Japanese journalist detained in Myanmar

BANGKOK, Nov. 7 Kyodo -
Myanmar police authorities have detained a Japanese journalist on suspicion of
illegal entry after he entered the country to cover general elections, the
Japanese Embassy in Myanmar said Sunday.
The Myanmar police are questioning 49-year-old Toru Yamaji, president of
Tokyo-based video news provider APF News Inc., for which Japanese video
journalist Kenji Nagai, who was shot dead while filming pro-democracy protests
in Yangon in 2007, worked, the embassy said.
The embassy is requesting the Myanmar authorities to allow consular officials
to meet with Yamaji, it said.
Yamaji was detained when he entered Myawaddy in the eastern Myanmar state of
Kayin from the Thai border at around 8:30 a.m. Sunday, according to the
embassy.
According to a Myanmar pro-democracy activist living in Japan, Yamaji entered
Myawaddy by boat from Mae Sot in northwestern Thailand to cover parliamentary
elections held Sunday for the first time in 20 years in Myanmar.
Yamaji had a video camera and a mobile phone that could be used in Myanmar, the
activist quoted a Myanmar national who had accompanied Yamaji until Thailand,
as saying.
Earlier on Twitter, Miyaji commented on the Myanmar military government's
refusal to accept foreign journalists during the elections. ''If we are told
not to enter, it's our job to enter by any means, cover and report,'' he said.
''Look at me, Mr. Nagai.''
APF News, founded in 1992, is engaged in the production of TV documentary and
news programs as well as video delivery services.
==Kyodo