Pro-democracy rally held in Tokyo 1 month after journalist's death in Myanmar

A rally to call for Myanmar's democratization was held in Tokyo on Sunday, one month after Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai was shot dead by a member of the security forces while covering demonstrations in Yangon.

Four-hundred people took part in the event, which was organized by a Tokyo-based non-governmental organization.

The rally opened with a sutra reading by a Japanese monk and one from Myanmar to mourn Mr Nagai, and was followed by testimonies by people who fled the country to escape the military government's oppression.

A woman whose village was torched said she became separated from her sister while they were escaping, and never saw her again.

A monk called on the international community to adopt strict policies that do not tolerate oppression by the military regime.

The group plans to continue its campaign for Myanmar's democratization by holding lecture meetings and collecting signatures.
News from http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/index.html