Suu Kyi seeks Japanese help for democratisation process
Play
Opposition leader rejects criticism that she does not speak up forcefully for the rights of minorities
Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has called for Japanese support for and cooperation in democratisation process in her country, Japanese media reported.
The head of the opposition National League for Democracy made the appeal during a meeting with Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday in Tokyo.
She urged the Japanese government to support Myanmar in its democratic reform and the peace process between the Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups.
The Japanese minister assured that his country would continue to support Myanmar’s reform process.
Aung San Suu Kyi, also Lower House MP, called on Japan to assist in improving Myanmar’s infrastructure in the areas of transport and electricity. During a meeting with Diet members, Suu Kyi called for Japanese economic assistance and investment so as to create job opportunities in Myanmar.
The Nobel laureate met Crown Prince Naruhito on Tuesday.
During a speech to students at Tokyo University, Aung San Suu Kyi said inadequate infrastructure and uncertainties about the foreign investment law in Myanmar are hindrances to foreign investment in Myanmar.
On Wednesday, Suu Kyi defended her conciliatory political style, saying her focus was on building a more unified society rather than making headlines.
Suu Kyi said many interviewers have asked her why she does not speak more forcefully about the plight of minority groups in her nation. She said she has been addressing those issues, albeit in ways that people may consider “boring”.
“In fact, I have been speaking all the time about ethnic nationalities. But the point was that my statements were not colourful enough to please everybody,” she told a press conference.
“Actually I am not very keen on colourful statements. I am sorry if people do not find my comments interesting enough to acknowledge them.
“But I have been speaking a lot about ethnic nationalities and problems of national reconciliation in our country, except that I speak in a way in which, I suppose, most people consider slightly boring.”
The comments came as activists express disappointment that Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate who was locked up for 15 years by Myanmar's then-ruling junta, has remained largely silent about several episodes of communal bloodshed.
At least 43 people were killed in March as mosques and Muslim homes were destroyed in central Myanmar, in a wave of violence that witnesses say appeared to have been well organised.
