Accidental Killing?

[Maung Chin (Zomi)]

RESPONSE to Kyaw Min Lu (Shwepitha)

1. How do you know Kengi Nagai was killed ACCIDENTALLY? The videos and
photos told otherwise. A Burmese soldier, who wore slippers, pointed his gun
at him. The soldier and the Japanese man were not far from each other. They
were about 2 feet apart.

2. The Burmese soldiers should not have shot anybody, be he a Japanese man,
a Bamar child, or a Bamar monk. Was Yangon a frontline where there was an
armed rebellion?

"U Myint Lwin" <umyintl...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192432988....@q5g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 15 October, 2007
>
> Attempts to harm amicable ties
>
> Kyaw Min Lu (Shwepyitha)
>
> It is known to all that Kengi Nagai, a Japanese photographer was
> killed accidentally while the security forces handling the violence
> that occurred at the end of last month for stability of the State. It
> was a sad incident indeed. After the death of the Japanese, Deputy
> Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and party arrived and met some
> responsible ministers. We have known that a press release was issued.
> Officials concerned of our country felt sorry for the accident and
> they are believed to have explained it to them reasonably. Gentle
> Myanmar people with sympathy and kind heart feel sorry for the foreign
> visitor.
>
> We saw that it was just an accident or an unfortunate incident. The
> true event was really simple. However, foreign broadcasting stations
> reported distorted accusations. We were very unhappy when we learnt
> about it. They reported that Japanese photographer Kengi Nagai, 50,
> covering news of protests in the streets in Yangon , was shot point-
> blank range by a soldier and that he fell down and he tried to shoot
> the scene with his right handheld camcorder. They added that Myanmar
> government had negative views on the news channel if it deliberately
> shot dead the Japanese because it knew the man was a reporter. The
> broadcasting stations made accusations on the government that provided
> assistance for the late Japanese.
>
> We learnt that the Japanese who tried to cover news about the protests
> in Myanmar was branded as a hero reporter. I don't think he might know
> that his act would be great as such. Regarding Myanmar , foreign
> broadcasting stations have described those serving prison terms and
> those who died for any reason to be heroes. This way they have misled
> the world people. It was not strange for them. The stations said that
> the death of the Japanese reporter was a blessing in disguise for
> Myanmar because, they said, the Japanese people took interest in
> Myanmar 's affairs after his death. The APF news agency said that it
> was the big profit for introduction of democracy in Myanmar . The APF
> news agency took advantage of the incident before the body was buried.
> It is
> obvious that fabrications of foreign media targeted our country with a
> vengeance.
>
> I will explain the incident. When a mistake lingers on it may be
> thought as right. Therefore, we will correct the mistake. We are not
> that naive to remain silent. In fact, on 25-9-2007, Kengi Nagai, was a
> reporter of APF based in Japan . He arrived in Yangon on a tourist
> visa No 006567(24-9-2007) EV/T/PIT. In reality, a reporter should come
> to Myanmar on a journalist visa. We don't need to mention whether his
> plan was sincere or not. Studying the time of his arrival in the
> country there might be some kind of contacts with the protesters. But
> we said nothing.
>
> One who entered the country on a tourist visa should act like a
> tourist. If he had acted so, the tragic incident would not have taken
> place. But he came to the country on a tourist visa and acted like a
> journalist dishonestly. He should officially come to Myanmar through
> the ministry concerned if he wished to do journalist work. The sad
> incident would not have taken place if he did so. I think necessary
> assistance might be provided to him by the government concerned.
>
> Mr Nagai put up at a hotel on 33rd Street in Yangon and tried to cover
> news about protest marches and security measures. At that time,
> Section 144 was in force in Yangon and necessary measures were to be
> taken in accordance with the law to disperse the crowds who were
> staging protest marches at the instigation of internal and external
> destructive elements. So, the situation was in highly dangerous at the
> time. I do not think any correspondent without evil spell would go
> there at such a time. I am sure ordinary correspondents would try to
> collect news, from a safe place.
>
> The Japanese correspondent was among the protesters. It is food for
> thought as to why he was there and what links between the crowd and
> him were. Myanmar 's process to disperse protesters is somewhat
> different from that of other countries. Security forces have to show
> great patience in handling such cases. They disperse the crowds only
> when they have no choice but to do so. In the first stage, they draw
> three lines and persuade the protesters to disperse and not to march
> forward. If the protesters fail to follow the instructions, they have
> to use tear-gas and smoke bombs to disperse the crowd. If the
> protesters again march forward, they fire warning shots to disperse
> the crowd. If the protesters however persist on marching forward and
> pose danger to the security members, they unavoidably have to use
> minimum force to disperse the protesters.
>
> It is impossible for security members to know who is who and to
> differentiate between nationals and foreigners in handling a protest.
> Indeed, Myanmars and Japanese are the same, Asians, so the security
> members could not know immediately he was a Japanese and whether he
> was a protester or a correspondent. What is sure in that regard is
> that security members had to target the ones in the front of the crowd
> to stop the protest. The Japanese correspondent caused his tragic end
> by getting among the protesters. In addressing the incidents, security
> forces found it difficult to distinguish Myanmar from Japanese or
> American. They fired shots just to disperse the crowd, not to harm any
> particular person. Suppose there was an American in the crowd, maybe
> he would be shot if unfortunate.
>
> Surely, the Japanese correspondent was shot accidentally, not on
> purpose. He met his tragic end due to the fact that he was together
> with the protesters at an improper site at an improper time. Those
> responsible sent him to Yangon General Hospital as soon as possible.
> Then, they informed the Japanese Embassy of the incident, and extended
> a helping hand to it in taking necessary measures in that regard.
> Myanmar handed over the 24 belongings of Mr Nagai to the Japanese
> Embassy. It also helped send his body to Japan . Myanmar people felt
> sorry like his family and Japanese people. His family asked Myanmar
> for returning the Sony video tape recorder Mr Nagai was holding in the
> incident. It is very hard to identify how his tape recorder was lost
> amidst the protesters who were in disorder due to security forces
> dispersing the crowd.
>
> Security forces did not collect it. I understand the desire of his
> family that want to get back the recorder to be kept for remembrance.
> However, foreign radio stations said that it was taken by a policeman.
> That made his family downhearted and I also felt sorry. Many foreign
> news agencies including Japanese ones are airing as if Myanmar
> security members shot him at close range on purpose. That harms the
> bilateral relations to a certain degree. To my dismay, with reference
> to the demise of Mr Nagai, a Japanese news agency suggested that the
> Japanese government try harder to ensure peace and democracy in
> Myanmar and said that Japan , a democracy, was responsible for the
> process. As a matter of fact, the Japan-Myanmar relations have been
> cemented for years. Trust and understanding between the Japanese
> government and Myanmar government as well as between peoples of the
> two nations have already been fostered. For Myanmar and its people
> there could be a spate of hatred and abhorrence towards Japanese as
> they had experienced and suffered much in the time of Japan in
> Myanmar. There are still many stories and movies on Japanese Kinpaytai
> and Japanese fascists.
>
> Actually, Myanmar people were subject to all forms of torture and
> agony by Japanese then. However, we Myanmar people did put it in the
> past with magnanimity. At a time when even China and South Korea are
> demanding an apology for atrocities of Japan during the war we Myanmar
> people have been in a position of forgiving it. One can realize such
> magnanimous attitude of Myanmars towards Japanese.
>
> There are no ulterior motives and spite on others among Myanmars who
> have reasonable consideration and rational thought. During WWII many
> Myanmar people were under gruesome torture. However, when Japanese
> lost the war and fled Myanmar some Japanese war veterans who are still
> alive know how Myanmar people treated them. The movie by the name of
> "Thwe (Blood)" jointly produced by Japan and Myanmar stands witness to
> sincere attitude and temperament of Myanmar . This has born witness to
> Japan-Myanmar friendship which can not be destroyed.
>
> In Myanmar , the 27th March on which we started to launch the anti-
> fascist resistance was designated as anti-Fascist Resistance Day. But
> later on, we Myanmars designated it as the Armed Forces Day on the
> basis of understanding and consideration so that hatred against
> Japanese can be warded off. Even such a trivial matter has been taken
> into consideration one can assess and calculate that should Myanmars
> knowingly and
> intentionally shoot dead a Japanese reporter at close range.
>
> At present, there are still mutual trust and respect between Myanmar
> and Japan based on Japan-Myanmar friendly ties. Not only Japanese
> government but also NGOs are still providing the nation with
> humanitarian assistance. However, some foreign radio stations are
> airing fabricated news as to the incident of Mr Nagai with the
> intention of undermining the Japan-Myanmar relations, of terminating
> the aid provided by Japan and of getting foreign countries to impose
> sanctions on Myanmar. This is what we revealed the true situations of
> Mynamar. It is necessary to perpetually maintain friendship between
> the two countries on the basis of objective conditions. It should not
> be like the instance that the sweet taste of certain soup was degraded
> by salt.
>
> Our Myanmar people do not pay any attention to the instigation and
> incitement of foreign media that are airing fabricated news in an
> exaggerated way. Lessons drawn from the past show that only own
> government and own people served the national interest and engaged
> extensively in nationbuilding endeavours. Therefore, despite a spate
> of instigation and attacks we all Myanmar people unanimously support
> the ruling government. Under the leadership of the government we will
> actively participate in the drive for successful realization of the
> seven-step Road Map. In doing so, we have the wishes to cooperate with
> Japan in the long run based on the Japan-Myanmar friendly ties.
>
> (Translation: NY+MS+TS)
> Kyemon: 13-10-2007
>