Condemning Myanmar Military Coup, Thousands Of Aung San Suu Kyi's Supporters Rallied In Tokyo

Illustration of protesters supporting Aung San Suu Kyi. (Wikimedia Commons / Burma Democratic Concern)

JAKARTA - Thousands of protesters who rejected the military coup and demanded the release of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi held a demonstration outside the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tokyo on Wednesday 3 February.

Carrying Aung San Suu Kyi's image, the mass of protesters demanded that the State of Sakura join its allies to take a tougher stance regarding the military coup in Myanmar.

"Free, free Aung San Suu Kyi, free, free Myanmar," shouted the protesters.

On this occasion, representatives of the protesters submitted a statement to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, asking Japan to use all political, diplomatic and economic power to restore civilian government in Myanmar.

Japan and Myanmar have long enjoyed close ties, with Tokyo as the main aid donor. Many large Japanese companies have been aggressively developing their business in the Land of the Thousand Pagodas in recent years.

One of the protesters named Mathida, 50, said she joined the protests to encourage Japanese officials to do more to restore democracy in Myanmar.

“We want our leader and our mother Aung San Suu Kyi to be released. The military is not the government, "he told Reuters.

Japan is known to have not taken a firm stance like that taken by the United States. The main spokesman for the Japanese government said his country would communicate with other countries while monitoring developments in the situation in Myanmar.

A top defense official told Reuters this week Japan needed to be careful about its approach to Myanmar. This is because cutting off the risky relationship will push Myanmar closer to China.