Will Japan Become a Model of Irresponsible Development in Burma?

As the Thilawa Special Economic Zone Project (Thilawa SEZ) forges ahead, anger over the treatment of the local communities who are being displaced is growing. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who just signed a deal that formalizes the financing of Thilawa SEZ is treating the communities currently living on the site area with undisguised disdain, drawing ire from local and international organizations, including on their home turf.

Covering around 2,400 hectares of land, the Thilawa SEZ is located 20km outside Rangoon and will include factories, a deep sea port, housing developments and other infrastructure for transport and communications. The project is a joint effort between Japan and Burma, with the Burma government and domestic businesses holding a 51% stake and the Japan government and Japanese businesses owning a 49% stake with funding being channelled through JICA as part of Japan’s overseas development assistance. Yet in order for these components to go ahead thousands of local people will be displaced. Phase One of the project, which has already started, has seen the relocation of 300 villagers yet the relocation site consists of inadequate housing, no alternative farmland, a lack of a clean water supply and very few livelihood opportunities, leaving people in debt just a few months after moving […]

Press Release: Japan Must Postpone Thilawa SEZ Financing Until Forced Displacement Reviewed

Development project near Rangoon funded by Japanese government and Japanese auto manufacturers built on forced displacement and land confiscation

(Washington, D.C., April 1, 2014) – The U.S. Campaign for Burma (USCB) strongly condemns the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for failing to responsibly manage its investment in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) outside Rangoon. JICA should not proceed with loan disbursement on April 10 as planned until proper due diligence is performed and impacted communities are provided with resettlement agreements that meet international standards […]

New Investment in Dawei Project Must Follow International Best Practices

Ahead of this week’s Japan-ASEAN summit, the Dawei Development Association calls on the Japanese government, development agencies and investors to refrain from investing in the Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tanintharyi Region until international best practices are firmly […]

Burma: Japanese Leader’s Visit Should Highlight Rights

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should make improving the human rights situation in Burma a top priority during his visit to the country this week, Human Rights Watch said today. Abe’s three-day visit, which begins May 24, 2013, will be the first by a Japanese leader to Burma in 36 years. Dozens of major Japanese corporations will accompany the prime minister

Press Statement on Visit to Japan (2/2013)

1. Under the sponsorship of the Nippon Foundation (TNF) a delegation of the UNFC paid a visit to Tokyo, Japan, from April 1 to 5, 2013.

2. The TNF of Japan and the UNFC delegation together reviewed the work of delivering emergency aid in one year period, given by the TNF, to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) in the regions of the ethnic nationalities and had discussions on future programs […]

Bridge Loans to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Promoting Medium-Long Term Development of Myanmar through Supporting Its Return to the International Financial Market

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC; Governor: Hiroshi Okuda) provided bridge loans (short term bridging loans) with the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on January 17, about 512 million U.S. dollars to clear the arrears of past loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and on January 25, 430 million U.S. dollars to also clear the arrears of past loans from the International Development Association (IDA), one of the World Bank Group […]

New Lending Must Address Challenges on Burma’s Road to Development

On 11 October, Japan announced that it would be resuming loans to Burma. It also hinted that it will assist the heavily indebted country in clearing its arrears and establishing good financial standing with international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Japan will be forgiving US$3.7 billion or about 60% of the total $6 billion debt Burma owes; it is also planning to use bridge loans by Japanese banks to help clear Burma’s $900 million of arrears with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Japanese Finance Minister Koriki Jojima stated, “Japan is planning to resume its full program in Myanmar with yen loans to help support Myanmar’s sustainable economic development…at the earliest possible timing next year.” He further explained that Japan’s development priorities in Burma would focus specifically in the areas of electricity and road rehabilitation, rural development and improvement of port facilities.

At this moment in time, Burma’s re-entry into the world economy, specifically the ability to take loans from institutions such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and Japan itself, carries great risk. The type of projects to be funded, the rate of investment, the sectors in which investment will take place, the presence of monitoring mechanisms, and the decision-making process are just some of the factors that will determine the long-term outcome of international financial support […]

Japan Should Investigate Abuses at Burma Hydropower Project before Considering New Support

Burma Rivers Network (BRN) together with the Karenni Development Research Group (KDRG), representing dam-affected communities in Burma, urges the Japanese Government to investigate abuses linked to Lawpita (Baluchaung) No. 2 hydropower plant […]

Japan: Press Burma’s Foreign Minister on Rights

Political Prisoners, Not Just Aid and Trade, Should Top Agenda

Japanese officials should press Burma’s visiting foreign minister on the need for genuine reforms to improve human rights in Burma, Human Rights Watch said today. Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin will visit Tokyo from October 20 to 22, 2011.

Wunna Maung Lwin’s visit to Japan is the first by a foreign minister from Burma in 16 years. His meetings with Japanese officials are expected to include discussion of increased development assistance and possible trade agreements […]

Activists in Japan Protest Against the New Parliament

In the lead up to the convening of the new parliament in Burma, the Network for Democracy in Burma organized a series of protests calling on the Japanese government not to recognize the parliament that was elected through the regime’s undemocratic elections in November 2010 […]