Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2006
Next PageMain Text > Part II ODA DISBURSEMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2005 > Chapter 2 Details about Japan's ODA > Section 4. Operational Status of the Principle of ODA Implementation > 3. Myanmar
3. Myanmar
Japan's economic cooperation to Myanmar has been suspended in principle since the military regime came to power in 1988. In 1995, reflecting improvements in the situation such as the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy (NLD) from house arrest, the Government of Japan decided to consider the implementation of the projects for which Japan provided assistance in the past and projects to address basic human needs (BHN), which would directly benefit the people of Myanmar. The assistance was to be implemented on a case-by-case basis while also monitoring democratization and the improvement of human rights.
In May 2003, however, the authorities placed Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and some people related to NLD in custody, and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest for the third time. Since this incident, Japan has been concerned about the situation and has called on the Government of Myanmar to promptly advance the national reconciliation and democratization process involving all related persons, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Regarding economic cooperation, Japan has in principle suspended new projects in light of the situation in Myanmar after May 2003. However, given the worsening living environment in the country, highly urgent humanitarian projects are being implemented after careful and individual examination, while carefully monitoring the political situation in Myanmar.
For its part, Japan considers the early progress of Myanmar toward democratization to be essential. Japan intends to continuously and persistently call upon Myanmar in order to induce positive progress from the country in the future.