Hearing from the Meeting of Mr. Ismail Razali, Special Envoy of United Nations General Secretary to Burma and the leaders of RENGO (Labor Unions) of Japan |
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On Wednesday, May 5, 2001 in Tokyo, Japan, the official from MOFA
informed RENGO for a visit of Special Envoy of Mr. Ismail Razali to RENGO.
In the afternoon of Thursday (May6, 2001), he met General Secretary, Mr.
Kiyoshi Sasamori of RENGO with MOFA (Japan) officials.
Mr. I. Razali told that he visited RENGO to listen to views on
of
Burma affairs by the Japaneseorganizations
in Japan. Mr. K. Sasamori explained that " the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), its Asia-Pacific Regional Organization (ICFTU-APRO) and the International Trade Secretariats (ITS) held the International ICFTU/ICFTU-APROS/ITS Conference on "Democracy for Burma and the ILO Resolution: Trade Unions in support" in Tokyo for two days from February 28 to March 1, 2001, and adopted the "Global Unions" Tokyo Declaration and Plan of Action on Burma." For that reason, RENGO decided to establish the Burma Office (Japan) in Tokyo for Burmese democratic organizations and Federation of Trade Unions-Burma (FTUB) for supporting of restoration of democracy and the movements of democratic unions in Burma. He also relayed the message from Burma Office (Japan) that suggests Mr. Razali to lure Burma's military regime to show off vividly their willing and honest process for real dialogue between opposition leader Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and their ruling military leaders of State Peace and Development Council. They discussed about one hour for
Burmese affairs, especially the problems of dialogue, ODA and forced
labors. Dialogue
According to the saying of Mr. Razali that he has been to Burma
eight times and he got a chance to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It is
Japanese government's pressure to military junta not to restrict Mr.
Razali's visit. He also mentioned that without dialogue, it is difficult
to resolve the stalemate. The peoples are now suffering from various
deceases. Medicines of HIV and malaria deceases are scarce. In reality,
there is no development in Burma after 1990. It has left 35 years behind
the other Asian nations. The process of dialogue between Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi and military junta is very important for Burma. There is
no progressing for dialogue between the period of March and May. Now the
military regime releases some political prisoners because of international
pressure. For this surprised development, the military junta is
disappointing.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's priority for dialogue is to release all
political prisoners. She also said that the process of dialogue should be
fast. The pressure from Japan to SPDC is important. Daw Suu also mentioned
that the support of EU is also vital. Finally she also suggested that the
international circles and the Japanese government should demand to release
all political prisoners in Burma.
ODA
For the problem of ODA, Mr. Sasamori of RENGO and Mr. Razali
referred
According to Mr. Razali that Daw Suu and U Aung Shwe are also
agreed the shortage of energy in Burma. But Daw Suu clearly stated that
timing for continuation of ODA for repairing of Baluchaung hydroelectric
plant is not proper. If Japan assumes to give ODA, she will be unhappy for
the wrong period. Mr. Sasamori also agrees with Daw Suu comments. Mr.
Sasamori said that RENGO would suggest the policy of ODA to the Japanese
government again. Mr. Razali told that Japan has a right
to pressure for the restoration of democracy in Burma. Because Japan have
been giving a lot of ODA to Burma. Therefore ODA should be used as the
tool for political pressure. The SPDC is afraid of Japan's standing which
is moving to the circle of EU and USA. Political issue is more essential. Forced
Labor
Mr. Sasamori of RENGO mentioned that the SPDC is still utilizing
the system of forced labor in Burma. Mr. Razali told that SPDC has decided
to accept the survey team for enforced labor in Burma because of the
international pressure. The United Nations also urged to abolish the
system of forced labor. If the system of enforced labor is still
utilization in Burma, the international communities will give more
pressure to SPDC. He is doing for his best as an optimist. He is willing
to have the support from RENGO. Additional
News RENGO leaders met with the Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda on Monday (July9, 2001). Mr. Y. Fukuda promised to discuss Burma problem after July 29, House of Councilors election.
This report is being forwarded by BRAJ -- Japan |
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