu Kyi to run in the general election, which is planned for next year by the military government.... The conviction is clearly political oppression under the pretense of justice. This is also unacceptable from a humanitarian point of view." ZUMWALT