Japanese funding to Myanmar dependent on Aung San Suu Kyi release

St Petersburg News.Net
Sunday 8th November, 2009

Tokyo has said it will provide aid to Myanmar if democratic reforms are advanced.

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has pledged more money for Myanmar if the country’s generals agree to the release of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi before next year's election.

Speaking with Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein in Tokyo on the weekend, Mr. Hatoyama said the Japanese feel it is extremely important that Ms Suu Kyi and other political prisoners are released before the general election in 2010.

The Japanese leader said the recent talks that occurred between the Myanmar military government and the Nobel Peace laureate, had given Japan the encouragement to expand humanitarian and human resources assistance.

Last week, a senior US official went to Myanmar for talks with the country's ruling generals to begin a new policy of engagement between the US and the isolated Southeast Asian nation.

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