Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 16, 2007

Japan Slashes Aid to Burma After Crackdown
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19E554F:A6F02AD83191E16043248025AD15739A9574F7DCC14957C0 Japanese video
journalist Kenji Nagai was killed last month when Burmese security
forces fired into crowds of peaceful protesters Japan has canceled
almost $5 million in aid to Burma, in its first action against the
military government since security forces cracked down on
pro-democracy demonstrators in Rangoon and killed a Japanese
journalist. Naomi Martig reports from VOA's Asia News Center in Hong
Kong.







Photo released by Democratic Voice of Burma  showing Japanese
journalist as he lays in the street after being shot in Rangoon, 27
Sep 2007Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Nobutaka Machimura, says
Japan has decided to withhold a $4.7 million grant for the
construction of a Japan-Burma community exchange center.

Machimura says Japan is urging Burma's military government to listen
to the international community and work toward democracy. Japan is one
of Burma's largest aid donors.

When security forces in Rangoon fired into crowds of peaceful
protesters in late September, at least 10 people were killed,
including Japanese video journalist Kenji Nagai.

Burma has said Nagai's death was accidental and that he was hit by a
stray bullet. Video footage of Nagai's death appears to show a soldier
shooting him at close range. Japanese authorities have demanded an
investigation of the incident.


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