Talks essential for viable solution: Japanese envoy says about Rohingya crisis

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 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."

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."