Reuters AlertNet Lite - Japan to cut back on aid to Myanmar

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Japan to cut back on aid to Myanmar - paper

02 Oct 2007 01:37:17 GMT
Source: Reuters

TOKYO, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Japan will scale back aid to Myanmar following last week's brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests during which one Japanese video journalist was killed, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Japan will review the assistance it provides to Myanmar and decide on what aid it will end or temporarily suspend, the Yomiuri Shimbun daily said, citing government sources.

Tokyo will also stop sending new humanitarian assistance, it said. Japan has withheld new aid to impoverished Myanmar since democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was detained in 2003, but it still funds emergency health projects and provides some training and technological transfers.

Japan has provided a total of about 3 billion yen ($26 million) in aid annually in recent years, compared with 10 billion in 2001.

The Yomiuri said the latest move could affect long-term assistance programmes such as a human resources development plan, for which 400 million yen is earmarked for the year to next March.

The junta says 10 people were killed in last week's crackdown. Among them were Japanese video journalist Kenji Nagai -- shot when troops opened fire on a crowd of chanting protesters -- whose death has added to international outrage.

A Japanese envoy is in Myanmar to ensure a full investigation into his death, although Tokyo says the small video camera he was clutching as he died near the Sule Pagoda was missing from items returned by Myanmar officials.

Footage smuggled out of the country appeared to show a soldier shooting Nagai at point-blank range, but Myanmar officials told the Japanese envoy on Monday that he was shot accidentally. ($1=115.71 Yen)

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Last updated:Tue Oct 2 01:37:44 2007