Toru Kubota, a journalist who was detained in Myanmar and convicted and sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison, demanded the early release of journalist Toru Kubota.
Journalist Toru Kubota was detained by security authorities at the site of a protest demonstration against the military in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, in July this year, and was found guilty of violating immigration control laws and other crimes for a total of 10 years. A prison term has been handed down.
In response to this, Mr. Kubota's friends and representatives of international human rights organizations held a press conference in Tokyo on the 26th.
Among them, journalist and friend Hiroki Kitazudo, who was detained by the security authorities in Yangon in April last year and released about a month later, said, "I hear that Mr. Kubota is doing well so far, but I "The situation is much worse than it was then. The detention of journalists is unjust and I demand their immediate release."
Teppei Kasai of the international human rights group "Human Rights Watch" also said, "The trial takes place outside the scrutiny of the general public and the international community and is almost certain to result in a conviction. The Japanese government has been detained. We should do everything in our power to release all those who are in prison."
Regarding Mr. Kubota, the local Japanese embassy is requesting the Myanmar authorities to release him as soon as possible through various routes, but there are concerns that his detention will be prolonged.