Japan has finally announced that it will start to accept resettlement

December 18, Agence France Presse (via The Straits Times)30 Myanmar refugees accepted
Tokyo - Japan has decided to accept about 30 Myanmar refugees who areliving in camps in Thailand, officials said on Thursday, marking a newstage in Tokyo's acceptance of refugees.
While small by global standards, the number is significant for Japan,which only accepts dozens of refugees each year and imposes tightrestrictions on immigration.
Around 120,000 Myanmar refugees live in nine camps along the border withThailand, most of who have fled crackdowns by Myanmar's junta on ethnicarmies.
A United Nations-led resettlement plan launched in 2005 has offered morethan 38,000 Myanmar refugees an opportunity to start new lives overseas,mostly in the United States.
Japan said it was ready to take part in the plan, as Japanese PrimeMinister Taro Aso met in Tokyo with Antonio Guterres, the UN HighCommissioner for Refugees.
'As Thailand bans the Myanmar refugees from going outside their camps, itis hoped that the international community can accept them and allow themto lead normal lives,' Cabinet Office official Junko Yamaji said.It will mark the first time that Japan accepts refugees already living inanother country, she said.
'The difference between the conventional acceptance of refugees and theresettlement is that the refugees don't have to come to Japan to apply forrefugee status,' she added.
Japan plans to start the project in the 2010 fiscal year but has yet todecide where the refugees will live or how to support them.
Japan has been a major donor to the UN refugee agency but has also comeunder fire for not extending more of a welcome mat. -- AFP