Burma: Japan gives $20 million to Mekong region - but nothing to Burma

At the first Mekong-Japan foreign ministers' meeting in Tokyo, Japan handed out approximately US$20 million for development projects in the Mekong basin. However, Burma was excluded the list of aid recipients.

Japan cancelled nearly $5 million in development assistance to junta-ruled Burma in October last year following the heavy-handed military crackdown on street protests in late September. Japanese news photographer Kenji Nagai was killed by the military during the protests.

About 40 Burmese activists in Japan staged a protest in front of the meeting venue, demanding an end to international assistance for the military-ruled country.