Japan urged to suspend military study programme with Myanmar
Human rights groups have been asking for stronger actions against the Myanmar military such as economic sanctions
20 December 2021 - 09:16
by Ju-min Park
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A protester holds an image of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi during the a Human Rights Day march in Tokyo, Japan December 11 2021. Picture: ISSEI KATO/REUTERS
Tokyo — Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Japan on Monday to halt a military study-abroad programme in which cadets from Myanmar receive combat training.
Since the February coup in Myanmar, Japan has cut new aid and called on the Myanmar military to halt violence, but human rights groups have been asking for stronger actions such as economic sanctions.
Japan has sought to balance its support for Myanmar democracy with its efforts to counter China’s influence there, officials and analysts have said.
The two countries have an academic exchange programme, under which eight cadets from the Myanmar military are studying at Japan’s National Defense Academy.
In March, the deputy defence minister told Reuters that any move to cut the partnership with Myanmar’s military could result in China winning more clout.
“It’s mind boggling that Japan is providing military training to Myanmar cadets at the same time as its armed forces are committing crimes against humanity against Myanmar’s people,” HRW said in a statement.
The exchange programme for cadets from foreign countries provides the same courses that Japanese cadets take, according to the academy’s website. The academy includes a broad range of military training from combat arms to basic command and operation.
Japan's defence ministry, which runs the National Defense Academy, had no immediate comment on HRW’s statement.
Revelations about economic ties to Myanmar’s military may put more pressure on Tokyo and Japanese companies to drop them, according to human rights groups.
Myanmar’s military overthrew the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, claiming election fraud, and this month sentenced her to four years in prison.
More than 1,300 protesters have been killed by troops, independent observers say.
Australia has suspended its defence co-operation programme with Myanmar in non-combat areas such as English-language training and New Zealand has stopped all high-level military contact with Myanmar.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Japan urged to suspend military study programme with Myanmar
Human rights groups have been asking for stronger actions against the Myanmar military such as economic sanctions
Tokyo — Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Japan on Monday to halt a military study-abroad programme in which cadets from Myanmar receive combat training.
Since the February coup in Myanmar, Japan has cut new aid and called on the Myanmar military to halt violence, but human rights groups have been asking for stronger actions such as economic sanctions.
Japan has sought to balance its support for Myanmar democracy with its efforts to counter China’s influence there, officials and analysts have said.
The two countries have an academic exchange programme, under which eight cadets from the Myanmar military are studying at Japan’s National Defense Academy.
In March, the deputy defence minister told Reuters that any move to cut the partnership with Myanmar’s military could result in China winning more clout.
“It’s mind boggling that Japan is providing military training to Myanmar cadets at the same time as its armed forces are committing crimes against humanity against Myanmar’s people,” HRW said in a statement.
The exchange programme for cadets from foreign countries provides the same courses that Japanese cadets take, according to the academy’s website. The academy includes a broad range of military training from combat arms to basic command and operation.
Japan's defence ministry, which runs the National Defense Academy, had no immediate comment on HRW’s statement.
Revelations about economic ties to Myanmar’s military may put more pressure on Tokyo and Japanese companies to drop them, according to human rights groups.
Myanmar’s military overthrew the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, claiming election fraud, and this month sentenced her to four years in prison.
More than 1,300 protesters have been killed by troops, independent observers say.
Australia has suspended its defence co-operation programme with Myanmar in non-combat areas such as English-language training and New Zealand has stopped all high-level military contact with Myanmar.
Reuters
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