6/6 Webinar with Dr. Sasa

Opening Remarks: Mr. Masaharu NAKAGAWA, Member of Parliament and President, Japanese Parliamentary Association for Supporting Democratization of Myanmar

<Part 1>　14：05-14：35

Keynote Speech (1) "Toward Free of Violent Rule: Bottom-up Nation Building by Diverse Ethnic Groups."

　By Dr. Sasa, Union Minister of International Cooperation and Spokesperson of the National Unity Government of Myanmar

Presentation (1) "The History of the Relationship between the Japanese Government and Tatmadaw"

　By Prof. Kei NEMOTO, Sophia University

<Part 2> 　14：35-15：05

Keynote Speech (2) "CDM and the Future of Citizens."

　By Dr. Sai Khaing Myo Tun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education of the National Unity Government of Myanmar

Presentation (2) "Why Japan’s Diplomacy Is Inclined Toward the Tatmadaw"

　By Prof. Hideaki SHINODA, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

<Part 3 Comments and Q&A> 15:05-15:50

Commentator and Moderator:

Mr. Michihiro ISHIBASHI, Member of Parliament and Secretary-General, Japanese Parliamentary Association for Supporting Democratization of Myanmar

<Message from Myanmar Citizens in Japan>　15：50-16：00

Moderator: Ms. Ayako KONO, Ph.D. Student of Nagoya University

Concept:

It has been more than four months since the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, and the situation has continued to deteriorate. Amidst this crisis, the parliamentarians elected in the 2020 general election formed the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and the National Unity Government (NUG). Many ethnic minorities have been included in the cabinet of the NUG, which is a civilian government, and it has taken a step toward resolving the long-standing issue of conflicts. It can be said that Myanmar is at a turning point in the history of the country, where the civil war between Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs), which seeks autonomy and independence for the ethnic groups, and the Tatmadaw, which aims for national integration through assimilation of Bamar people has been going on for a long time.

In contrast to the military, which has argued that a strong government is necessary to unite a multi-ethnic nation, the civilian side is increasingly resisting, seeing the military that staged the coup as anti-nationalist and subversive, and saying that even without the anti-nationalist military, the nation can be united by the power of the people and that they want to achieve civilian control.

In Japan, however, the NUG's launch of the People’s Defense Force has been met with criticism. There are those who believe that "the militarization of the civilian population will lead to collaboration with the EAOs, which could lead to a greater civil war, and the country will become a failed state. There seems to be a deep-rooted view that the citizens must prevent the worst from happening by accepting the re-election by the Tatmadaw.

So, what kind of recognition should Japan have in the future, and what kind of approach should it make? In this study session, we will learn from the NUG members about the challenges and prospects for a federal state and what they expect from the Japanese government and people, including the recognition of the NUG. Next, we will discuss the role of the Japanese government and the Japanese people in restoring peace and freedom to Myanmar with Japanese parliamentarians, researchers, and Myanmar citizens living in Japan.