Photo/Illutration The Defense Ministry building in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Japan’s Defense Ministry said it will stop accepting Myanmar military personnel as students for a training program from next fiscal year after the junta executed pro-democracy activists in the Southeast Asian country.

International organizations such as Human Rights Watch had criticized the ministry for allowing senior military officials and elite candidates from Myanmar to join the Japanese education and training program, even after the junta took power in a coup in February last year.

But the ministry in early August this year changed its stance after Myanmar’s state media the previous month reported on the executions of four Myanmar citizens, including pro-democracy activists.

“We came to the conclusion that it is not appropriate to continue defense cooperation and exchanges with Myanmar under the current situation,” ministry spokesman Takeshi Aoki said at a news conference on Sept. 20.

The ministry said it has already informed Myanmar’s military about the decision.

Aoki said that then-Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi expressed strong concerns about the military’s approval for the executions.

The ministry currently accepts 194 military personnel from 17 countries as students in various fields at the National Defense Academy and the Self-Defense Forces’ staff colleges.

Four people from Myanmar were accepted this fiscal year, bringing the total to 11 from the country who are now studying in Japan.

The ministry said it would continue to provide education and training for these 11 individuals.

“By teaching students from Myanmar how organizations should be in a democratic country, we hope they will utilize the understanding and rebuild their country in the future,” Kishi said.

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