Japan: Signs of Lowered Xenophobia

''Responding to international criticism, Japan is taking some new steps to ease conditions on refugees. But there is more work to be done,'' said Nathalie Karsentry, legal officer at the Japan office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Japan, the world's second richest economy and boasting a secure social order, is an attractive destination for foreigners fleeing political persecution at home.

But these very same attributes, point out critics, make the country reluctant to open its doors to both refugees and foreigners, leaving much to be done to raise the country's humanitarian profile in the world.

{styleboxjp}''Japan's tough refugee policy stems from its resistance to opening its doors to foreigners. There is the opinion that foreigners threaten Japan's stability,'' explained Misaki Yagishita, officer at Amnesty International, Japan{/styleboxjp}.

Japan accepted 945 applicants in 2006, the highest in any year since the country signed the U.N. refugee convention in 1982. According to figures released by the ministry of justice, in 2005 there were just 384 applicants.

Burmese nationals, at 626, topped the 2006 list followed by Turkey with 149 applicants. Out of the 34 Japan finally accepted as refugees, 80 percent were from Burma.

All the Kurdish applications from Turkey were rejected following the norm -- much to the frustration of human rights activists who argue that the policy is based on political rather than humanitarian grounds.

''Burma has a military government shunned by the West particularly for human rights abuse making it easier for Japan to accept Burmese refugees. In comparison, the case for the Kurdish minority is more complicated as Japan enjoys close ties with Turkey,'' said Shogo Watanabe, a leading human rights lawyer.

Still, the latest rush of applicants can be attributed, say experts, to several developments in Japan. A decision was taken in 2004 to scrap the tough condition that refugees must produce applications within 60 days of entering Japan.

This change encouraged many would-be refugees, who did not possess documents, to apply after years of living on the social fringes in Japan without proper visas.

Japan has established a panel, comprising academics and private individuals, who can review refugee application and appeals. But, explains Karsenty, experts do not take decisions, leaving final disposal of cases to immigration officials. This policy is a bitter issue for activists who are lobbying hard for an independent organisation to be set up for refugees.

Watanabe told IPS: ''Refugee status is not an immigration issue but must be judged on a humanitarian level based on issues such as minority oppression. Unless this core aspect is changed, Japan will continue to be a closed country for asylum seekers.''

{styleboxjp float=left}He pointed out that foreigners who are married to Japanese are allowed to gain a legal status in Japan but not others, a policy that indicates deep-rooted xenophobia. For instance, last month, an Iranian family that lived in Japan for ten years, fought desperately but lost a deportation order. The justice ministry only offered a two-year residence permit to the oldest daughter, so she could study at a Japanese university{/styleboxjp}.

Such harsh steps, says Yagishita of Amnesty, were also seen last summer when Japan forcibly repatriated four unaccompanied Kurdish minors who had arrived seeking asylum.

Two other 16-year-old boys were kept in detention for months until activists managed to get lawyers to intervene. One child has a father who is also awaiting recognition by Japan.

A representative of the UNHCR said that ''if Japan wants a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, it must improve its system for accepting refugees.''

Activists say the fact that Sadako Ogata, past UNHCR chair, now heads the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the country's main aid arm, is additional reason for optimism.

Source: IPS - Inter Press Service News Agency

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