JAPANESE RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE REQUEST ON PRESSING

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002777 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/J, EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL BM JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE REQUEST ON PRESSING BURMESE REGIME REF: STATE 121789 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Robert Luke for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On December 2, Political Officer discussed reftel demarche with MOFA First Southeast Asia Division Deputy Director Takuma Sakaguchi. Sakaguchi stressed that the Japanese Government attaches great importance both to pushing the Burmese regime to respond positively to Aung San Suu Kyi's (ASSK) requests for dialogue and to promoting reform that is sustainable beyond the national elections scheduled for some time in 2010. ¶2. (C) Japan shares U.S. concerns about the Government of Burma's (GOB) negative response to ASSK and about the GOB's failure to reach out to opposition party members and key ethnic minority groups, according to Sakaguchi. He briefly mentioned that MOFA Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department Director General Hiroshi Inomata visited Burma for the first time on November 24, met with some senior government officials, and reportedly conveyed well known concerns about the overall political and human rights situation. Sakaguchi also highlighted the importance of the international community speaking to the GOB with one voice. In this vein, he wondered if Washington planned to convey the same message to Beijing. Lastly, Sakaguchi noted the difficulty posed by internal divisions within the National League for Democracy (NLD),particularly on issues related to whether the NLD should participate in the 2010 elections. ROOS