As
Japan and Clinton Met, Sri Lanka Not Mentioned, Myanmar Only Later,
Prisoner Questions
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, September 21 -- When U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton
met Monday one on one with her Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada,
neither Myanmar nor Sri Lanka was discussed, Inner City Press learned
Monday night. These are two countries where, as
reported, international "crimes have occurred."
Next
to a hotel
conference room full of dozens of Japanese reporters, a briefing was
given Monday night for two non-Japanese journalists by Yasuhisa
Kawamura, the Deputy Press Secretary of Japan's Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. The invitation to the briefing said that "Kawamura will
accept journalist's questions on any topic of interest."
The
operative word, it turned out, was "accept" -- because when
Inner City Press asked about Japan's desire for a seat on the UN
Security Council, whether the election in Japan has impacted that and
what might be accomplished during this week's General Assembly
meetings, Mr. Kawamura said, "I don't have that particular
answer."
The
briefing
focused on or was limited to Minister Okada's "forty five
minute" meeting with Hilary Clinton. Inner City Press asked if
the talk of "stability" in Afghanistan included any
discussion of the contested elections. Mr. Kawamura said that he
meant stability "in a general way," adding, "let me
repeat, Japan will continue to provide support with reconstruction
efforts in civilian areas." He said that refueling in the Indian
Ocean did not come up.
Inner
City Press
asked either if Myanmar and Sri Lanka had arisen in the meeting with
Hilary Clinton, or for Japan's and its new administration's view of
these issues. Mr. Kawamura said, "As far as I know, at today's
meeting they didn't pick up Myanmar or Sri Lanka." He then said
that "Japan is concerned about with others the Myanmar
situation."
Having
received
not even a no comment about Sri Lanka, Inner City Press asked again,
about the visit by Japan's envoy Akashi, and whether Japan would
continue funding what some characterize as internment camps. Mr.
Kawamura said, "again, today they didn't discuss Sri Lanka.
There was a breakthrough in the civilian conflict this summer."
He said, "Japan gave [funds] in the hope of internal... mutual
understanding among races."
Mr.
Kawamura paused and then added, "I need to confirm with Mister
Minister,"
saying that before the election "we did assist." Might it
change?
Mr. Okada and Hilary Clinton, Sri Lanka not shown
After
the briefing
was formally declared closed, Mr. Kawamura indicted he wanted to add
that at a "trilateral" meeting of Hilary Clinton, Mr. Okada
and their Australian counterpart, Myanmar was discussed. Minister
"Okada added that it was regrettable that Aung San Suu Kyi is
still detained" while welcoming the new of the release of some
other prisoners. [See below.]
After
the briefing
was finally seemingly over, Inner City Press returned a phone call
and Mr. Kawamura said he wanted to "amend" certain of his
answers. Where he had said that Japan would "consult" with
the U.S., he had meant Japan would "examine internally" and
then "cooperate" with the U.S.. Where he had seemed to
over-emphasize particular issues, he only meant that they were a
"focus." But there was no additional information about
Myanmar, and none at all about Sri Lanka.
Footnotes:
Considering -- or "focusing on" -- Hilary Clinton, we note
that on this same September 21, the U.S. office on war crimes issues
was to turn in a report on Sri Lanka to the U.S. Congress. There's a
scheduled protest by the UN on September 22 for inaction on Sri
Lanka, just as there was a similar protest earlier at the Japanese
mission. And then, at 11:30 p.m. on Monday night, another Japanese
press conference was called for.
On
Myanmar, while
the UN is bragging -- along with Myanmar -- that of the more then
7000 prisoners to be released, 250 are "political prisoners,"
responsible observers count only these 54:
From
Insein Prison, Rangoon Division
1.
Eik Khaing Oo (Female) (Journalist)
2.
U Tin Mya (Chairman, NLD Thingangyun Township)
4.
Kyaw Kyaw Thant (Journalist)
5.
Monywar Aung Shin (a) U Aye Kyu (NLD and a Poet)
6.
U Nine Nine (NLD MP)
7.
Tin Tin Myint (Female)
8.
Than Than Htay (Female) (NLD)
9.
Thin Min Soe (Female)
10.
Kyi Kyi Min (Female)
11.
Tin Myo Htut (a) Kyaw Oo
12.
Win Myint
13.
Ashin Sandaw Batha (Monk)
14.
Aung Gyi
15.
Mi Mi Sein (Female)
16.
Ma Htay (a) San San Myint (Female)
From
Butheetaung Prison, Rakhine State
17.
Nyi Nyi Min
From
Oo-Bo Prison, Mandalay
18.
Than Than Sint (Female)
From
Ka Le Myo Prison, Sagaing Division
19.
Zaw Htut Aung
20.
U Ba Min (NLD)
21.
U Nyo Mya (NLD)
22.
Michael Win Kyaw (NLD)
23.
Thet Zin (Journalist)
From
Myitkyina Prison, Kachin State
24.
Kyaw Maung
25.
Nay Win
26.
Kyi Lin
27.
Soe Wai (a) Than Zaw
From
Lashio Prison, Shan State
28.
Soe Han
From
Bago (Pegu) Prison
29.
Bo Gyi
30.
Khin Khin Lay (Female)
31.
Pe Tin
From
MawlaMyine Prison, Mon State
32.
Tin Myint
33.
Zin Mar Htwe (Female)
34.
Moe Hlaing
35.
Moe Lwin
36.
Myo Min Lwin
From
Taungoo Prison, Mandalay Division
37.
Thet Oo
38.
U Pannita (a) Myint Aye (Monk)
39.
Zaw Tun
From
Myingyan Prison, Mandalay Division
40.
Bo Bo
41.
Sanda (Female)
From
Pa-an Prison, Karen State
42.
Pyait Phyo Aung
43.
Wunna Soe
From
Tharyarwaddy Prison, Pegu (Bago) Division
44.
U Ba Chit
45.
Aye Min Min
46.
Tin Tun
47.
Shwe Thar
From
Sagaing Prison, Sagaing Division
48.
Maw Si
49.
Khin Maung Thein
50.
Tin Maung Nyunt
51.
Aung Swe
From
Kut Kai Prison, Shan State
52.
Than Tun
From
Shwebo Prison, Sagaing Division
53.
Aung Myo
From
Theinni Prison, Shan State
54.
Maung Maung Htwe
Despite
this, one
of the UN's major Myanmar staffers last week approached Inner City
Press to gloat that even publications which call the country Burma
say 250 political prisoners are being released. But do that? Are
they? Watch this site.
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