Japan and Junta Make Dangerous Bedfellows
“The billions of dollars provided by Japan not only subsidized and legitimized the military-backed government (and its apparatus), but also served to entrench its unitary, centralized governance system – placing Japan firmly on Naypyidaw’s side of the conflict, against ethnic groups demanding federalism, and making a mockery of Japan’s claims to be supporting national reconciliation in Burma.”
While intensifying airstrikes continue on the ground in Karen State, the Japanese government and businesses are deepening their entanglements with the Myanmar military junta. This is severely undercutting international efforts such as sanctions, that are aimed at ending the junta’s atrocity crimes and horrendous violence against the people of Myanmar. Meanwhile, other international actors have taken important steps to disengage with the junta to ensure their actions do not legitimize the junta’s craven attempts to seize power – including the US, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand boycotting the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter Terrorism (ADMM Counter Terrorism Meeting) and the UK Ambassador refusing to present embassy credentials to the junta.
After strong efforts from civil society, the US and South Korea have joined Australia and New Zealand to boycott the ASEAN’s Counter Terrorism Meeting, which was hosted by Russia and co-chaired by Myanmar from 20 – 21 July, 2022, in Moscow. These countries understand that Russia and Myanmar’s military junta have no place leading or participating in this meeting, with the US Department of Defense going as far as to state that their conduct is “in clear breach of ASEAN values”. Unlike these other countries, Japan did not disclose publicly its position on whether it was attending the ADMM Counter Terrorism Meeting in Moscow. Japan has diverged with its allies, and hasn’t taken any actions to stop the military’s violence – including targeted sanctions on the military leadership and businesses. Additionally, Japan continues training Myanmar military personnel – most recently training an air force lieutenant colonel, who has deployed forces that are implicated in serious abuses in Magwe Region. This is the same military that has committed genocide against the Rohingya, and crimes against humanity and war crimes for decades against other ethnic minorities.
Last week, internal documents from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a Japanese governmental agency that is responsible for technical cooperation under Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), surfaced in Japanese news. According to Tokyo Keizai, JICA reviewed their travel restrictions and decided to dispatch economic cooperation experts to Myanmar to engage in development ventures, despite ongoing extreme acts of violence committed by the Myanmar military in throughout Myanmar. The internal documents detail how JICA-contracted experts expressed concerns that a full-scale dispatching of experts may risk lending legitimacy to the military junta and also worried for their safety. While Japan has previously suspended new non-humanitarian development aid projects in Myanmar on 31 March, 2021, following the massacre of more than 100 civilians on Armed Forces Day, Japan has otherwise failed to take action to stop the Myanmar military’s atrocity crimes.
Meanwhile, the Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN) released a briefing paper last week detailing the Myanmar military’s ongoing brutal violence against the people in southern Dawna Range, Karen State, including intensive airstrikes and destruction of Nippon Foundation funded “Peace Town”, Lay Kay Kaw. Intended to be a safe haven for returning refugees during the failed peace process prior to the attempted coup d’état, the town is now in ruins from airstrikes and horrific attacks by the junta, for which 3,000 people have fled for their lives. Nearby, Japanese funded infrastructure projects have fuelled conflict and served the interests of the military junta – including JICA-funded bridge projects in the process of reconstruction in the East-West Economic Corridor. One of the businesses involved in the reconstruction project is IHI Corporation, which has a joint venture with the military junta’s ministry of construction. KPSN is critical of JICA and Japan’s ODA for its premature investments in Karen State, which helped strengthen the Myanmar military through economic ventures during the failed peace process. KPSN links this current crisis to Japan’s actions during the previous decade, the so called peace process, saying “The billions of dollars provided by Japan not only subsidized and legitimized the military-backed government (and its apparatus), but also served to entrench its unitary, centralized governance system – placing Japan firmly on Naypyidaw’s side of the conflict, against ethnic groups demanding federalism, and making a mockery of Japan’s claims to be supporting national reconciliation in Burma.”
The Japanese government employs a thinly-veiled policy of quiet and soft diplomacy towards Myanmar but underneath this they are maintaining their business interests with the terrorist military junta, failing to uphold principles of human rights and democracy. For example, while some foreign companies have divested their interests in military-linked business, Japanese companies continue to have investments in the Myanmar military-linked enterprises, such as the Y complex, a mixed-use real estate development on land controlled by the military junta’s Quartermaster General (QMG). Annual lease payments, which are as high as $2.1 million USD, are paid to the QMG, an entity that has been sanctioned by the US, UK and Canada. Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), which is owned by the state, is co-financing the project. Most recently, Mr. Hideo Watanabe, the Chairman of the Japan-Myanmar Association met with the illegal junta to discuss Japan’s assistance in regards to “economic development and bilateral cooperation on economic and financial matters” as well as trade and investment. Japan is placing their economic interests ahead of the lives, well-being and security of the people of Myanmar and their desire for a genuine federal democracy.
Japanese businesses must adhere to the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and cut their ties with the military junta, otherwise they risk being complicit in the grave atrocity crimes committed by the junta. Furthermore, the Japanese government and JICA must stop recognizing the junta – as they have no legitimacy or authority to represent Myanmar in permitting development projects. This must include ending ODA projects that benefit the junta and their cronies. Proactive steps must be taken by the Japanese government to implement targeted sanctions on the military junta and their cronies, including cutting off their access to funds, jet fuel and weapons. Otherwise, Japan and its businesses are further emboldening the junta and risking complicity in its heinous crimes including war crimes and crimes against humanity. Japan must simultaneously support democracy, human rights, and work with the National Unity Government and National Unity Consultative Council. Additionally, they must support Spring Revolution forces, civil society, and ethnic communities as they further consolidate their resistance and advance the revolution to dismantle this ruthless terrorist military and to build a genuine federal democracy.
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[1] One year following the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, the former military junta changed the country’s name from Burma to Myanmar overnight. Progressive Voice uses the term ‘Myanmar’ in acknowledgement that most people of the country use this term. However, the deception of inclusiveness and the historical process of coercion by the former State Peace and Development Council military regime into usage of ‘Myanmar’ rather than ‘Burma’ without the consent of the people is recognized and not forgotten. Thus, under certain circumstances, ‘Burma’ is used.
Resources from the past week
Statements and Press Releases
United States: Open Letter to ADMM Dialogue Partner
By 448 Myanmar, regional and international organizations
Japan: Open Letter to ADMM Dialogue Partner
By 448 Myanmar, regional and international organizations
Republic of Korea: Open Letter to ADMM Dialogue Partner
By 448 Myanmar, regional and international organizations
UK Envoy Right To Deny Junta Credentials Despite Expulsion
By Burma Human Rights Network
10 years in dire conditions perpetuates severe mental health problems for Rohingya
By Doctors Without borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
By General Strike Committee
Atrocity Alert No. 308: Myanmar (Burma), Children and Armed Conflict and Syria
By Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Myanmar: Urgent Needs for Displaced Communities in Southern Shan
By International Committee of the Red Cross
By International Court of Justice
India supplying fuzes to Myanmar military, supporting indiscriminate attacks
By Justice For Myanmar
By National Unity Government (President Office)
By National Unity Government (President Office)
Reports
Myanmar: Violence Against Health Care in Conflict 2021
By Insecurity Insight and Safeguarding Health in Conflict
Paths of Assistance: Opportunities for Aid and Protection along the Thailand-Myanmar Border
By Refugees International
Myanmar Situation – Inter-Agency Operational Update – 05 July 2022
By United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNHCR Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific (RBAP) Myanmar Emergency – External Update, 6 July 2022
By United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
WLB: April-May Situation Update of Burma/Myanmar
By Women’s League of Burma
Progressive Voice is a participatory, rights-based policy research and advocacy organization that was born out of Burma Partnership. Burma Partnership officially ended its work on October 10, 2016 transitioning to a rights-based policy research and advocacy organization called Progressive Voice. For further information, please see our press release “Burma Partnership Celebrates Continuing Regional Solidarity for Burma and Embraces the Work Ahead for Progressive Voice.”
