Minorities in Myanmar seek Japanese gov't help to free Suu Kyi

February 20, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)

Anti-coup protesters hold identical posters with an image of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi as they gather outside the Hledan Centre in Yangon, Myanmar, on Feb. 20, 2021. (AP Photo)

YANGON (Kyodo) -- As protests against the Feb. 1 military coup continue across Myanmar, ethnic minority groups on Saturday sought the Japanese government's help in securing the freedom of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other detainees.

Hundreds of anti-coup protesters with the flags of each ethnic group gathered in front of the Japanese Embassy in Yangon, the largest city, to call for political support from the Japanese government.

An ethnic Chin female representative of the protesters read aloud an open letter in Japanese and English requesting support for the liberation of all detained people and the realization of democracy, and Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Maruyama himself received it after stepping out of the embassy gates.

Maruyama responded, "We do not ignore the voices of the people of Myanmar. We are calling on the armed forces to release detainees and solve democratic problems."

Applause then arose.

In a related matter, the peace negotiation team of the 10 ethnic minority armed groups that are signatory to Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement issued a statement Saturday saying they have decided to suspend peace talks with "the military junta" and to support the civil disobedience movement.

In Yangon, a rally was also held in memory of a female student, Mya Thwet Thwet Khine, 20, who died Friday after being shot in the head while participating in a Feb. 9 demonstration, after being on life support for 10 days, according to her family.

She is the first fatality from the anti-coup movement, though authorities say a policeman has also died from injuries sustained in a protest.

Security forces fired rubber bullets in the second city of Mandalay, injuring two demonstrators, according to local media.