Japan ‘won’t issue’ visas for Myanmar envoys appointed by military

Name: Myanmar’s crippled health care system buckles under worsening third coronavirus wave
Uploaded: 2021-08-22T04:20:02.000Z
Duration: 1 min 52 s
Description: Myanmar’s crippled health care system buckles under worsening third coronavirus wave

Japan allowing the two replacements to be posted to the Myanmar embassy in Tokyo would be tantamount to recognising the February 1 military coup

While Tokyo has said it’s ‘considering’ the request by the military to issue diplomatic visas, it has yet to start issuance procedures, sources said

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Kyodo

Published: 12:20pm, 22 Aug 2021Updated: 8:16pm, 22 Aug 2021

Japan has effectively refused to issue visas for two Myanmar military-appointed diplomats the junta seeks to send to Tokyo in place of two it fired in March, according to Japanese government sources.

Japan allowing the two replacements to be posted to the Myanmar embassy in Tokyo would be tantamount to recognising the February 1 military coup that ousted the country’s elected government under civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar’s military has requested that Japan issue diplomatic visas for the two replacements. Japan has said it “is considering” the request but has yet to start issuance procedures, the sources said.

In the meantime, Japan is continuing to recognise the diplomatic status of the two sacked diplomats after the pair boycotted their duties at the embassy in protest of the coup.

Japan does not recognise the military, known as Tatmadaw, as a legitimate governing body of Myanmar.

According to a document dated March 15, the Myanmar embassy told the Japanese foreign ministry that its military-backed government had nullified the two’s diplomatic status and passports.

The embassy requested that Japan not allow them to use their passports, the documents show.

01:52

Myanmar’s crippled health care system buckles under worsening third coronavirus wave