Japan mulls stopping new aid projects in Myanmar

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) – Japan is considering halting new development aid projects in Myanmar to pressure military coup leaders in the Southeast Asian country to release all prisoners and restore democracy.

Japanese officials said Tokyo intends to continue its efforts to convince the military junta to release de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other detained political leaders and activists and swiftly restore a democratic government to Myanmar, Kyodo News reported on Thursday.

Japan enjoys good ties with Buddhist-majority Myanmar’s political and military establishment and remains a major donor country, but has denounced the coup and is considering halting new aid projects for the country "for the time being," the report said.

However, it will continue its humanitarian assistance, including for battling the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2019 Japan’s developmental aid to Myanmar rose to $1.8 billion.

Myanmar's military declared a state of emergency on Feb. 1, hours after detaining Suu Kyi and senior members of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD).

The coup took place just before the country's new parliament was set to convene following November elections in which the NLD made sweeping gains.

The military claimed it launched the coup due to "election fraud" resulting in the NLD’s dominance.

The coup drew massive criticism across the globe, with numerous calls for restoring civilian authority to the country.

In many regions of the country protests are continuing against the military takeover.