February 11, 2022

The cross-party parliamentarians' league supporting democratization of Myanmar on February 9 submitted to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio a written request demanding that the Japanese government make efforts to support democratization in Myanmar.

The parliamentarians’ league in its document made six demands including respecting the Diet resolution condemning the military coup; providing urgent humanitarian assistance; taking necessary actions such as granting refugee status to Myanmar political asylum seekers; and suspending ODA and other Japan-funded projects which benefit the Myanmar military.

Japanese Communist Party Upper House member Inoue Satoshi took part in the submission.

Inoue pointed out that for one year since the 2021 coup, the Japanese government has repeatedly claimed that it will consider effective measures in a comprehensive manner. He said, “It’s high time for action.”

Lawmakers’ group head Nakagawa Masaharu (Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan Lower House member) pointed out that the view that Japan’s Foreign Ministry appears to side with the Myanmar military is spreading among Myanmar citizens. Referring to the Diet resolution which pledges to work together with Myanmar’s pro-democracy forces for the democratization of Myanmar, Nakagawa said that the Foreign Ministry should take into account this resolution and change its ambivalent stance.