Akashi's Visit to Sri Lanka Signals Japan's Interest in Rehabilitation

By Suvendrini Kakuchi

TOKYO - The November visit to Sri Lanka by Japan's Yasushi Akashi, an ex-U.N. diplomat with long experience in conflict-ridden areas like Cambodia and Yugoslavia, highlights Tokyo's interest in playing a role in rehabilitation efforts in the war-ravaged island nation.

A Foreign Ministry official, who declined to be named, said the 71-year-old Akashi will be in Sri Lanka from Nov. 3-6. In late October, he was appointed Japan's representative for peace building and rehabilitation and reconstruction

Akashi, currently chairman of the Japan Centre for Conflict Prevention, has held various U.N. posts, including undersecretary general for disarmament affairs and humanitarian affairs, U.N. representative in Cambodia, and special envoy to the former Yugoslavia.

He will travel from the capital Colombo to the north and the east of the country, the areas most ravaged by the country's 19-year-old ethnic conflict.

Akashi is scheduled to meet with a wide range of people working for peace in the country, as well as the Liberation of Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan opposition political parties.

"During the visit Akashi aims to get acquainted with the peace process and all the participants involved,'' the official said. ''The visit is undertaken under the Japanese government's new consolidation for peace initiative policy that is aimed at Japan being engaged in all aspects of peace.''

"Japan also considers peace in the Indian Ocean an important aspect of regional security,'' he said.

Japan's new peace programme, under the auspices of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, paves the way for Tokyo to get involved in reconstruction efforts during the peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger rebels, and even before a political settlement is reached.

Media reports said that Constitutional Affairs Minister G L Peiris, the Sri Lankan government's top peace negotiator, had asked Akashi to visit Sri Lanka to share his expertise as the country begins its rehabilitation and reconstruction process.

Akashi will not be involved in the Sri Lankan peace talks being held under the auspices of the Norwegian government, which is hosting a donors' conference for the country later in November.

But Akashi's visit will be geared to contributing to the peace process in the Japanese way -- looking into reconstruction and rehabilitation of the war-torn north and est.

A South Asian diplomat welcomed the visit, pointing out that Japan's involvement is important in fostering peace in Asia. ''Japan is a big economic and regional player in Asia. Peace can be fostered on two fronts -- the peace negotiations themselves and also through economic assistance to help affected people during the peace process,'' he explained.