Photo/Illutration Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi on April 26 (Kaigo Narisawa)

The Japanese government has accepted four members of Myanmar’s military for an education and training program this fiscal year, despite criticism over the practice from an international human rights group.

Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said at a Lower House Security Committee meeting on April 26 that three personnel from Myanmar have joined the program at the National Defense Academy, while the fourth has entered an officer candidate school of the Air Self-Defense Force.

Members of Human Rights Watch have criticized the Defense Ministry for continuing to allow Myanmar military personnel to join the Japanese program after its coup in the Southeast Asian country in February last year.

Kishi said his ministry “has had various discussions” on the issue. He stressed that the program serves “to develop personnel who understand democracy and civilian control.”

“By thoroughly teaching these students about the way an organization works in a democratic country, I hope (the training program) will help to rebuild the future of Myanmar,” Kishi said at a news conference on April 26.

Teppei Kasai, 31, a Human Rights Watch official, said the acceptance of the Myanmar military personnel into the program was “extremely regrettable.”

“It leaves open the possibility that the Japanese government may become complicit in the Myanmar military’s violence against citizens,” Kasai said.

Mying Swe, who chairs the Federation of Workers’ Union of the Burmese Citizen in Japan, also criticized the government’s decision.

“The Japanese government expects that its relationship with Myanmar’s military will continue,” Mying Swe said. “Accepting students (from Myanmar) is the wrong thing to do for a democratic country.”

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