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