An interview with the NUG’s representative to Japan.
February 8th, 2022
Foreign Affairs Ministry of the National Unity Government (NUG) issued a statement on February 1st about the appointment of Saw Ba Hla Thein who is working on Myanmar affairs, as a representative to Japan.
The appointment aims to promote the relation with Japan, carry out cooperation among Myanmar expats and help solve the difficulties of Myanmar expats, the statement says. The KIC interviewed Saw Ba Hla Thein, the NUG’s representative to Japan.
Q: May you explain the NUG’s appointment of the representative to Japan?
A: I am delighted with the appointment of a representative. I plan to perform my duties in my capacity as a representative although my duty is not as heavy as the minister’s duties. I did not think about it before. Because I arrived in Japan in 1992. I participated in the activities of Karen organizations in 1996. Since 2000, we have been making cooperation with other democratic organizations including Karen organizations. Thanks to cooperation in national and democratic affairs, we could do what we want. We did it in a simple manner. In late month, our ministers held a discussion on the appointment of an envoy. I have committed to serving as a representative of the organizations in Japan and the NUG’s ministers chose me.
Q: May I know the major works you want to do and what are the duties assigned by the NUG?
A: The NUG has appointed its representatives in five other countries. Although the NUG had a plan to carry out the appointment of a representative in October and November, the approval faced a delay due to the various circumstances. I have a plan to do my work as a representative. I will mainly focus on political and diplomatic affairs. The main six points are: to serve as a bridge between the NUG and the Japanese government, to work for the NUG’s progress, to get the Japanese government’s recognition of the NUG as a legitimate government, to implement the NUG’s directives on the mutual relations, to facilitate the visits of the NUG ministers to Japan, to share the information with the Japanese people and government either via media or through the website or by myself and to implement the NUG’s foreign policies.
Q: May I know the Japanese government’s view on the representation of both sides over the appointment of the NUG’s representative.
A: As far as I know, there is a Government to Government (G To G) relation. At present, the NUG is the government elected by the people. Japan has not recognized the military council as a legitimate government. The Japanese government has not recognized the NUG either. We need to work on the official recognition of the NUG on the one hand. On the other hand, the embassy staff appointed by the military council were replaced. Can it be said that Japan exercises the fence-sitting policy? I think it may be the Japanese government’s policy. In my view, Japan may give favour to the side which gets the upper hand. So, we need to strive for it as much as we can.
Q: What comment do you want to make about the Japanese government’s indecisive stance?
A: Japan has formed the MPs Union to support Myanmar democracy. This union fully supports and helps us. There is a fence-sitting case. Thanks to the efforts by the Myanmar expats in Japan, the Japanese foreign minister talked about the Myanmar political affairs as a high-ranking official, on the one-year anniversary of the coup. The Foreign Minister has highlighted five points at the press conference. The minister expressed his sadness over the deaths of Myanmar people. He called on the military council to stop its acts and immediately release the detainees. Japan will cooperate with the international community by sending a special envoy for peace. Japan will cooperate on the implementation of the ASEAN’s five-point consensus. He also called on the military council to allow the delivery of aid to the Myanmar people and the IDPs.
Q: What is the Japanese people’s interest in and stance towards Myanmar affairs?
A: The news agencies are covering the different types of news. The Japanese people are participating in it as much as they can based on the true information shared by Myanmar expats in Japan. It is found that many Japanese people have made a lot of donations. The majority of Japanese are interested in Myanmar affairs while some themselves are participating in the different types of demonstrations which call for the ban on the inflow of money to the military council and denounce the military council.
Q: The Japanese government has made a lot of contributions to the Lay Kay Kaw new town. What is the Japanese government’s view on the recent offensive operations in Lay Kay Kaw new town?
A: To be honest, I got involved in some works of the Lay Kay Kaw before and after the project. We were optimistic about the implementation of the project in cooperation with those who can ask for the permission. I think the military council wants to pave the way. The Japanese government appointed Sasa Kawa as its special envoy as it wanted to implement the resettlement of refugees, regional development tasks and the NCA simultaneously.
The people missed the points when Sasakawa went to Myanmar in the wake of the Lay Kay Kaw incident. The Japanese government said it did not send him to Myanmar as its special envoy. Following the Lay Kay Kaw incident, we sent a letter carrying the signatures of the organizations here to the Japanese foreign minister and the Prime Minister. We explained it to both Sasakawa and the Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister as Sasakawa blamed the KNU for accepting the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs).
Q: What are your dissatisfied points about the Japanese government’s stance towards the military council’s different forms of human rights violations following the coup? How should the Japanese government stand?
A: It is simple. They should listen to the voices of Myanmar citizens. In addition, they should stop relations with the military council. Japan should stop its investments in Myanmar. But Myanmar expats, including me, are actively working on it.
Q: My last question is how have you prepared for your work as the NUG’s representative and to what extent can you perform your duties?
A: At the request of the NUG, I served as a contact person and a bridge between the NUG and Japan before late May after the formation of the NUG. We discussed the appointment of a representative. As a representative, I have decided to continue my work. As a representative, my responsibility is bigger. Even professors and those who have got many prizes alone cannot do it. So, we have formed an organization with the help of our seniors and youth organizations in Japan. We will continue to perform the office duties. Mostly, there are around 50 organizations here. We have formed an organization in which all groups can participate. We have a plan to work on diplomacy and politics in cooperation with the already-existing government contacts and other contacts in Japan.
Sent by the KIC.
