YANGON: A Japanese man has been detained in Myanmar’s commercial funds Yangon, an official in Japan’s embassy confirmed Sunday (Jul 31), the latest foreigner ensnared in the junta-ruled country.
A military coup a year ago sparked rolling protests and a deadly response from the junta, using more than 2, 000 people killed and at least 14, 000 arrested, according to a local supervising group.
Upon Saturday, Japanese plus local media mentioned filmmaker Toru Kubota, 26, was detained near an anti-government rally along with 2 Myanmar citizens.
“I can confirm the Japanese national has been detained yesterday within Yangon, ” the official at the Japanese charge told AFP Weekend, requesting anonymity.
The embassy is certainly “in contact with the particular authorities and taking measures to secure their release”.
The Japanese official, who failed to confirm the identity of the detained person, said they had no information on whether he or she was arrested during a protest.
A junta spokesperson was not available for comment.
A small crowd rallied outside Japan’s international ministry in Tokyo on Sunday, holding placards of Kubota.
Several foreign people have been arrested within the military’s crackdown upon dissent since the putsch.
Last year Japanese filmmaker Yuki Kitazumi was detained by Myanmar authorities while covering the coup’s aftermath.
Under international pressure he was launched and returned in order to Japan in May 2021.
Kitazumi indicated shock over Kubota’s detention, and mentioned he hoped he would be released “soon”.
“He is really a documentary videographer and there is no reason for him to be arrested when he was gathering materials, ” this individual said.
Myanmar’s junta has clamped down on press freedoms, arresting reporters and photographers, as well as revoking broadcasting licences.
As of March this year, 48 journalists remain in custody across the country, based on monitoring group Reporting ASEAN.