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Japan mulls suspending new Myanmar development assistance spending
Japan, a major donor to the Southeast Asian country, has joined the international community in condemning the Myanmar military's use of violence against demonstrators peacefully protesting against the coup.
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Myanmar police (right) fire water cannon at protesters as they continue to demonstrate against the February 1 military coup in the capital Naypyidaw on February 9, 2021. (Agence France Presse/Str)
J
apan is considering suspending new development assistance to Myanmar in response to the military coup earlier this month, government sources said Thursday.
Japan, a major donor to the Southeast Asian country, has joined the international community in condemning the Myanmar military's use of violence against demonstrators peacefully protesting against the coup.
It is also urging the release of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others detained and the swift restoration of democratic government in Myanmar.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, nearly 140 NGOs from 31 countries signed an open letter calling for the United Nations Security Council to urgently impose an arms embargo on Myanmar after the military coup there earlier this month.
"The United Nations Security Council should urgently impose a global arms embargo on Myanmar in response to the military coup and to deter the junta from committing further abuses," the letter said as reported by AFP.
It went on to say, "Governments that permit arms transfers to Myanmar -- including China, India, Israel, North Korea, the Philippines, Russia, and Ukraine -- should immediately stop the supply of any weapons, munitions, and related equipment."
Three of the named countries are currently members of the Security Council: permanent members China and Russia -- who both hold veto power in the body -- and non-permanent member India.
"Given the mass atrocities against the Rohingya, decades of war crimes, and the overthrow of the elected government, the least the UN Security Council can do is impose a global arms embargo on Myanmar," Human Rights Watch (HRW) director Kenneth Roth wrote.
"The Security Council should also impose targeted sanctions, global travel bans, and asset freezes on the leadership of the junta and military-owned conglomerates," said the signatories, which also included dozens of Asian NGOs.
