USDA chief to visit Japan

by Nem Davies

Tuesday, 28 July 2009 19:01

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The Secretary General of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), a pro-junta civilian group, is all set to visit Japan for a trip meant to lobby, sources told Mizzima. Htay Oo, the USDA chief, is awaiting approval from the host country on his five-day proposed visit to Japan in the second week of August, sources said. The Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, Lt-Gen Htay Oo is known as U Htay Oo and heads the USDA, of which Burma’s military supremo Snr. Gen Than Shwe is a patron. “When I asked the person in-charge of Myanmar affairs, I was told that the trip has not yet been decided,” an official at the Japanese Foreign Ministry told Mizzima on Tuesday. The timing of the trip coincides with the upcoming elections in Japan, in which the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is expected to win over the current ruling coalition party, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and is expected to form the government. < Prev   Next >