Protest in front of Tokyo Foreign Ministry draws Japanese attention to Rakhine

Saung Zar Kyi
Narinjara News, 20 September 2020

Ethnic Myanmar living in Japan staged a protest in front of the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on September 17 to draw attention to what is happening in Rakhine state and increase aid and assistance from the Japanese government in Rakhine State.

The protest was led by the Rakhine Youth Association (Japan) and lasted for about an hour and a half on September 17 from 3:15 pm to 4:45 pm Japanese time, according to Thaw Zin Phyo, secretary of the Rakhine Youth Association (Japan).

The ceremony was not only attended by Rakhine but also by Kachin and Karen groups.

U Thaw Zin Phyo said, “I want the Japanese government to know what is happening in Rakhine State. We want to draw more attention to it. Another is that we want the Japanese government to provide medical and food assistance to the Rakhine IDPs. Signboards and banners with the requests were written in Japanese, ”he said.

He also called on the international community to take action against the Myanmar government and military over the oppressing of minorities in Myanmar, including Rakhine.

Kyaw Than Hlaing, chairman of the Rakhine Youth Association (Japan), and Thaw Zin Phyo, secretary, met with a Japanese Foreign Ministry official to discuss the issues affecting Rakhine State for about an hour before staging the protest in front of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Thaw Zin Phyo said.

“My group and I spent about an hour discussing the main conflict in Rakhine with the chairman and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said he would help in any way available to the entire Rakhine community. The people of Rakhine are saddened by what is happening, ”he said.

About 50 people, including people from Kachin, Karen and Rakhine states participated in the event. They held posters and banners concerning the current situation in Rakhine State.