March 14, 2003	Friday	Muharram 10, 1424

COLOMBO: A sixth round of peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels will open in Japan on 18 March and both government and rebels are gearing up for a donor conference in Tokyo in June from which they expect cash to help rebuild the war-ravaged north and east of Sri Lanka.

The emergence of Japan as a leading player in the negotiations to end nearly 20 years of civil war and in the post- war reconstruction plans is underlined by a decision by Tokyo last month to provide a US dollar 270m low interest loan to Colombo.

Some observers see Japan’s sudden and heavy involvement with the peace process as more than a mere desire to dole out humanitarian assistance. On the one hand, it seeks to establish the importance of Japan as a regional political and economic power, and on the other it seeks to look after the interests of the United States.

Under Prime Minister Junichiro Kotzumi, there has been a noticeable shift in Japan’s economic policies abroad, and an increasing willingness to involve itself in trouble spots. As Japan’s special representative to the Sri Lankan peace process, Yasushi Akashi says: “Japan will no longer be satisfied with writing out cheques. We wish to be involved in the action too.”

Sri Lanka provides the opportunity to put this policy into action, with the added bonus of giving Japan a stronger say in the economic affairs of South Asia. Japan is already Sri Lanka’s largest single donor, providing more than 60 per cent of its foreign aid each year and is keen to expand its business interests in a peaceful Sri Lanka. Tokyo wants easier access to Sri Lanka’s natural resources and, with an eye on Colombo’s plans to make Sri Lanka the hub of economic activity in the region, sees the island as a possible economic stepping stone to India.

Japan also has a long and special friendship with Sri Lanka. Apart from the cultural links of Buddhism — the majority Sinhaleses who account for nearly three-quarters of Sri Lanka’s 18.6m people are mostly Buddhists — the Japanese have not forgotten that it was Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) that made the proposal, accepted by other nations, that no war reparations should be asked from Japan at the San Francisco Conference in 1948, shortly after Sri Lanka gained independence. This special relationship has prompted Japan to be generous in aid to Sri Lanka over the past 50 years. It now sees a country only too willing to follow the World Bank and the IMF, which is committed to privatisation and an open market, and one providing opportunities for Japanese business.

Observers also point to another possible role for Japan as Washington’s proxy in the peace process. The United States, although strongly backing a settlement does not want to be directly involved in the game plan here, because of its desire not to step on the toes of India, recognised as the major power in the region.

But the question of the direction of post-war aid and development has taken on a controversial tinge because of concerns in the Sinhalese community about the extent to which the separatist, largely Hindu, Tamil rebels will benefit. It is becoming increasingly clear that international aid for reconstruction in Sri Lanka’s war-shattered north and east will be channelled through the Tamil Tigers, and Japan is seen as keen to have good relations with the Tigers as this might give Tokyo leverage when it comes to future development projects.

Powerful sections of the Buddhist clergy are urging Japan not to give aid to benefit the Tamil Tigers, who have still not renounced terrorism. Buddhist monks have also petitioned the Japanese ambassador here about Japanese humanitarian aid being confined to the north and east. Japan has responded by pledging new aid to the south of the island too.

The Marxist People’ Liberation Front, Sri Lanka’s second largest Opposition party, has also warned Japan against losing its neutrality as peace broker by pursuing with policies that seem increasingly more friendly to the Tamil Tigers and US strategic interests in the region.

India has also cautioned Japan about its involvement in Sri Lanka’s peace process. The Japanese response is that it is only involved in humanitarian activity and peace building measures. However, India has made it clear it will not attend the Aid Sri Lanka Donor Forum in Japan this June if the Tamil Tigers are present.—Dawn/The Guardian News Service.