Myanmar's role in ASEAN protested

Myanmar's role in ASEAN protested

JAPAN: Pro-democracy demonstrators staged a protest on Tuesday in Tokyo against the participation of the head of Myanmar's military regime in a summit this week of Southeast Asian leaders.

About 20 activists, mostly Myanmar nationals living in Tokyo, rallied outside the Japanese Foreign Ministry to protest the planned participation of Gen. Khin Nyunt, the prime minister of Myanmar's military regime, in the ASEAN summit this week.

"We do not recognize him as the representative of our country," said Kyaw San, one of the rally organizers.

Khin Nyunt will visit Tokyo for the Japan-ASEAN meeting on Thursday and Friday at Japan's invitation.

The demonstrators said they are planning bigger protests during Khin Nyunt's visit.

Japan had been Myanmar's largest aid donor, but its relations with Myanmar soured at an ASEAN summit in Bali in October when Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi confronted Khin Nyunt on the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate. -- AP