From Evening Echo

Japan accuses Burma over journalist's death
27/09/2007 - 8:55:32 PM

Japan’s new foreign minister said today that his country holds Burma accountable for the death of a Japanese journalist found after the military opened fire on a crowd of pro-democracy protesters.

After a private meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura told reporters at the State Department that his ministry had raised the issue with officials at Burma’s Embassy in Tokyo.

Mr Komura said Japan holds Burma “strictly” accountable for the death of 50-year-old Kenji Nagai, which happened as tens of thousands defied the junta’s crackdown with a 10th straight day of demonstrations.

He said Ms Rice told him that the international community cannot let peaceful protesters get injured and killed.

Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka was scheduled to visit Burma this weekend to express Japan’s anger to the ruling military junta, said Tomohiko Taniguchi, a deputy press secretary travelling with Mr Komura. [...]

continue reading [here]