The Japanese government should lead international efforts to prevent the junta’s sham election and strengthen its support for Myanmar people’s struggle to establish a genuine federal democracy

To:

H.E. Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan
H.E. Takeshi Iwaya, Foreign Minister of Japan

Request Letter: The Japanese government should lead international efforts to prevent the junta’s sham election and strengthen its support for Myanmar people’s struggle to establish a genuine federal democracy

Your Excellencies,

We, the undersigned Myanmar, Japanese, regional and international civil society organizations, welcome the Foreign Minister’s statement of 1 August 2025 on Myanmar, and urge the Japanese government to actively collaborate closely with other democratic nations to ensure the junta’s sham election does not occur and to robustly support the Myanmar people’s ongoing efforts to build genuine federal democracy. For nearly five years, the people of Myanmar have shown immeasurable courage and sacrifice to resist the military’s tyranny. In this crucial moment for Myanmar, it is vital to denounce the Myanmar military junta’s attempts to manufacture false legitimacy through a sham election. 

We welcome the Foreign Minister’s statement expressing grave concern regarding the worsening crisis in Myanmar and the Myanmar military junta’s plan to hold a so-called election in December 2025. We appreciate Japan’s recognition that any election conducted under current conditions—without the release of political prisoners and continuing violence against civilians, particularly airstrikes—“could only provoke further strong backlash from the people of Myanmar and make a peaceful resolution more difficult.”

This clear statement from Japan sends an important message to the military junta that the international community will not acquiesce, endorse, or be complicit in accepting its fabricated legitimacy. It is well established that the junta has neither the legal right nor the political legitimacy necessary to conduct any election in Myanmar. Furthermore, the junta does not have effective territorial and administrative control over many areas, and therefore cannot hold elections there.

The Foreign Minister’s statement also shows the people of Myanmar that Japan is clearly responding to their voices, as the people have repeatedly called for the unequivocal rejection of the junta’s sham election by the international community. The junta’s lifting of the state of emergency is not a genuine step toward progress, but rather a move to pave the way for its sham election. Despite the formal lifting of the state of emergency, the junta has extended martial law in 63 townships and significantly escalated airstrikes and artillery shelling in various areas where it has lost effective control to the democratic resistance movement. These intensified attacks aim to further devastate civilian populations—who have suffered severe junta attacks, particularly since the earthquake in March—as well as to suppress resistance forces ahead of the sham election. Likewise, the junta’s corresponding name change from “State Administration Council” to “State Security and Peace Commission” is a calculated attempt intended to disguise the military junta as a civilian institution, circumvent sanctions and deceive the international community. Moreover, the election is anchored in the military-drafted 2008 Constitution—a pseudo “democratic” framework that has long been used by the military to oppress and dominate Myanmar’s politics, which has been firmly rejected by those striving for federal democracy. Placing hope in the military’s sincerity—as expressed in your statement—will not lead to meaningful change. 

The Japanese government has had a longstanding relationship with ASEAN and its member states. We welcome Japan’s alignment with ASEAN’s principled position that the junta’s sham election is not a solution and will only prolong Myanmar’s crisis and deepen the suffering of its people. By reinforcing this unequivocal consensus and working with democratic countries to further this consensus, Japan must take a leadership role within the wider international community to reject the junta’s attempts to manufacture legitimacy as it has continued to commit atrocity crimes against Myanmar’s people with complete impunity. 

In the coming months, we expect that Japan will continue to match its strong words with sustained and principled action. To this end, we urge Japan to: 

• Actively and closely collaborate with ASEAN and democratic nations to prevent the junta’s sham elections from taking place and to decisively act to support the Myanmar people’s ongoing efforts to establish a genuine federal democracy;
• Take concrete actions to strengthen the international community’s opposition to the junta’s sham election, curb the junta’s capacity to commit atrocity crimes against the Myanmar people, and ensure humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable communities through border-based channels;
• Immediately cease all engagements with and support to the military junta, and instead engage formally and meaningfully with Myanmar’s democratic stakeholders and legitimate representatives in support of the people’s federal democracy efforts. 

While the Japanese government’s expression of concern regarding the junta’s sham election plan is a step in the right direction, we remain deeply concerned that the junta may be benefiting from the Japanese government’s other engagements including the provision of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and public funds. The receipt of these funds could further enable the junta’s sham election and its atrocities against the people. We therefore reiterate the calls of civil society organizations urging the Japanese government to suspend all ongoing yen loan projects.

Moral leadership and principled diplomacy from Japan will be critical in preventing the illegal junta from advancing its sham election that would only deepen violence and instability in Myanmar and the region.

Today, the people of Myanmar are making immeasurable efforts and sacrifices to build a genuine federal democracy and sustainable peace from the ground up. As such, we sincerely appreciate Japan’s recognition of the Myanmar people’s democratic aspirations in the face of the junta’s relentless violence against them. Going forward, we trust that Japan will sustain a principled approach and firm commitment to democracy, human rights, and peace in Myanmar by heeding the Myanmar people’s calls and supporting their efforts to end military tyranny and establish a genuine federal democracy. 

Yours sincerely, 

The Undersigned: 

• ayus:Network of Buddhists Volunteers on International Cooperation
• Pacific Asia Resource Center (PARC)
• Friends of the Earth Japan
• Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)
• Network Against Japan Arms Trade (NAJAT)
• Mekong Watch
• Progressive Voice

Endorsing Organizations (172 Organizations):

Addition of one organization on October 7, 2025 (173 Organizations):

• 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
• A New Burma (ANB)
• Action Committee for Democracy Development (ACDD)
• Africa Japan Forum
• All Burma Democratic Front in New Zealand
• Alternative People’s Linkage in Asia (APLA)
• ALTSEAN-Burma
• Anti Dictatorship in Burma – DMVPA Area
• Anti-junta Forces Coordination Committee – Mandalay
• Anti-Poverty Network
• Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center (HURIGHTS OSAKA)
• Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD)
• Asian Health Institute (AHI)
• ASIAN PEOPLE’S FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY
• Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
• Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP)
• Association of Spring Rainbow (ASR)
• Association Suisse-Birmanie (ASB) 
• Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
• Auckland Kachin Community NZ
• Auckland Zomi Community
• Aung San Suu Kyi Park Norway
• Australia Karen Organization (AKO)  
• Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organisation (AWDO), Magway
• Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organisation (AWDO), Nagphe
• Barefoot Gen Fan Club
• Blood Money Campaign (BMC)
• Burma Action Ireland
• Burma Canadian Network
• Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
• Burmese Community Group (Manawatu, NZ)
• Burmese Relief Center Japan
• Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK)
• Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation (New Zealand)
• Chin Community in Norway
• Chin Community of Auckland
• Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO)
• CRPH Support Group, Norway and members organizations 
• Defend Myanmar Democracy (DMD)
• Democracy Youth of Myanmar
• Democratic Party for a New Society, Norway
• Earth Tree
• Educational Initiatives Prague
• Equality Myanmar (EQMM)
• European Karen Network (EKN)
• Federal Corner
• Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (New Zealand)
• Federation of Workers’ Union of the Burmese Citizen in Japan
• Free Burma Campaign (South Africa) (FBC(SA))
• Fukuoka NGO forum on ADB
• General Strike Committee of Nationalities – GSCN
• Generation Wave (GW)
• Heiwa Wo Tsukuridasu Shyukyosha net
• Human Rights Educators Network (HREN)
• Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
• Human Rights Now
• International Association Myanmar-Switzerland (IAMS) 
• International Karen Organization (IKO)
• Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace
• Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES)
• Japan Overseas Christian Medical Cooperative Service
• Japan Tropical Forest Action Network (JATAN)
• Justice & Equality Focus (JEF)
• Justice For Myanmar (JFM)
• Justice Movement for Community – Innlay
• K’cho Ethnic Association (Europe)
• Kachin Association Norway
• Kachin Human Rights Watch
• Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT)
• Karen Community Association – UK (KCA-UK) 
• Karen Community in Norway
• Karen Community of Canada (KCC)
• Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
• Karen Organization of America (KOA)
• Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN)
• Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
• Karen Women’s Organization (KWO)
• Karenni Human Rights Group
• Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO)
• Karenni Society New Zealand
• Kayan Rescue Committee (KRC) 
• Keng Tung Youth 
• Kenpo wo Ikasu-kai
• kurume overseas volunteer circle
• Kyae Lak Myay
• Kyauktada Strike Committee (KSC)
• Let’s Help Each Other (LHEO)
• Magway Region Human Rights Network (MHRN)
• MATA Sagaing Region
• Meeting to Hear the Appeals of Myanmar (Burma) Citizens
• Metta Campaign Mandalay
• Music Dream Creation
• Muslim Youth Network
• Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP)
• Myanmar Anti-military Coup Movement in New Zealand
• Myanmar Campaign Network
• Myanmar Catholic Community In Norway
• Myanmar Community Group Christchurch New Zealand 
• Myanmar Community Group Dunedin New Zealand 
• Myanmar Community in Norway
• Myanmar Emergency Fund-Canada
• Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand 
• Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand) 
• Myanmar Hindu Union
• Myanmar International Assistance Organization
• Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
• Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
• myannma-monndaiwokanngaerukai
• MyaYar Knowledge Tree
• NAGOYA NGO CENTER
• Nelson Myanmar Community Group New Zealand 
• Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)  
• New Myanmar Foundation (NMF)
• New Zealand Campaign for Myanmar
• New Zealand Doctors for NUG
• New Zealand Karen Association 
• New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
• NIPPONZAN MYOHOJI
• NLD Organization Committee (International) Norway
• Norway Matu Community
• Norway Rvwang Community
• Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica (NLTA)
• Olive Organization
• Overseas Mon Association (New Zealand)
• Political Prisoners Network Myanmar – PPNM
• Progressive Muslim Youth Association – PMYA
• Pwintphyu Development Organisation (PDO)
• Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
• Rohingya Community in Norway
• Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network (RMCN)
• Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
• Save Myanmar – USA
• Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
• Services for the Health in Asian and African Regions (SHARE)
• Shan Community (New Zealand)
• Shan MATA
• Shiminnohiroba  kenpounokai
• Sisters 2 Sisters
• Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation 
• Southern Initiatives (SI)
• Southern Youth Development Organization (SYDO)
• Sujata Sisters Group (NZ)
• Ta’ang Students and Youth Union (TSYU) 
• Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO)
• Terra Renaissance
• Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB)
• The Ladies Organization
• Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar Organization
• U.S. Campaign for Burma
• Union of Karenni State Youth – UKSY
• Volunteers in Myanmar
• WE21JAPAN
• Women Advocacy Coalition – Myanmar (WAC-M)
• Women Lead Resource Center
• WOMEN’S DEMIOCRATIC CLUB, Femin
• Yain Nweh Par (Rainbow Win The Storm – RIS)
• Yangon Deaf Group
• Youth Empowerment
• Youth for Democratization of Myanmar (UDM)
• Zomi Christian Fellowship of Norway
• Zomi Community Norway
• ဂန့်ဂေါဖွံ့ဖြိုးတိုးတက်ရေးအဖွဲ့
• မင်းလှတောင်သူများအစုအဖွဲ့
• သမိုင်းသယ်ဆောင်သူများ
• အညာလွင်ပြင်ရပ်ဝန်း
• The Takaki Fund for Citizen Science

and 6 other organizations

Additional list of organizations endorsed on 8 October 2025 (+ one undisclosed organization)

• ဒို့မြေကွန်ရက် ( LIOH )
• ပွင့်ဖြူလယ်ယာမြေကွန်ရက်
• ဒို့မြေပြည်သူ့အကျိုးပြုအဖွဲ့ (တွံတေး)
• 5/ of Zaya State Strike Committee
• Anti-coup Forces Coordination Committee (ACFCC -Mandalay)
• Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon-AJAY
• A-Yar-Taw People Strike Steering Committee
• Budalin Strike Force
• Chaung Oo Township Youth Strike Committee
• Civil Information Network (CIN)
• Dagon University Student’s Union (DUSU)
• Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
• General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
• General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
• Hpakant Hmawlae Strike Force
• Kalay Township People’s Strike Steering Committee -KPSSC
• Kanbalu Strike Force
• Kani Strike Force
• Latpadaung Anti-coup Strike Force
• Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
• LGBT Alliance Myanmar
• Magway People’s Revolution Committee
• Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
• Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
• MayMyo Strike Force
• Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
• Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
• Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA)
• Myaung People Strike Steering Committee
• Myaung Youth Network
• Myingyan Civillian Movement Committee
• Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
• Anyar Pyit Taing Htaung Lay Myar
• Shwe Bo Strike Force
• University of Medicine Mandalay Student Union Revolutionary Front – UMMSURF
• University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
• Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
• White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
• Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
• Yadanabon University Students’ Union ( YDNBUSU)
• Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee

Contact:

Mekong Watch
3F Aoki Bldg., Taito 1-12-11, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0016 Japan
Phone: +81-3-3832-5034
E-mail: contact@mekongwatch.org

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