The Japanese government has announced that it may cut all non-humanitarian assistance to Myanmar. Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, announced in late May that Japan was considering cutting aid even for ongoing projects if violent repression in the country did not cease.
The announcement came several months after the country, which for years has struggled to institute a democratic rule, faced a new military coup that brought the junta back into power. The move triggered nationwide protests, repressed by the junta, with reports stating that over 700 people have been killed, including 52 children, and almost 4,000 people arrested.
According to human rights watchdogs, much of this aid benefitted the military and the junta.
“Japan should suspend all non-humanitarian aid projects that benefit the junta or military as part of global efforts to pressure Myanmar’s generals to cease their violent crackdown, release all political prisoners, and restore the democratically elected government,” the international non-profit, Human Rights Watch, has said.
Expanding on the likelihood of the suspension of aid, Minister Motegi said: “We don’t want to do that at all, but we have to state firmly that it will be difficult to continue under these circumstances. As a country that supported Myanmar’s democratization in various ways, and as a friend, we must represent the international community and convey that clearly.”
For now, Japan has halted negotiations with Myanmar on new projects and warned that those that are ongoing would also be suspended should the regime not halt the repressions. One such project is a rail link between two of the largest Myanmar cities, Yangon and Mandalay, for which Japan has provided over US$700 million.
Whilst Japan has so far been reluctant to take tougher steps against Myanmar, other countries have imposed sanctions. The EU extended sanctions for a year against officials of the junta and their leader. The U.S., the UK, and Canada have also imposed certain sanctions.
?? @RapporteurUn welcomes announcement of new set of sanctions against #Myanmar’s junta by US, UK and Canada: “It is imperative that the int’l community ramp up size and scope of sanctions as the junta ramps up its repression of the people of Myanmar”.
? https://t.co/bPov3KEFqR pic.twitter.com/WUMeyJf7A2— UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) May 20, 2021
UN’s Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, welcomed the sanctions expressing hope that other countries would follow suit.
“The coordination of these sanctions by the US, UK, and Canada is a welcome development. Hopefully, it will lead to a tough, fully coordinated multilateral sanctions regime that enables nations to deliver the most powerful blow possible against the horror that is being inflicted on the people of Myanmar,” he said.
Japan has provided development aid to Myanmar since 1954. Should it take a final decision to suspend all aid, this will be an unprecedented move in the relationship between the two countries.
