Hundreds of Myanmar residents of Japan held a rally in Tokyo on Sunday, exactly five years after Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup.
On February 1, 2021, Myanmar’s military detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, alleging voter fraud in the previous year’s election.
On the fifth anniversary, about 600 people, mainly Myanmar nationals, took to the streets of Tokyo to demand the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and others.
The protesters also appealed to the Japanese government not to recognize the results of Myanmar’s recent election as the junta excluded pro-democracy parties from the vote.
The protesters later marched to the Myanmar embassy, chanting, “Freedom for Myanmar.”
A 31-year-old Myanmar national said people in her country have continued to protest for the past five years no matter how much they were oppressed by the junta.
She said she hopes Myanmar will become a nation where young people can live in peace.
A 20-year-old participant said he wants to help people in his home country improve their lives. He said he lost his home in Myanmar during a military attack.
The organizers say similar protests were held on Sunday at eight other locations, including Osaka and Fukuoka.
AloJapan.com