Japan Seize Myanmar’s Only Satellite Following Political Unrest

Myanmar’s first and only satellite in space is being held on board the International Space Station by Japan’s space agency following the Myanmar coup and subsequent unrest which has lasted 40 days, reports Reuters.

Japan have jurisdiction over the space craft as they, through the Hokkaido and Tohoku University built the $15 million satellite in a joint project with Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University (MAEU).

It is the first of a pair of 50 kg microsatellites equipped with cameras designed to help bolster productivity in agriculture, as well as to prevent and reduce damage from disasters and monitor environmental pollution. Now, it will remain in the custody of Japan’s space agency while they ponder in collusion with the aforementioned institutions on their next step.

This move was made in apprehension of the fact that the Junta that masterminded the coup and siezed power in the country, could utilise the satellites for military purposes.

We won’t get involved in anything that has to do with the military. The satellite was not designed for that,” one of the project managers told Reuters anonymously.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are currently engaged in discussions with the University, after reports emerged that university officials have been unable to contact the rector of MAEU, Prof Kyi Thwin, since the coup.

We are discussing what to do, but we don’t know when it will be deployed. If it is halted, our hope is that the project could be restarted at some point.”

Another Hokkaido University official who also pledged anonymity, said the contract with MAEU did not specify that the satellite could not be used for military purposes but with the likelihood that every information obtained would have passed through Japan, there was an unspoken understanding that military operations were not part of the scope of the satellite’s functions.

The satellite was launched by NASA on Feb 20 as a small part of a large and varied payload of supplies to the International Space Station 400 km (250 miles) above the earth. It has since been kept by JAXA inside Japan’s Kibo experiment module. JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi is one of the seven crew members now on board the space station.

Asia programme officer for Human Rights Watch, Teppei Kasai, reiterated that although the space craft had not been modified for military purposes, it would be easy for the Myanmar government to use it for such operations.

“So the involved Japanese universities should suspend the project and urgently review it for potential human rights risks,” Kasai said.

The second satellite was expected to have been ready by 2026.

 

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