Refugee Status Denied

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        Date:18 Nov 94 2045 JST
        From: NBH03114@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
        Burmese Relief Center--Japan
        Reply-to:Conference "reg.burma" 
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MINISTRY REFUSES ASYLUM FOR 11 MYANMARESE

Mainichi Daily News, November 18, 1994

The Justice Ministry refused Thursday to grant political asylum to
11 Myanmar citizens who claim they would face persecution upon
return for having opposed the military junta there.

The ministry argued that the asylum seekers failed to file their
applications within 60 days after coming to Japan as required by
immigration laws and that exceptions cannot be accepted.

The group, which filed its application for refugee status in
December 1992, plans to file a protest with the justice minister,
urging a revision of the decision.

In its application the group said its members had been engaged in
the dissident movement against Myanmar's military, which launched
a coup in 1988, or had supported their country's democracy
movement from Japan.

The Asahi Shimbun reported in its Thursday evening edition that
the Yangon government retaliated by killing or detaining some of
the dissidents' relatives.

While renewing their passports at the Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo,
some group members were intimidated by officials hinting at their
dissident activities or were told that their family back home was
being interrogated by secret police, the daily said.

/e