Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan on the Lifting of the House Arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

11 July 1995

1. I was informed on July 10 that the house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had been lifted. The Government of Japan welcomes the release as substantive progress toward the realization of democracy and the improvement of the human rights situation in Myanmar.
   
   
2. The Japanese Government has, through dialogues with Myanmar, tenaciously encouraged Myanmar to take positive steps for the realization of democracy and the improvement of the human rights situation. The release of Daw Suu Kyi can be highly appreciated as a measure that the Myanmar Government has taken on its own initiative, in response to the call from the international community.
   
   
3. The Japanese Government will continue to observe closely the situation in Myanmar with high hope that the Myanmar Government will take further positive measures for the improvement of the human rights situation and the realization of democracy.