Myanmar ‘shadow government’ asks Japan for recognition, office

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) The "shadow government" formed by former lawmakers and those associated with a civilian supremacy movement in Myanmar has asked Japan for recognition, Japanese media said Tuesday.

The National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar, in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, also revealed plans to establish an office in Tokyo, Kyodo News reported.

The letter was sent last month.

The NUG has opened operations in the US, UK and South Korea.

It has launched a worldwide fight for civilian supremacy in the Buddhist-majority southeast Asian country.

Japan has not yet recognized the military junta but has distanced itself from sanctions imposed on the military by several western countries.

"The NUG is also not expected to be recognized as the legitimate government,” according to an unnamed official from the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Also, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will visit Myanmar Jan. 7 - 8, his office said Tuesday.

The invitation was extended by Myanmar's military ruler Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.

It will be the first high-level visit from a foreign official since the coup.

The announcement came as Sen met visiting Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin.

The Burmese military, known locally as Tatmadaw, launched a military coup in February and jailed the National League for Democracy (NLD) leadership led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi who was sentenced Monday to four years in jail.

More than 1,000 people were killed while over 5,400 others were arrested by junta forces, many of whom have been since released.