Nippon Foundation supplies rice in EAO territories

By Admin 06 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
6 July 2023, Sittwe

The Nippon Foundation led by Yohei Sasakawa, who is alo Japan’s special envoy for national reconciliation in Myanmar, has provided 64,000 sacks of rice in areas controlled by seven ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) that are signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) over the past year.

The foundation will continue to provide humanitarian assistance during the 2023-24 fiscal year, the seven EAOs said on Wednesday.

“We fully support the Nippon Foundation and its chairman Sasakawa in the interests of ethnic people suffering from armed conflicts, and we here pledge to cooperate with him,” said the EAOs in their joint statement.

The Nippon Foundation has helped fund the construction of new schools and hospitals for the development of ethnic states, and has assisted internally displaced people (IDPs), said the EAOs, adding that they denounce attacks on Sasakawa and the Nippon Foundation by “so-called activists.”

The spokesperson for the NCA signatories was not available for comment.

Politician U Pe Than said: “The Nippon Foundation is an intermediary between the junta and EAOs. I think it has provided food supplies as a way of showing support for the peace process between the regime and the seven EAOs.”

Among the seven EAOs that received rice sacks from the Nippon Foundation were the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Democratic Karen Benevolent Party (DKBA), Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Party-Peace Council, Lahu Democratic Union, New Mon State Party, Pa’O National Liberation Organization and the Restoration Council of Shan State.

The ALP has provided some relief supplies to victims of Cyclone Mocha in Arakan State, according to residents.

“It is good that the Nippon Foundation supplies food in the aftermath of the cyclone, but I don’t know if people have received the supplies. The ALP said it has been providing food supplies in Sittwe, but I have not seen them providing relief supplies in other townships,” said social activist Ko Kyaw Min Khaing from Rathedaung Township.

Last month, the ALP wrote on its Facebook page that it was providing food supplies as well as cash to Cyclone Mocha victims in Arakan State. It said specifically that it had provided food supplies to storm victims in Sittwe on June 20, together with the DKBA.

The seven EAOs also said in Wednesday’s statement that they support Japan’s efforts for peace and national reconciliation in Myanmar, and are cooperating with Sasakawa.

Sasakawa has also brokered truces between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army.