Japan’s aid as pressure on Sri Lanka “a misconception” 
- Yasushi Akashi

[Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 9.00 GMT]   

Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Japan’s Special Envoy for Peace Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka, dismissed as widespread misconceptions that Japan would use aid as a means of pressuring the Government of Sri Lanka against the abrogation of the Cease Fire Agreement with the LTTE. 

He said it was not the business of Japan to make demands or impose on the Government of Sri Lanka. 

Asked whether there is a possibility that the Co-Chairs and Japan will use aid to pressure Sri Lanka, with the possibility of cutting off aid following recent developments on the CFA, Mr. Akashi said he could not speak for the Co-Chairs but only for the Japanese Government. He said there was widespread misrepresentation in the media and a lot of unnecessary misunderstandings about Japan’s economic aid to Sri Lanka. Mr. Akashi stressed that Japanese aid programmes to Sri Lanka had been determined on political, economic, humanitarian and other factors.   Therefore, any future decisions will be based on very close observations and monitoring of the developing situation in Sri Lanka. His current visit was also part of this continuous review. 

Mr. Akashi was addressing the media at the conclusion of his 15th official visit to Sri Lanka as Japan’s Special Peace Envoy. During this visit he had met President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the JVP leader Mr. Somawansa Amarasinghe, Mr. Basil Rajapaksa MP Advisor to the President, members of the TNA and the representatives of the Co-Chairs. 

Asked what it will take for aid to be stopped to Sri Lanka; and whether action to clear the Tigers from the North would lead to this, Mr. Akashi said “Our aid programme is based on a combination of complex factors. What the government will do or will not do will be important for considerations.” He said Japan’s decisions will not be based on simple facts or considerations. 

When asked what achievements had been made in the 15 visits he had made to Sri Lanka, and what prospects there were for any progress at this stage, the Japanese Special Envoy said he needed the confidence of both the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, as well as other parties. Japan was at present consolidating its efforts at achieving peace in many countries including Sri Lanka, Peace in any country was not so easy to achieve. Frustrations were inevitable.  

He said Japan’s Overseas Development Assistance to Sri Lanka was considerable and he did not what to exaggerate its impact. The question of war or peace was one of the most vital decisions a sovereign government has to take, and the Japanese Government did not think it should publicize everything that was discussed in this regard. “We feel our efforts are worthwhile” he said. “We are very sincere in our efforts to help achieve sustainable peace through sustainable ethnic harmony, and once that is achieved the potential for growth of Sri Lanka can be realized.” He said what Japan is doing should be considered in concrete terms and not based on preconceptions. 

With regard to the proposals for a political settlement he said the decisions regarding the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and other recommendations of the APRC will be placed before the President very soon.  There were some finer points still being considered.  Very soon the government may disclose the recommendations. He appreciated the efforts made by the APRC and its Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitharana. 

Asked how long Japan will wait before taking action, Mr. Akashi said he believed in what the President and other leaders of the country had told him. “We will have to monitor the extent to which the statements reflect the policies followed”, he said.  

When asked what his categorical demand of the Government of Sri Lanka was, Mr. Akashi said, “I will not use the word demand. I have conveyed the serious concerns of the Government of Japan on recent moves.  It is none of our business to demand or impose [on the Government of Sri Lanka]. We have a right to convey our concerns on humanitarian and other possible consequences. I have heard carefully the responses the leaders have given me.” 

Following is the text of the statement read out by Mr. Akashi at the beginning of the media briefing. 

Statement of Mr. Yasushi Akashi at the Press Conference

On January 15, at 11:00- 

1.       The Government of Japan, following the decision by the Government of Sri Lanka on January 3rd to withdraw from the Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE, issued a statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs which expressed the deep concern of the Government of Japan on the decision, stating that such decision may lead to an increased level of violence and greater civilian casualties. 

2.       I decided to visit Sri Lanka urgently this time, based on the consideration that it would be important to visit the country before January 16th when the Ceasefire Agreement is to terminate officially, so that I could convey Japan's grave concern to the Government of Sri Lanka, and urge strongly the political solution of the problem through negotiation, since the termination of the Ceasefire Agreement may prompt the pursuit of military solution of the conflict, with dire humanitarian consequences. 

3.       Last evening, I had a meeting with His Excellency the President, during which I conveyed the serious concerns of our Government, and emphasized that the political solution of the problem would be indispensable and in that context, a devolution package on which the Government of Sri Lanka had been exerting considerable efforts must be drafted as soon as possible and be offered to the relevant parties, including LTTE. His Excellency the President in response expressed his commitment to the political solution of the conflict, stating that the drafting of devolution package would be completed very soon. 

4.       With regard to human rights issues, our Government has been urging the Government of Sri Lanka on the vital need to improve the human rights situation, and I reiterated our concern over this matter to the President.  We will continue to observe closely the political, military and human rights situation in Sri Lanka.