TOKYO: A Japanese journalist arrested while covering the aftermath of the Myanmar coup arrived in Tokyo Friday, after charges against him were dropped as a diplomatic gesture. “As a result of those efforts, yesterday the Myanmar authorities announced that they would withdraw the indictment,” he told reporters in Tokyo. $4 million food aidThe minister also announced that Japan has offered Myanmar $4 million in emergency food aid via the World Food Program. In late March, Japan had announced it was suspending new aid to Myanmar in response to the coup. Kitazumi, who had previously been arrested in February but released soon afterwards, was the first foreign journalist to be charged since the coup.

Source: Manila Times May 15, 2021 16:18 UTC