TEMPO.CO, Tokyo - Members of Myanmar's minority Rohingya community in Japan have been barred from welcoming democracy figure Aung San Suu Kyi during her visit to Japan. "We were told that we were not expected to be there," Zaw Min Htut, 42, leader of some 200 Rohingyas living in Japan.
Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, is scheduled to arrive in Japan on Saturday (4/13), her first visit there in three decades.
In her six-day visit, Suu Kyi is expected to meet approximately 10,000 Burmese who live in Japan, but without the presence of the Rohingya. She is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.
“A few members of the Buddhist community are against our participation, despite us being in Japan for decades and have helped other Myanmar nationals here, I was told by the event organizers that we won't be able to see Aung San Suu Kyi," Min Htut said.
A Japanese government official said the decision to ban the Rohingya people from attending Suu Kyi's welcoming ceremony was made by organizers and had nothing to do with the ministry.
Suu Kyi has faced strong criticized for not having commented on the sectarian violence afflicting Myamnar's ethnic minorities, such as the Rohingya and Karen, who are in conflict with the Buddhist majority.
REUTERS | CNA | RAJU FEBRIAN
