Mr Sasakawa, Japan’s special envoy for national reconciliation in Myanmar, managed to convince both sides to agree to a temporary ceasefire about three months ago.
“The fact that the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military have a mechanism in place to put an end to even small incidents, has produced excellent results where no problems or conflicts have arisen,” Mr Sasakawa told CNA.
PEACE TALKS
The 84-year-old is also the chairman of non-profit philanthropic organisation Nippon Foundation, which has worked with different communities on various causes around the world.
Since his appointment by Japan’s government to the position of special envoy in 2013, he has meditated peace talks between Myanmar’s ethnic minority groups and the military.
In his most recent visit to Rakhine on Feb 4, Mr Sasakawa distributed blankets and other essentials to people who were internally displaced by violence and housed at camps.