MYANMAR: Japan demands return of slain journalist's camera

Record ID: 464812

  • Title: MYANMAR: Japan demands return of slain journalist's camera
  • Date: 1st October 2007
  • Summary: (BN03) TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 1, 2007) (REUTERS) JAPANESE TOP GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN NOBUTAKA MACHIMURA ARRIVING FOR PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY NOBUTAKA MACHIMURA SAYING: "The Myanmar government said it has returned all the belongings of Kenji Nagai on September 29, however it appears that a Sony mini-video camera is missing. Myanmar says it has returned everything, however (Nagai's boss) Yamaji in Myanmar said they are still investigating the facts in Yangon and visiting foreign ministry envoy (Mitoji) Yabunaka will strongly demand from the Myanmar government the return of these belongings"
  • Embargoed: 16th October 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Myanmar
  • Country: Myanmar
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAAM2S25PKCDUO3A9HVECAWHUKN
  • Story Text: Japan demands that the missing video camera of slain Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai be returned by the Myanmar authorities. Nagai was apparently shot at point blank range during anti-junta protests in Yangon last week.
    Japan's top government spokesman urged Myanmar on Monday (October 1) to return the video camera missing after soldiers killed and carried off Japanese video journalist Kenji Nagai.
    Nagai, 50, was fatally wounded in Yangon on Thursday (September 27), apparently shot by a soldier firing at point-blank range.
    Tokyo is considering recalling its ambassador and reducing or suspending technical assistance to Myanmar, and it will decide how to proceed after seeing how the military junta reacts to Yabunaka's requests, Kyodo news agency said.
    "The Myanmar government said it has returned all the belongings of Kenji Nagai on September 29," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobunaka Machimura at a regular press conference.
    "However it appears that a Sony mini-video camera is missing,"
    he said.
    Machimura said that Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Nitoji Yabunaka, who flew to Myanmar on Sunday (September 30), would demand the return of the camera.
    Yabunaka will also urge the military junta to thoroughly investigate the killing of the journalist and not to use force to end mass protests.
    Yabunaka flew to Myanmar following the arrival on Saturday (September 29) of U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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