11/19/2020 Talks essential for viable solution: Japanese envoy says about Rohingya crisis | The Daily Star

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12:00 AM, November 17, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 01:48 PM, November 17, 2020

Talks essential for viable solution:

Japanese envoy says about Rohingya
crisis

Ito Naoki

Porimol Palma and Refayet Ullah Mirdha

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11/19/2020 Talks essential for viable solution: Japanese envoy says about Rohingya crisis | The Daily Star

Japan is directly communicating with Myanmar, emphasising the importance of Rohingya

repatriation and accountability as it considers a long-term solution to the crisis and
regional stability essential conditions for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

"For us, to see the resolution of Rohingya crisis and stability in the region is part of our
joint efforts to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific. Japan, Bangladesh and some other
countries in the region can jointly work for stability," said Ito Naoki, Japanese ambassador
to Bangladesh.

"My hope is that Myanmar will listen to Japan and work on early repatriation of the
Rohingyas," Naoki said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star at his official
residence in the capital on November 8.

About a million Rohingyas, 750,000 of whom fled a brutal military crackdown in 2017, are
living in Bangladesh. No Rohingya returned home despite repeated attempts over more
than three years. Rohingyas say they don't have guarantee of citizenship, freedom of
movement and other basic rights in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

Though Myanmar faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice, the UN
Security Council has yet to take any concrete measure.

Another conflict in Rakhine, Shan, Kachin and Chin states between Arakan Army and
Myanmar military has escalated in the recent months.

Experts see these as threats to regional stability and development.

Meanwhile, Myanmar held its national elections on November 8.

Japanese envoy Naoki has a strong hope that the repatriation process will begin soon
after the polls, but for that, the dialogue between Myanmar and Bangladesh needs to go
on.

The meeting of Joint Working Group -- comprised of Bangladesh and Myanmar officials --
has not been held since May last year.

He said Myanmar was busy with elections and other domestic issues before the polls and
that it would be flexible after the elections in terms of addressing the Rohingya crisis.
Also, they will have the new mandate to settle the pending issues affecting the country.

Japan can play its role in whatever way required, the diplomat said, adding, "We are
happy to be part of the dialogue if two parties want. We can provide humanitarian

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11/19/2020 Talks essential for viable solution: Japanese envoy says about Rohingya crisis | The Daily Star

assistance and help create other environment that is conducive for repatriation."

Asked for comments that Japan, a major investor in Myanmar, faces criticism for not
doing enough to pressurise Myanmar, Naoki said Japan sent a message directly to the
very high level of the Myanmar government.

Following Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe's talk to his Bangladesh counterpart
Sheikh Hasina in August, its foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi visited Myanmar, met its
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar Armed Forces Commander in Chief Min
Aung Hlaing to give a clear message that Japan wants early repatriation and enforcement
of ICJ provisional measures.

Japan took the same stance on resolving the Rohingya crisis when Suu Kyi and Min Aung
Hlaing visited Tokyo in October last year, he said, adding, "As far as I am aware, Japan is
the only country that does this, making use of the channel it has due to its traditional
relationship with Myanmar."

Naoki said Japan will also continue to provide humanitarian assistance, noting that over
the last three years Japan's contribution is $123 million.

Stating that free and open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) focuses on five areas -- humanitarian
assistance, disaster prevention, quality infrastructure, connectivity and freedom of
navigation, he said addressing the Rohingya crisis is part of FOIP.

Building connectivity and promoting trade and economy between Bangladesh and
Myanmar can help solve much of the problem, the Japanese envoy said.

In 2012, Myanmar and Bangladesh came up with a memorandum of understanding on

road and rail connectivity. The two countries can resume the dialogue, he said.

"It may seem unrealistic, but unless you can do that, I don't see a long-term solution or
stability of the Rohingya situation. Dialogue is a must for that," Naoki said.

Asked about Quad security dialogue held among the foreign ministers of Japan, Australia,
India and the US in Tokyo -- an initiative that generated concerns that a new alliance was
in the offing amid escalating US-China tension over trade and India-China strain over
border, the Japanese ambassador said Quad is not a military alliance meant to defend the
country or region as a group.

"So, we are not asking Bangladesh to be part of a military ally, but we are saying that we
should build together free and open Indo-Pacific under the common vision with the
shared values."
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11/19/2020 Talks essential for viable solution: Japanese envoy says about Rohingya crisis | The Daily Star

He said even though currently these four countries are participating in a maritime
exercise in Malabar, the Bay of Bengal, they are not military alliance. Similarly, the US
and Bangladesh, which are doing naval exercise, are not military allies.

However, it is important to do a joint naval exercise for this region's stability.

"I really see that Bangladesh can subscribe to those shared values … because that's a
common goal of prosperity, stability and development for the country and the Bay of
Bengal region in the Indo-Pacific."

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