Burma digest

Japan to Lodge protest with Burma over death of Japanese

Sep 27th, 2007 by Thaung Nyunt

2007-09-27 11:40:53

TOKYO, Sept. 28 (Kyodo) - (EDS: UPDATING WITH JAPAN’S PLAN TO LODGE PROTEST)

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said Thursday night that Japan will lodge a protest with Myanmar over the death of a Japanese national in the country that is being rocked by antigovernment demonstrations.

Speaking to reporters in Tokyo after the Foreign Ministry confirmed the identity of the dead man, Machimura said, “We will protest to the Myanmar government and seek clarification of the truth. We hope appropriate measures will be taken to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals.”

The ministry said it has confirmed the identity of the dead man as Kenji Nagai, 50, from Tokyo. Nagai, a video journalist, worked for APF News Inc. based in Tokyo, which produces video news programs by freelance journalists, according to the company. Nagai was hit, along with other several people, by bullets fired by security forces while he was filming.

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, currently on a visit to Washington, said he will lodge a stern protest with Myanmar when he held a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice .

Before the report of Nagai’s death, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda voiced strong concern Thursday over the military junta’s crackdown on protests in Myanmar. The Foreign Ministry later urged the Myanmar government to stop resorting to violence in the wake of the death of the Japanese journalist.

“Something deplorable is happening,” the Japanese prime minister told reporters. “We have to think about what we should do to resolve the situation.”

Later Thursday, Senior Vice Foreign Minister Hitoshi Kimura summoned Myanmar Ambassador to Japan Saw Hla Min to the ministry and requested that the junta “refrain from resorting to force against protesters in a high-handed manner.”

Kimura was also quoted as saying, in reference to a report that a man carrying a Japanese passport had died in Myanmar, “We’re worried about the safety of Japanese nationals. We request the Myanmar government take appropriate measures.”

The Myanmar ambassador was quoted as saying, “It is very regrettable to hear the information that a Japanese national passed away.”

The Myanmar ambassador also said the government was suppressing the demonstrations as a necessary minimum measure. People including communist party members and those of the National League for Democracy staged rallies, he said. Myanmar democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi leads the NLD.

Clashes between security personnel and anti-junta demonstrators broke out for a second day Thursday in Myanmar’s largest city of Yangon following the arrest of as many as 200 monks during raids on monasteries.