List of endorsing organizations updated on August 2, 2022

July 1, 2022
H.E. Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan

Statement of Protest and Request Regarding
a Visit to Myanmar by a Cabinet Secretariat Councillor
ayus:Network of Buddhists Volunteers on International Cooperation
Friends of the Earth Japan
Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)
Network Against Japan Arms Trade (NAJAT)
Mekong Watch
The state-run newspaper of Myanmar, the Global New Light of Myanmar, which is now a sourceof propaganda for the illegitimate junta in Myanmar, reported between May 3 and May 7, 2022 that
the Minister for Planning and Finance, the Minister for Commerce, the Minister for Labour andothers under the illegitimate junta, met with Mr. Hideo Watanabe, the Chairman of the JapanMyanmar Association and others.
The Global New Light of Myanmar dated May 3 reported that on May 2, Mr. Watanabe discussed“assistance from Japan for Myanmar’s economic development and bilateral cooperation oneconomic and financial matters” with the Minister for Planning and Finance in Naypyidaw. The
paper on May 5 also reported that a delegation led by Mr. Watanabe met with the Minister forCommerce on May 4, and discussed matters of cooperation to enhance trade and investment"between the two countries.” The paper on May 6 reported that the delegation led by Mr. Watanabe
met in Naypyidaw with the Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and thePermanent Secretary for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and “cordially discussed
matters relating to further promotion of economic and investment cooperation in Myanmar."Further, the paper reported on May 7 that the Minister for Labour received Mr. Watanabe anddelegates on May 6 and discussed the issue of technical interns. This article also stated that “Headof Indo-Pacific Economic Development Councillor Ando Haruhiko” attended this meeting. We
understand that this is Mr. Haruhiko Ando, the Cabinet Secretariat Councillor for Indo-Pacific
Economic Development.
That the state-run newspaper described Mr. Watanabe’s group as a “delegation” and reported thata high-ranking Japanese official was also present at some of the meetings with officials of theillegitimate junta in Myanmar gives the impression to the broader international community that theJapanese government recognizes the legitimacy of the Myanmar military’s rule. Moreover, it may
well be taken to mean that the current stance of the Japanese government is to promote economic
cooperation with Myanmar.
The Japanese government has repeatedly stated that it is urging the Myanmar military thatattempted a coup on February 1, 2021 to immediately stop the violence against civilians, release
those who are detained including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and swiftly restore ademocratic political system, as well as to implement ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus. However, sofar the Myanmar military has failed to comply with any of the three points urged by the Japanesegovernment or with even one of ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus.
Given this situation, that a high-ranking government official visited Myanmar and met with officialsof the illegitimate junta implies that the Japanese government itself does not regard it asproblematic that the Myanmar military is not responding to its demands, and contradicts its official
position which is critical of the military. Since the attempted coup, as of June 21, 2022, 11,151

civilians have been illegally detained and at least 2,000 civilians have been killed by security
forces,* and western nations have imposed sanctions on military-related individuals andcorporations. As citizens deeply concerned about human rights abuses by the Myanmar militaryand calling for the restoration of a democratic system, it is utterly unacceptable that the Japanese
government is continuing to treat Myanmar as it did before the attempted coup.
We strongly protest against the decision by the Japanese government to send a Cabinet
Secretariat Councillor to Myanmar to meet with high-ranking officials of the illegitimate junta while
not publicly disclosing this fact, and demand that the Japanese government take the following
actions.
1. Officially announce that the Japan-Myanmar Association is a private organization and that it has
no authority over the Japanese government's policy toward Myanmar.
2. Disclose information about Mr. Ando’s visit to Myanmar in May reported by the Global New Lightof Myanmar, including the purpose of the visit, as well as all of the locations visited, meetings held,
parties present at the meetings, and the details of the conversations at the meetings.
*See "Daily Briefing in Relation to the Military Coup" by the Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners: https://aappb.org/?p=21843
List of pertinent articles (PDF files saved by Mekong Watch):"MoPF Union Minister receives Japan-Myanmar Association Chairman" (3 May, 2022)
http://www.mekongwatch.org/PDF/gnlm_03_05_2022.pdf"MoC Union Minister receives delegation led by Japan-Myanmar Association Chairman" (5 May,2022)
http://www.mekongwatch.org/PDF/gnlm_05_05_2022.pdf"U Aung Naing Oo, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations receives Mr
Watanabe Hideo, Chairman of Japan-Myanmar Association" (6 May, 2022)
http://www.mekongwatch.org/PDF/gnlm_06_05_2022.pdf"MoL Union Minister receives Japan-Myanmar Association Chairman" (7 May, 2022)
http://www.mekongwatch.org/PDF/gnlm_07_05_2022.pdf
Contact:
Yuka Kiguchi, Mekong Watch
3F Aoki Bldg., Taito 1-12-11, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0016 Japan
Phone: +81-3-3832-5034
Fax: +81-3-3832-5039
Endorsed by the following organizations:Japan (71 organizations):
Asia-Japan Women's Resource Center
Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center
Asian Community Center 21
Asian Health Institute, AHI
Atutu Myanmar
Burmese Relief Center Japan
Chin Youth Organization of Japan (CYO-Japan)
earth treeFWUBC
Health Assistance and Neighborhood Development Support, Inc.
Human Rights Now

Japan Volunteers for Myanmar
Kenju-in Temple
Meeting to hear the complaints of Myanmar (Burma) citizens
Movement for Our Present Constitution
Myanmar International Assistance Organization
National Christian Council in Japan Peace and Reconcillation Committee on East Asia
Network of Religious-person Creating PeaceNIPPONZANMYOHOJI
Pacific Asia Resource Center (PARC)
The Takagi Fund for Citizen Science
Women's Democratic Club, Femin
Added on July 2, 2022
Association of United Nationality in Japan (AUN)
Colorfulspring (ရ ောင်စုံရ ဥွေ ီး)
International Society of Myanmar Scholars and Professionals (Japan)Japan Myanmar Future Creative Association (JMFCA)
KnowUsMoreMyanmar (KUM)
Arakan National Democratic Party - Japan (ANDP Japan)
Burma Refugee Saving Association (B.R.S.A)
Chin Community of Japan (CCJ)
Dawei Youths in Japan (DYJ)
Dragon Dawn
GenY For Revolution Japan (J.F.R.J)
Global Myanmar Spring Revolution - Japan
Hope For Youth -Kyushu Japan
Kachin Affairs Organizintion -Japan (KAO (Japan)
Kansai Group Japan
Karen National League Japan-KNL
Karenni National Society (KNS) Japan
Kobe Myanmar Community (KMC)
League For Democracy in Burma (L.D.B Japan)
MASBO-Myanmar Active Students & Businesspeople OrganizationMon Youth For Federal Democracy (MYFD)
Myanmar Development Support Group (MDSG)
Myanmar Nationalities’ Support Organization – JP (MNSO)
Myanmar Spring Revolution Japan (MSRJ)
Myanmar Tozan Club (MTC)
Myanmar Youth and Student Association, Japan (MYSA)
Myanmar’s Youth Association Hokkaido (MYAH)
National League for Democracy (Organizing Committee) Japan (NLD OC JP)
Okinawa Myanmar Association (OMA)
Pa.oh Political Corporation Committee in Japan (PPCC-Japan)
Palaung National Society Japan, PNS-Japan
People’s Hope Spring Revolution (PHSR)
Punnyakari Mon National Society Japan,PMNS-Japan
Revolution Tokyo Myanmar (RTM)
Shan Community in Japan (SCJ)
ShizuYouth For Myanmar
Sone See Yar (Volunteer Group)
Spring Revolution Restaurant
Tai Youths Network Japan (TYNJ)
Try Together At Japan (TTAJ)
Union of Myanmar Citizen Association – Japan
Voice For Justice
We Are One Saga MOSA
We for All

We Support
Yaw Funding Japan
Yokohama Pamphlet Campaign – Myanmar
Added on August 2, 2022
Arrupe Refugee Center
International (40 organizations):
ALTSEAN-Burma (Burma)
Anti Dictatorship in Burma - DC Metropolitan Area (USA)
Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (Myanmar)
Burma Action Ireland (Ireland)
Burma Campaign UK (United Kingdom)
Burmese American Democratic Alliance (USA)Campaign for a New Myanmar (USA)
Democracy, Peace and Women Organization (Myanmar)
Doh Atu - Ensemble pour le Myanmar (France)
Ecowaste Coaliiton of the Philippines (Philippines)
Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
Future Thanlwin (Myanmar)
Human Rights Foundation of Monland (Myanmar)
International Campaign for the Rohingya (USA)Justice For Myanmar (Myanmar)
Kachin Women Peace Network (Myanmar)
Karen Human Rights Group (Myanmar)
Karen Peace Support Network (Thailand)
Kuki Women's Human Rights Organization (Myanmar)
LA COMMUNAUTÉ BIRMANE DE FRANCE (France)
Latsinu Women Agency (Myanmar)
Metta Campaign Mandalay (Myanmar)
MNK (Myanmar)
Myanmar Democratic Force in Denmark (Danmark)Network for Advocacy Action (Myanmar)
Network for Human Rights Documentation-Burma (ND-Burma) (Thailand)
Progressive Voice (Burma/Myanmar)
Rohingya Action Ireland (Ireland)
Rohingya Refugee Network (UK)
Save and Care Organization for Ethnic Women at Border Areas (SCOEWBA) (Myanmar)
SAVE MYANMAR (USA)
Save Myanmar San Francisco (USA)ShizuYouth for Myanmar (Myanmar)
Support Group for Democracy in Myanmar (The Netherlands)
Ta’ang Women’s Organization (Myanmar)
Tamil Nadu Pondy Fisher People Federation (India)
U.S. Campaign for Burma (USA)
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (USA)
Women’s League of Burma (Myanmar)
Youth Development Institute (YDI) (Myanmar)