RENGO held a meeting with the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, Ismail Razali at RENGO Headquarters where they exchanged various opinions regarding the request to the Japanese Government for Democratization at Myanmar (Burma). Pro-Democracy movement leader Aung San Suu Kyi was just released from being held under house arrest by the military regime on May 6. Amid a growing expectation for the advancement of democratization in Myanmar, Special Envoy Razali appealed for Japan’s support in four major fields, namely electricity, food security, education, and health.

Photo: UN Envoy Razali (center) while making his 2nd visit to RENGO since last year.

During the meeting Special Envoy Razali identified four specific fields which are in particular need of immediate support; this included the stabilization of the electricity supply, securing food supplies, education (including Information Technology buildings), and health management through the supplying of vaccines, etc.

President Sasamori responded to the Special Envoy by saying, “we are greatly interested in advancing an exchange of opinions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Japan’s specific activities on this matter.” RENGO’s Department of International Affairs Executive Director Nakajima then referred to the fact that RENGO is continuing to conduct activities while maintaining close ties with the Burma Office Japan, and stated that “we want to help play a part in the democratization while taking their opinions into consideration as well.”