スー・チー来日 官民連携で国造りを支えたい

The Yomiuri Shimbun April 20, 2013
Myanmar nation building must be supported by govt, private sector
スー・チー来日　官民連携で国造りを支えたい（4月19日付・読売社説）

Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Myanmar's largest opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), has visited Japan at the invitation of the government and had successive meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and others.
　ミャンマーの最大野党である国民民主連盟（ＮＬＤ）の党首アウン・サン・スー・チー氏が日本政府の招きで来日し、安倍首相や岸田外相らと相次いで会談した。

This is her first visit in 27 years. She was a guest researcher at Kyoto University in the mid-1980s before getting involved in the democracy movement in her home country.
　スー・チー氏の来日は、民主化運動に身を投じる前の１９８０年代半ば、京大客員研究員として滞在して以来２７年ぶりだ。

Suu Kyi confronted the junta and was placed under house arrest for a total of about 15 years. Her Japan visit symbolizes Myanmar's democratization, which has been promoted by the administration of President Thein Sein since the country changed to civilian rule two years ago.
　スー・チー氏は軍政と対立し、約１５年間も自宅軟禁を強いられていた。今回の来日実現は、２年前の民政移管後、テイン・セイン政権が推進しているミャンマーの民主化を象徴するものだ。

The Japanese government has welcomed the Thein Sein administration's reform efforts and has been proactively supporting the country through such actions as restarting official development assistance projects, including yen loans, ahead of the United States or European countries.
　日本政府はこれまで、テイン・セイン政権の改革を歓迎し、円借款など政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）の再開を欧米に先駆けて決めるなど積極的に支援してきた。

NLD and democratization

The government is trying to strengthen its relationship with the NLD on the thinking that growth of a sound opposition party in the national assembly could lead to further democratization of the country and stability of society. It is also thought that the NLD is likely to further gain strength in a general election to be held in 2015.
　ＮＬＤとの関係を強めるのは、議会内で健全な野党が育つことがミャンマーの一層の民主化と社会の安定につながるとの判断があるからだ。２０１５年の総選挙でＮＬＤが勢力を拡大しそうだという背景もある。

Abe told Suu Kyi during their talks, "We'd like to support your country so that reform can progress further." He then explained to her the government's policy of supporting Myanmar's nation building through ODA and private investment.
　安倍首相は会談で、「改革が一層進展するよう支援していきたい」と述べ、ＯＤＡと民間投資の両面でミャンマーの国造りを支える日本政府の方針を説明した。

Suu Kyi responded that she hopes Japan will cooperate with Myanmar in the country's development. She asked for Japan's assistance for her country in vocational and agricultural education, among other fields.
　スー・チー氏も「発展に協力してほしい」と語り、職業・農業教育などでの支援を求めた。

Concrete achievements

Since she was elected in the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Assembly of the Union, in spring last year, she has been trying to transform from a pro-democracy leader outside the government into a pragmatic politician. To respond to supporters' expectations, she needs concrete achievements such as an improvement in the country's standard of living.
　スー・チー氏は昨春の下院議員当選以来、在野の民主化運動指導者から現実的な政治家への脱皮を図っている。支持者の期待に応えるには、生活水準の向上など具体的な成果を必要としていよう。

There is a rough road ahead for Myanmar's nation building. As Suu Kyi insists, the Constitution must be revised for further democratization, including the abolishment of guaranteed seats for the military in the assembly, which are stipulated in the Constitution to secure the military's political influence.
　ミャンマーの国造りの道のりは険しい。さらなる民主化には、スー・チー氏が訴える通り、軍の政治的影響力を保証するために定められた議会の軍人枠の撤廃など、憲法の改正が避けられまい。

Efforts of the Myanmar government to improve relations with ethnic minorities who have confronted it have seen rough going, meaning national reconciliation is not in sight. Also, worsening public security may pour cold water onto Japanese companies' passion for investment in the country.
　対立が続く少数民族との関係改善も難航し、国民和解の道筋はまだ見えない。治安悪化は日本企業の投資熱に水を差しかねない。

Of all countries, Japan is providing the most economic assistance to Myanmar. It is important for Japan that the public and private sectors cooperate in development assistance to Myanmar, which contributes to the stabilization of society, such as raising the standard of living for ethnic minorities and improvement in roads and electricity.
　日本は最大の経済支援国だ。少数民族の生活の底上げや、道路や電力の整備など社会の安定に寄与する開発支援に、官民が連携して取り組む意義は大きい。

The strategic value of Myanmar, which is situated in an important location between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, has been ever increasing. Myanmar has turned away from its exclusively pro-China diplomacy under military rule and has been strengthening relations with such countries as Japan, India and the United States.
　インド洋と南シナ海を結ぶ要衝に位置するミャンマーの戦略的価値は高まる一方だ。ミャンマーは軍政時代の中国一辺倒の外交から転換し、日本や米国、インドとの関係を強めつつある。

To keep China, which has been increasing its influence through military and economic expansion, in check, it is important for Japan to deepen relations with Myanmar.
　軍事・経済両面で膨張し、影響力を増大する中国を牽(けん)制(せい)する上でも、ミャンマーとの関係を深めることが日本には重要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 19, 2013)
（2013年4月19日01時17分  読売新聞）