ID :
144169
Wed, 09/29/2010 - 08:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/144169
The shortlink copeid
Myanmar refugees arrive in Japan under U.N. resettlement program
TOKYO, Sept. 28 Kyodo -
Eighteen refugees from Myanmar arrived Tuesday in Japan from Thailand, their
country of asylum, under a U.N.-promoted third country resettlement program,
marking a new phase in Japan's refugee policy, which is often labeled as too
restrictive.
The members of three ethnic Karen families are the first group to arrive
following the Japanese government's 2008 decision to accept about 90 refugees
over three years under a pilot program, which Tokyo says is the first of its
kind in an Asian country.
Twenty-seven Myanmar refugees, consisting of five families, were scheduled to
arrive Tuesday, but nine, from two families, postponed their departure as two
children among them developed fever.
The 18 refugees wore long-sleeved jackets as a precaution amid cold weather and
arrived at Narita airport looking tense. Those who spoke to reporters said they
were glad to have arrived in Japan.
''I want to grow rice and vegetables,'' one man said. ''The roads in Japan are
huge. I would be in trouble if I get lost.''
They were greeted by Karen people, dressed in traditional attire with red and
blue stripes, at the arrival lobby.
''I'm glad to have more company,'' said Saw Hla Gyi, a 44-year-old Karen man
living in Japan. ''I'm happy that they can now live in a safer and more secure
place, compared to living in the camp.''
The refugees, who have lived more than 10 years in Mera refugee camp in
northwestern Thailand near the border with Myanmar, will aim to learn the
Japanese language and find employment to resettle in Japan.
William Barriga, the representative of the International Organization for
Migration Japan, said Japan's decision to take in the refugees under the
program is a big step forward in terms of its contribution to the refugee
problem worldwide, and that Japan can take a leadership role among Asian
countries in this area.
Japan decided to implement the program, promoted by the U.N. High Commissioner
for Refugees, in 2008 as a way to contribute to international humanitarian
assistance. Tokyo says it will consider accepting more refugees under the
program if the first group resettles successfully.
''We want to make this first case a success,'' Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara
said at a press conference Tuesday. ''I would assume there will be a trial and
error process but it is important to listen carefully to the refugees'
concerns.''
The 27 refugees were selected through interviews conducted by the Japanese
Justice Ministry based on a list of candidates prepared by the UNHCR.
Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida told a press conference Tuesday morning, ''The
Justice Ministry will make its best efforts so the refugees can live safely in
our country.''
Camp Mera, the biggest refugee camp in Thailand, is home to about 50,000
refugees from Myanmar who fled their country mainly due to the armed conflict
between the Myanmar military and Karen National Union rebels.
The refugees underwent a pre-orientation program organized by the IOM, an
intergovernmental organization, in July and August in the camp and have learned
how to use money and introduce themselves in Japanese.
They will receive more Japanese lessons and job training for six months in
Tokyo before deciding where to live and work.
According to an IOM official, most refugees who wish to resettle under the
third country program are education-minded and hope that their children can
receive education in universities in developed countries such as Japan.
While the refugees' expectations of Japan are high, one of the difficulties
facing refugees from Myanmar, who were mostly subsistence farmers, is finding
suitable work.
''Cooperation from the Karen community living in Japan is necessary for the
refugees to adapt smoothly in Japan,'' one expert said, pointing out the
enormous gap in circumstances between Japan and Myanmar.
Naoko Hashimoto, a program coordinator at IOM Japan, said, ''The refugees need
continuous support in areas such as language, even after the six months of
training.''
''Each refugee should have his or her own support plan and a caseworker. Also,
a system where local people in the refugees' resettlement places can become
their host families is necessary,'' she said.
==Kyodo
Eighteen refugees from Myanmar arrived Tuesday in Japan from Thailand, their
country of asylum, under a U.N.-promoted third country resettlement program,
marking a new phase in Japan's refugee policy, which is often labeled as too
restrictive.
The members of three ethnic Karen families are the first group to arrive
following the Japanese government's 2008 decision to accept about 90 refugees
over three years under a pilot program, which Tokyo says is the first of its
kind in an Asian country.
Twenty-seven Myanmar refugees, consisting of five families, were scheduled to
arrive Tuesday, but nine, from two families, postponed their departure as two
children among them developed fever.
The 18 refugees wore long-sleeved jackets as a precaution amid cold weather and
arrived at Narita airport looking tense. Those who spoke to reporters said they
were glad to have arrived in Japan.
''I want to grow rice and vegetables,'' one man said. ''The roads in Japan are
huge. I would be in trouble if I get lost.''
They were greeted by Karen people, dressed in traditional attire with red and
blue stripes, at the arrival lobby.
''I'm glad to have more company,'' said Saw Hla Gyi, a 44-year-old Karen man
living in Japan. ''I'm happy that they can now live in a safer and more secure
place, compared to living in the camp.''
The refugees, who have lived more than 10 years in Mera refugee camp in
northwestern Thailand near the border with Myanmar, will aim to learn the
Japanese language and find employment to resettle in Japan.
William Barriga, the representative of the International Organization for
Migration Japan, said Japan's decision to take in the refugees under the
program is a big step forward in terms of its contribution to the refugee
problem worldwide, and that Japan can take a leadership role among Asian
countries in this area.
Japan decided to implement the program, promoted by the U.N. High Commissioner
for Refugees, in 2008 as a way to contribute to international humanitarian
assistance. Tokyo says it will consider accepting more refugees under the
program if the first group resettles successfully.
''We want to make this first case a success,'' Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara
said at a press conference Tuesday. ''I would assume there will be a trial and
error process but it is important to listen carefully to the refugees'
concerns.''
The 27 refugees were selected through interviews conducted by the Japanese
Justice Ministry based on a list of candidates prepared by the UNHCR.
Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida told a press conference Tuesday morning, ''The
Justice Ministry will make its best efforts so the refugees can live safely in
our country.''
Camp Mera, the biggest refugee camp in Thailand, is home to about 50,000
refugees from Myanmar who fled their country mainly due to the armed conflict
between the Myanmar military and Karen National Union rebels.
The refugees underwent a pre-orientation program organized by the IOM, an
intergovernmental organization, in July and August in the camp and have learned
how to use money and introduce themselves in Japanese.
They will receive more Japanese lessons and job training for six months in
Tokyo before deciding where to live and work.
According to an IOM official, most refugees who wish to resettle under the
third country program are education-minded and hope that their children can
receive education in universities in developed countries such as Japan.
While the refugees' expectations of Japan are high, one of the difficulties
facing refugees from Myanmar, who were mostly subsistence farmers, is finding
suitable work.
''Cooperation from the Karen community living in Japan is necessary for the
refugees to adapt smoothly in Japan,'' one expert said, pointing out the
enormous gap in circumstances between Japan and Myanmar.
Naoko Hashimoto, a program coordinator at IOM Japan, said, ''The refugees need
continuous support in areas such as language, even after the six months of
training.''
''Each refugee should have his or her own support plan and a caseworker. Also,
a system where local people in the refugees' resettlement places can become
their host families is necessary,'' she said.
==Kyodo
