Japan to ask Myanmar implement Kofi Annan report

Japan will ask Myanmar to implement the report submitted by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan as it has recommended that Burmese authorities should recognise Rohingyas as 'citizens and take them back from Bangladesh after joint verification'.

Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono made the comment during a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart AH Mahmood Ali in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque was also present during the meeting.

Ali narrated the situation of Rohingyas and stated that since August 25, more than 400,000 Rohingyas had so far come to Bangladesh and were still coming.  As of now, Bangladesh is hosting over 800,000 Rohingyas.

He stated the history of Rohingyas settlement in Myanmar, which is about 1500 years old and said that Rohingyas have an affinity for Bangla and some other languages such as Pashtu, Arabic, and Portuguese.

“So they should not be called ‘Bengalees’ because of the reason many of them has the affinity for Bangla language,” he said, as Burmese authorities deny their citizenship for decades in that pretext.

He also briefed the Japanese Minister about the existence of Arakan kingdom from 13th to 18th century, and referring to 1948 constitution of Myanmar said that ‘there are no indigenous people in Myanmar’.

He said Bangladesh welcomed the Kofi Annan report and said the affected areas in Rakhine State should be declared as ‘safe zone’ so that they could go back.

He also requested Japanese support in the UN Security Council SC if the issue comes for discussion.

The Japanese foreign minister appreciated Bangladesh’s support to Myanmar refugees and, according to the foreign ministry, said, “it was a very nice human act”. He said their Vice-Minister would visit Myanmar soon.

He sought Bangladesh’s support on North Korea issue.