The Honorable Fumio Kishida
Prime Minister of Japan
Cabinet Office, 1-6-1 Nagata-cho,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8968, JapanCC:
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi
Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary, The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations,
H.E. Mr. Kimihiro Ishikane
Members of the UN Security Council
29 May 2023

Open Letter
Re: Japan’s leadership urgently needed at the UN Security Council to stop Myanmar military’s
atrocity crimes as Myanmar faces man-made and natural disasters
Dear Prime Minister Kishida,We, 237 Myanmar, regional and international organizations are writing to urge you and the Governmentof Japan to assume a greater leadership role at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to address the further
deteriorating multifaceted crises in Myanmar. As a member of the UNSC and a major donor to
Myanmar, we believe that the government of Japan is well-placed to work with its allies on the Council
to develop a principled, human rights-based response to put an end to Myanmar military junta’s atrocity
crimes.
Since the attempted coup, the Myanmar military has killed over 3,500 people and arrested over 22,700,
including two Japanese journalists, who have been released. Many unjustly remain in detention. Since
the UNSC resolution was adopted, at least 704 people have been killed. In 2022, Myanmar ranked
among the countries that saw the most intense levels of violence and conflict deaths, next to Ukraine
and recorded the highest number of violence targeting civilians globally.
The UN conservatively estimates that 1.5 million people have been displaced since the Myanmar
military’s attempted coup. As category five Cyclone Mocha advanced toward Myanmar and Bangladesh,the Myanmar military persisted in its attacks against civilians residing in regions along the cyclone's
trajectory.
As evacuations began in Rakhine State, Rohingya were willfully neglected by the junta, and aid to the
Rohingya community has been blocked. In the cyclone’s aftermath, hundreds of people are dead or
missing. It is vital that Japan take immediate measures to respond to the military’s breach of1

international human rights and humanitarian laws and ensure peace and security in the region andbeyond.
In your address to leaders of the world during the 77th UN General Assembly, you spoke of “listening not
only to the big voices but also being attentive to the small voices” and that you “intend to take action tostrengthen the rule of law in the international community” as a non-permanent member of the UNSC – avital position to maintain world peace and security which Japan holds until 2024.
We urge you to turn these words into action by building on the December 2022 UNSC resolution on
Myanmar and adopt concrete measures to hold the Myanmar military accountable for genocide, war
crimes and crimes against humanity.
Japan’s ODA and Businesses: Japan must first end its complicity in Myanmar’s Crimes
Just as the UNSC resolution has done little to curb the military’s atrocities, the military have remained
impervious to Japan’s statements of concern. Statements urging the military to stop the violence havelittle impact when Japan has yet to suspend all Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects that are
currently being implemented by the Myanmar junta or stop Japanese businesses from funding the
Myanmar military’s atrocities.
If Japan is to assert its leadership as Asia’s rights-respecting democracy on the world stage, it must firstend its complicity in the Myanmar military’s atrocity crimes. Ties to the Myanmar military have only
diminished Japan’s reputation as a leading democracy in Asia and undermined Japan’s standing in theeyes of Myanmar people who have looked to Japan for support to end the Myanmar military’s attempt
to rule with violence.
Since the ODA program began, Japan has cumulatively provided approximately 1.4 trillion yen (US $9.6
billion) in loan assistance, 360 billion yen (US $2.5 billion) in grant aid, and 100 billion yen (US $690
million) in technical assistance to Myanmar as of November 2021. Japan was the biggest provider of
ODA to Myanmar before the attempted coup. It has yet to fully utilize this as a leverage, despite theRohingya genocide in 2017 and the Myanmar military’s grave human rights violations since its
attempted coup.
Rather than prioritizing human rights and democracy, Japan has focused on development in Myanmar,
providing opportunities for Japanese businesses, including partnering with the Myanmar militaryconglomerates. Despite vehement civil society calls, Japan has yet to conduct an investigation to
respond to claims that its ODA has benefited the military junta financially.
As a result, businesses like the Yokogawa Bridge Corporation have transferred US $1 million to militaryowned Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) for a bridge construction project backed by Japan’s ODA
through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) following the attempted coup.

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Projects funded by Japan’s ODA have also directly served to benefit Myanmar military’s strategicinterests, for example in the case of East-West Economic Corridor (EWC) Improvement project in Karen
State, which ultimately fueled conflict along the Asia Highway (part of the EWC).
Myanmar military has also misused Japanese development aid for military purposes. It used Japanfunded passenger ships meant for civilian use for military purposes to transport troops as it committed
war crimes in Rakhine State and displayed a blatant lack of regard for the Japanese government’s inquiry
into the matter.
Japanese businesses in the telecommunications sector, as well as real-estate development sectors
continue to actively partner with the Myanmar military and entities controlled by the military junta,
against UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines For Multinational
Enterprises. Meanwhile, demands by civil society for ENEOS and other partners involved in the oil andgas sector to responsibly disengage, with transparency and through consultation with local communities
and civil society stakeholders have been ignored.
It is vital that Japan immediately suspend all ODA currently being implemented under the control of the
Myanmar military. It must begin to work closely with the National Unity Government (NUG), formed on
the basis of the 2020 general elections with the popular support of the people of Myanmar, as well as
Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs) and Myanmar civil society to effectively support the will of
the people of Myanmar to establish a federal democracy. It must divert its support towards
humanitarian aid, particularly towards frontline local humanitarian actors, including community-basedorganizations along the ethnic borderlands.
The Government of Japan must end its complicity in grave human rights violations in Myanmar byhalting its business with the military junta and its conglomerates.
Breach of Japan’s Democratic Principle: Japan’s Special Envoy Endorsing Illegal Election and PoliticalFigures Acceptance of Medal from War Criminal Min Aung Hlaing
In addition to Japan’s continued business links with the Myanmar military, Japan's training of military
troops, and its use of quiet diplomacy reliant on a “special relationship” with the Myanmar military has
abetted the further entrenchment of the military’s culture of impunity.
It certainly does not help Japan’s image as a rights-respecting democratic country when the current vicepresident of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and a former Prime Minister, Taro Aso, alongside aformer posts and telecommunications minister, who also serves as chairman of the Japan Myanmar
Association, Hideo Watanabe, receive a medal from international criminal Min Aung Hlaing for“development, peace and prosperity of Myanmar.” By staying silent on such matters, Japan further
legitimizes an illegal Myanmar military that is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity,
including massacres and bombing and killing of children.

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The Myanmar military junta is an illegitimate entity that has attempted an illegal coup and stands
accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court
and International Court of Justice. We are gravely concerned of the Japanese government’s lack of aclear public stance in opposition to the junta’s proposed illegal election, which has been further
confounded by statements made by your government’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, Yohei Sasakawa, in
support of the military’s sham elections. Japan must unequivocally stand with the people of Myanmar
by denouncing the junta’s violent attempts to assert its legitimacy, including through its plan to hold anelection illegally.
Myanmar military’s fierce shelling of the “Peace Town” built with the support of the Nippon Foundation
for refugees returning to Karen State, is an indictment of the military’s commitment to peace anddemocracy in Myanmar. The military also killed a child as they raided Ma Gyi Gan Village, Myaing
Township in Magway Region on 18 April 2023, destroying civilian property, medical equipment andburnt down the village hospital built with support from JICA.
Tangible action against the Myanmar military: new UN Security Council Resolution
As you have reflected on Japan’s own experience with war at the site of G7 in Hiroshima alongside world
leaders this month, we hope you will also think of the people in Myanmar who are currently
experiencing war, enduring atrocities by a military with a history that ties Myanmar and Japan together.
The Myanmar military junta’s total disregard for the Security Council Resolution 2669, which was
adopted last year, shows a need for a new resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter in order toenforce the junta’s compliance. In July, UK will assume the presidency of the UNSC. As one of the Asian
countries on the UNSC, Japan must work closely with the UK – the “penholder” on Myanmar at the
UNSC – towards a new resolution that includes targeted sanctions and arms embargo against the
military and a referral of the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.
We look to your decisive leadership in holding the junta accountable through a Chapter VII resolution on
Myanmar adopted by the UNSC.
Sincerely,
Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice; info@progressive-voice.org
Yuka Kiguchi, Mekong Watch; kiguchi@mekongwatch.org
The Open Letter is signed by 237 Myanmar, regional and international organizations, including 41
organizations who have chosen not to disclose their names.
1. 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
2. Action Against Myanmar Military Coup (Sydney)
3. Action Committee for Democracy Development (Coalition of 14 grassroots networks)

44. Active Youths Kalaymyo
5. Africa Japan Forum
6. Ah Nah Podcast - conversations with Myanmar
7. Ah. La. Ka (12) Hta Khwe. Primary Education Student Union
8. All Arakan Students’ & Youth’ Congress
9. All Arakan Youth Organization Network
10. All Burma Democratic Front in New Zealand
11. All Religions Strike Column
12. All Young Burmese League (AYBL)
13. Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)
14. ALTSEAN-Burma
15. Anti Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network (Australia)
16. APPIKA
17. Arakan CSO Network
18. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
19. Asia-Japan Women’s Resource Center
20. Asian Community Center 21
21. Asian Cultural Forum on Development Foundation (ACFOD)
22. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
23. Asian Health Institute
24. Assistance Association of Political Prisoners
25. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
26. Association Suisse Birmanie (ASB)
27. Athan - Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
28. Auckland Kachin Community NZ
29. Auckland Zomi Community
30. Aung Myay Thar Zan Education Schools Strike Column
31. Aung Pin Lae Main Strike Column
32. Australian Burma society Inc.
33. Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma
34. AWDO (Nagphe)
35. Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organisation
36. Blooming Padauk
37. Burma Action Ireland
38. Burma Campaign UK
39. Burma Human Rights Network
40. Burma Support
41. Burmese American Democratic Alliance
42. Burmese Community Group (Manawatu, NZ)
43. Burmese Community South Australia
44. Burmese Community Support Group (Sydney)
45. Burmese Rohingya Organization UK5

46. Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
47. Burmese Women’s Union
48. Campaign for a New Myanmar
49. CAN-Myanmar
50. CDM Support Team Mandalay (CSTM)
51. Chan Mya Thar Si Township People Strike Column
52. Chin Community of Auckland
53. Chin Human Rights Organization
54. Cooperative University Student Strike Column
55. Creative Home
56. CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
57. CRPH Funding Ireland
58. Daung Sit Thi
59. Doh Atu - Ensemble pour le Myanmar
60. Education Family (Anti - Fascists Education Strike Columns Coordination Committee )61. Educational Initiatives Prague
62. Equality Myanmar
63. Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee
64. Falam Chin Community South Australia
65. Federal Corner Magway Region
66. Federal FM - Mandalay
67. Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
68. Freedom and Labor Action Group69. Free Rohingya Coalition
70. Friends of the Earth Japan
71. Future Light Center
72. Future Thanlwin
73. General Strike Committee of Nationalities – GSCN
74. Generation Wave
75. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution (GMSR)
76. Grass-root People
77. Help Myanmar (USA)78. Human Rights Educators Network
79. Human Rights Foundation of Monland
80. Human Rights Now
81. Info Birmanie
82. Institute for Asian Democracy
83. International Association, Myanmar-Switzerland (IAMS)
84. International Campaign for the Rohingya
85. Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines
86. Japan Tropical Forest Action Network (JTAN)
87. Justice For Myanmar

688. Kachin Women’s Association Thailand
89. Kayaw Women Association
90. Karen Human Rights Group
91. Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
92. Karen Women’s Organization
93. Karenni National Women’s Organization
94. Karenni Society New Zealand
95. Keng Tung Youth
96. Kyaukse University Students' Union
97. LGBTIQ Strike of Mandalay
98. Maha Aung Myay Township People Collective Strike Column
99. Mandalar University Student Strike Column
100. Mandalay Alliance Strike Collective Column
101. Mandalay Based People Strike Column
102. Mandalay Civil Society Organizations
103. Mandalay Engineer Group
104. Mandalay Engineer United Force
105. Mandalay University Student Alumni Union
106. Mandalay Wholesale Strike Column
107. Mandalay Youth Strike Column
108. Matu Chin Community South Australia
109. Medical Family – Mandalay
110. Mekong Watch
111. Metta Campaign Mandalay
112. MIIT Student Strike Column
113. Min Hla farmers Group
114. Minbu farmers Group
115. Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute Foundation, Inc. (MPI)
116. Mizo Community South Australia
117. Mon State Development Center
118. MRYA-Revolution Core Group
119. Muslim Youth Union
120. Mya Taung Strike Column
121. Myanmar Accountability Project122. Myanmar Action Group Denmark
123. Myanmar anti-military coup movement in New Zealand124. Myanmar Campaign Network
125. Myanmar Community Group Christchurch New Zealand126. Myanmar Community Group Dunedin New Zealand127. Myanmar Cultural Research Society (MCRS)
128. Myanmar Diaspora Group Finland
129. Myanmar Engineers - New Zealand

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130.
131.
132.
133.
134.
135.
136.

Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
Myanmar Railway, Region (3) CDm Strike Column
Myanmar Students' Union in New Zealand
Myanmar’s Community Coffs Harbour
Myaung Education Network
Myaung Medical Team န ဦွေ းန ောင်နန
ီးအဖွေွဲ့

137.
138.
139.
140.
141.
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147.
148.
149.
150.
151.
152.
153.
154.
155.
156.
157.
158.
159.
160.
161.
162.
163.
164.
165.
166.
167.
168.
169.
170.

Nelson Myanmar Community Group New Zealand
Netherlands-Myanmar Solidarity Platform
Network for Human Rights Documentation - Burma (ND-Burma)
Never Again Coalition
New Zealand Doctors for NUG
New Zealand Karen Association
New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
No 7 State High School Alumni Strike Column
No Business With Genocide
New Rehmonnya Federated Force (NRFF)
Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
Overseas Mon Association. New ZealandPadaukPan Pa Wash People Strike Column
Peace and Culture Foundation
Phayagye Peace Strike Column
Private Pre-school Teachers Association
Progressive Voice
Pwintphyu Development Organisation
Pyi Gyi Ta Gon Strike
Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
Rohingya Community in Japan (RCJ)
Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
Sangha Samaga Strike Column
Save and Care Organization for Ethnic Women at Border Areas
Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
Sein Pan Strike Column
Shan Community (New Zealand)
Shan MATA
SINAPIS Archdiocese of Osaka
Sisters 2 Sisters
Southern Dragon Myanmar
Southern Youth Development Organization
Strike Column of Representatives of Arbitrarily Arrested People

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171.
172.
173.
174.
175.
176.
177.
178.
179.
180.
181.
182.
183.
184.
185.
186.
187.
188.
189.
190.
191.
192.
193.

Strike Column of Teachers from Universities and Degree Colleges of Mandalay
Suomi-Myanmar
Support Group for Democracy in Myanmar (the Netherlands)
Swedish Burma Committee
Ta’ang Women’s Organization
Ta'ang Legal Aid
Taekwando Sport Association
Tanintharyi MATA
Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB)
Thapaynyo News Letter
The Ladies
The Swedish Foundation for Human Rights
U.S. Campaign for Burma
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Victoria Myanmar Youth (VMY)
Western Australia Myanmar Community
Western Australia Myanmar Democratic Network
Women Activists Myanmar (WAM)
Women Advocacy Coalition - Myanmar
Women’s League of Burma
Women's Active Museum on War and Peace (WAM)
Women's Democratic Club, Femin
Youths for Community-Myaung

194. ဒနို့ ြေကွေန် က် - LIOH
195. ပွေင်ို့ ဖြူလယ်ယောန ြေကွေန် က်
196. ြေ းက် - Generations

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