Myanmar goalkeeper Pyae Lyan Aung seeks refugee status in Japan after displaying three-fingered protest salute

While in Japan, the player displayed the three-fingered protest salute, which has become a symbol of opposition to the military junta since the February 1 coup

Pyae Lyan Aung travelled to Japan with the national team and on Wednesday told immigration authorities at the airport he did not want to return home

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Myanmar goalkeeper Pyae Lyan Aung sought to stay in Japan rather than return home. Photo: TBS News

Published: 3:45pm, 17 Jun 2021Updated: 3:54pm, 17 Jun 2021

A goalkeeper for Myanmar’s soccer team who raised a three-fingered salute in protest at the military coup in the country during a World Cup qualifying match in Japan on Thursday said he has chosen not to return home and will apply for refugee status.

Pyae Lyan Aung, 27, told reporters at Kansai airport in Osaka Prefecture that he has decided to stay in Japan as his “life would be at risk” if he returns home.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the February 1 coup ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, sparking huge protests and renewed clashes between the military and ethnic rebel armies in border regions.

As of Wednesday, 865 people had been killed by Myanmar’s security forces since the coup, with more than 4,900 others in detention, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group that keeps track of deaths and arrests in the country. Suu Kyi and other prominent politicians are among those in detention.

Pyae Lyan Aung, who came on as a substitute in the May 28 game, was supposed to return home with his teammates on Wednesday night, but he told immigration authorities at the airport that he wanted to stay in Japan. He spoke to reporters on Thursday.

Myanmar played Japan on May 28. Photo: Facebook

Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a regular press conference that the government “would like to respond properly by listening to his wishes”.