米・ミャンマー―対話を民主化にいかせ

I love Burma (Myanmar). Burma is one of the most important country in my life.
In order for the Myanmar regime to claim that democracy has taken root solidly in the country, it must release all political prisoners, reconcile itself with ethnic minorities and amend the Constitution, which provides legal foundation for the military’s rule.
(srachai)
私はビルマ（ミャンマー）が大好きです。ビルマは私にとって特別な国なのです。
民主化が定着したというには、政治犯の全員釈放、少数民族との和解に加え、軍の支配構造を支える憲法が改正されなければならない。
（スラチャイ）

--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 3
EDITORIAL: Myanmar must continue with political reforms toward true democracy
米・ミャンマー―対話を民主化にいかせ

Aung San Suu Kyi, the iconic leader of Myanmar's (Burma's) pro-democracy movement, shook hands with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and had a private dinner with her on Dec. 2 in Yangon (Rangoon), the country's commercial capital.
　ミャンマー（ビルマ）の民主化運動指導者アウン・サン・スー・チーさんと米国のクリントン国務長官がヤンゴンで握手し夕食をともにした。

This would have been unimaginable just half a year ago.
半年前には想像できなかった光景である。

After meeting with the country's new president, Thein Sein, Clinton praised the steps he has taken for political reform, including the release of political prisoners and dialogue with pro-democracy forces, and said the United States will consider upgrading diplomatic relations with Myanmar.
　テイン・セイン大統領と会談した長官は、政治犯の一部釈放や民主化勢力との対話など一連の措置を歓迎し、外交関係の格上げを検討すると表明した。

However, Clinton stopped short of explicitly referring to the possibility of lifting Washington’s economic sanctions against Myanmar, saying Thein Sein’s reforms had only just begun.
　一方で改革は始まったばかりだとして経済制裁の解除には踏み込まなかった。

She also warned the regime against military cooperation with North Korea.
北朝鮮との軍事協力には強く釘を刺した。

Clinton’s visit to Myanmar is the first step for President Barack Obama’s new security strategy, which defines the Asia-Pacific region as a “top priority.”
　今回の訪問は、アジア太平洋地域を「最優先」と位置づけるオバマ大統領の安保新戦略の第一歩といえる。

Having been under autocratic military rule for years, Mynamar is now making steady progress toward democracy.
This development can only be very beneficial to the United States and its allies.
軍事政権による独裁体制を長年続けた国が民主化を着実に進めれば、米国や同盟国の大きな利益となる。

But there is no room for unreserved optimism about the country’s current regime, whose key posts are occupied almost exclusively by former senior military officers.
Washington has good reason to think it would be premature to lift sanctions.
　しかし、かつての軍幹部が主要ポストを独占する現体制の行方を完全には楽観できない以上、制裁解除を時期尚早とした米政府の判断は妥当といえる。

The U.S. move is also intended as a warning to China, which has been increasing its influence over the geopolitically important Southeast Asian country.
　地政学上重要な位置にあるミャンマーで影響力を増す中国を牽制（けんせい）する狙いも米国にはあろう。

While the United States has continued its economic sanctions against Myanmar, China has helped develop ports in southern parts of the country and is now building a pipeline to carry natural gas from a Myanmar port to China’s Yunnan province.
制裁を続けるうちに、中国はミャンマー南部の港湾を整備し、雲南省につなぐ天然ガスパイプラインを建設している。

In September, however, Myanmar’s government decided to freeze construction of a dam in the north funded by aid from China.
　ミャンマー政府は９月、中国の支援で北部に建設中のダム工事の凍結を決めた。

The United States and other countries have welcomed the decision as a sign that Myanmar is reconsidering its unqualified pro-China foreign policy.
中国一辺倒の姿勢に変化の兆しがみえたとして米国などは歓迎している。

We, too, welcome the Myanmar government’s attempt to diversify its foreign policy focus and strike a balance between its relations with China and the United States if it contributes to the nation’s progress toward democracy.
　外交を多角化させ、米中間のバランスをとろうとするミャンマー政府の姿勢が、結果として民主化の促進につながるのであれば歓迎したい。

Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) recently re-registered as a political party after a ban on the group was lifted.
　スー・チーさん率いる国民民主連盟（ＮＬＤ）は法改正を受けて政党登録をすませた。

Aung San Suu Kyi has also announced her intention to run for parliamentary by-elections to be held next year.
スー・チーさん自身も来年に予定される国会の補欠選挙に立候補すると表明した。

Some people in the pro-democracy camp question the wisdom of her decision, recalling how the ruling military junta refused to recognize the result of the 1990 general election, in which the NLD won a landslide victory. These skeptics also point out that the number of parliamentary seats that come up for contest in the forthcoming by-elections will be less than one-tenth of the total.
　９０年の総選挙でＮＬＤが圧勝しながら軍政に黙殺された経緯や、補欠選挙で勝っても議席は国会の１０分の１に満たないことから、民主化勢力の内部にもこの決定を疑問視する声がある。

However, it is true that missing out on this opportunity would further muddy the party's political prospects.
　だがこの機会を逃せば、先の展望が見えないことも事実だ。

It is easy to imagine that it was a difficult decision to make.
苦渋の決断と想像できる。

Aung San Suu Kyi must be looking beyond next year to a victory in the general election scheduled for 2015.
その先には１５年の総選挙で勝利をめざす思いがあるはずだ。

In order for the Myanmar regime to claim that democracy has taken root solidly in the country, it must release all political prisoners, reconcile itself with ethnic minorities and amend the Constitution, which provides legal foundation for the military’s rule.
　民主化が定着したというには、政治犯の全員釈放、少数民族との和解に加え、軍の支配構造を支える憲法が改正されなければならない。

We hope the nation’s new government will pluck up the courage to make such bold moves.
新政権には大胆な妥協を望みたい。

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano will both visit the country soon.
　玄葉外相や枝野経済産業相が相次いで現地入りする。

Tokyo should also watch carefully to see whether Myanmar is making steady progress toward democracy before it decides to supply aid to the country or expand bilateral economic ties with it.
援助や経済交流促進の前提として、民主化の着実な進展を見極める必要があることを指摘したい。