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TOKYO - Japan today mourned the death of a video journalist who was fatally shot in Yangon during last month's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
Hundreds of people, including scores of Myanmar nationals, gathered at a cemetery in central Tokyo, to join the memorial service for Japanese video journalist Kenji Nagai.
Nagai, 50, was shot when the military opened fire on protesters in Yangon on Sept. 27. Footage smuggled out of the country appeared to show a soldier shooting Nagai at point-blank range, but Myanmar officials have said he was shot accidentally.
"Honestly speaking, I still can't believe Kenji Nagai is dead," Toru Yamaji, head of the APF News organisation for which Nagai had worked on contract, told the ceremony. "I still can't accept the reality."
Japanese police have been carrying out an autopsy to determine how Nagai was killed. The results of the autopsy, which could prompt Tokyo to take punitive steps on Myanmar, have yet to be announced.
Japanese officials said last week that Tokyo may suspend some 500 million yen ($5.67 million) in aid for Myanmar, although some officials said Tokyo would maintain its policy of engagement and had no plans to suspend trade or freeze Myanmar's assets.
Tokyo demanded that Myanmar hands over the small video camera Nagai was clutching as he died near the Sule Pagoda. The camera was missing from personal items returned by Myanmar officials. Japanese officials said the camera had not been returned.
Japan has shown more willingness to engage Myanmar than most Western countries and is one of its biggest aid donors.
Japan has withheld full-scale aid to impoverished Myanmar since democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was detained in 2003, but it has funded emergency health projects and provided some training and technological transfers.
Japan has provided a total of about 3 billion yen in aid annually in recent years, down from 10 billion in 2001.
- REUTERS
