Japan freezes aid to Burma

Japan has frozen all financial aid to Burma, intensifying pressure on the Southeast Asian nation’s military junta to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Foreign Ministry official Kojiro Matsumoto said Japan reached its decision after efforts at dialogue with Burmese officials failed.

“If Suu Kyi was released, Japan would reconsider resuming aid,” Matsumoto said.

Japan is one of the few developed countries in direct talks with Burma’s military government and is the Southeast Asian country’s largest aid donor.

Tokyo has tried to engage Burma’s military government in a dialogue with promises of aid.

Its new stance puts it closer to the positions of the US and the EU, which have already imposed sanctions to press for Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi’s freedom.