Protests in Japan
DVB (2003 June 14)

Burmese democracy activists in Japan staged a protest in front of the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo to protest against the ambush and assaults on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD members and supporters on the 30th of May at Dipeyin. Ko Htin Aung reports from Japan as follows: ‘Shouts of slogans by protesters’

Ko Htin Aung : These are slogans demanding the immediate releases of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners, cessation of all the aid given to the SPDC by the Japanese government and alteration of all the Japanese government’s policies on the SPDC. One of the protestors, Ko Zaw Minn explained the purpose of the protest as follows:

Ko Zaw Minn : Japan is the biggest democracy in Asia and economically, the strongest. The Japanese government should follow the examples of the US government and impose economical sanctions. We hope that the desire of the protestors in front of the Foreign Department is the same as those of Burmese people inside Burma.

Similarly, protests are being staged everyday in front of the Burmese embassy in Tokyo and the abbot of Mogok, U Eittariya who took part in the protests told the DVB as follows:

U Eittariya : The people of Burma and the world does not tolerate the incident of the 30th of May. Everyone denounces it. The US president, George W. Bush initiated a bill on the sanction of Burma in the Senate and working for the people of Burma. If the people of Burma are untied and do it, we will be able to free ourselves from the military government.

The protests in front of the Japanese Foreign Ministry are staged every working day and the protests in front of the Burmese embassy are being held everyday.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 14 June 03