Myanmar Minority Groups Hold Protest In Tokyo
Members of Myanmar's ethnic minority groups living in Japan have held protests in Tokyo against last month's military coup in their country.
About 200 people gathered in front of the United Nations University in Tokyo on Sunday. The rally was organized by Kachin people living in Japan. About 30 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar also took part.
Myanmar is a multiracial country comprising more than 130 ethnic groups. Many Rohingya Muslims have fled oppression by Myanmar's military in recent years.
Security police have repeatedly opened fire on anti-coup protesters around Myanmar. Local media report that at least 10 people were killed on Saturday alone.
That brings the death toll from military violence to over 80, based on the figure announced by the United Nations last Thursday.
Participants in Sunday's protest in Tokyo called on the international community to support protesters in Myanmar. They held up placards asking "how many dead bodies" the UN needs to take action.
Vice President of the Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan, Aung Tin, told NHK that he took part in the protest as a citizen of Myanmar, overcoming differences in religion and ethnicity, in an effort to restore democracy in the country. He urged Japan to support the protests in Myanmar.