JAPAN EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT ABOUT AUNG SAN SUU

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001878 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/J, EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2019 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BM JA SUBJECT: JAPAN EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT ABOUT AUNG SAN SUU KYI VERDICT REF: STATE 83598 Classified By: Acting Bilateral and Foreign Policy Unit Chief Ray Hotz for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOJ shares Washington's deep disappointment over the August 11 verdict and subsequent decision by the Burmese regime to extend Aung San Suu Kyi's (ASSK) house arrest. MOFA officials also stress the importance of recognizing indications that Burma is heeding international concerns about ASSK's detention. Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone's statement of regret regarding the ASSK ruling follows the main text. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) Poloff conveyed reftel demarche points to MOFA Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau First Southeast Asia Division Principal Deputy Director Shogo Yoshitake on August 14 and expressed appreciation for FM Nakasone's statement regarding the continued house arrest of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Yoshitake said that the GOJ shares Washington's concerns over the verdict and the decision to keep ASSK in detention. Nakasone's statement is part of a series of recent efforts, including a telephone call to Burmese Foreign Minister U Nyan Win in May and direct talks with Win in Thailand in July, to press Rangoon on the release of ASSK, Yoshitake noted. He agreed that ASSK has a critical role to play in national reconciliation and in any democracy transition efforts. ¶3. (C) Yoshitake stressed the importance of recognizing indications that Burma is heeding international concerns about ASSK's detention. He specifically noted the junta's decision to commute ASSK's three year court-decided prison sentence to 18 months of house arrest and to allow some flexibility, not further specified, in the regulations regarding her movements. ¶4. (C) Full text of the Foreign Ministry statement follows: Begin Statement Statement of Minister of Foreign Affairs Nakasone on the Verdict on Aung San Suu Kyi, 11 August 2009 The Special Court of Insein Prison delivered statement of three years of imprisonment with labor to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whereas the Government of Myanmar announced that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be under house arrest for one and a half years. Japan has been urging the Government of Myanmar to act in an appropriate way, taking into account the voice of the international community. Japan is deeply disappointed by this statement and, although Japan takes note of the above-said decision made by the Government of Myanmar, deeply regrets the current situation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Japan has been urging the Myanmar Government to release all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi immediately and proceed a democratization process with participation of all the parties concerned. In addition, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who visited Myanmar at the beginning of July, also urged the Myanmar side to release all political prisoners. Japan strongly expects that the Myanmar Government seriously heeds the above-stated views of the international community and conducts positively toward the democratization in Myanmar. End Statement ZUMWALT