PRESS CONFERENCE:
Yuki Kitazumi, Journalist
11:00-12:00 Friday, May 21, 2021
The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation/*Mr. Kitazumi will join the event online
Myanmar's Descent into Chaos
On April 19, soldiers in Myanmar arrived at the Yangon home of Yuki Kitazumi to arrest him on the charge of "spreading false news."
A former Nikkei photographer, Kitazumi ran his own media company in the Myanmar capital. After a difficult stay in prison, where he says he was threatened and denied use of writing materials, he was freed last Friday, after weeks of behind-the-scenes pressure from diplomats and colleagues. The junta said they had freed Kitazumi "in consideration of cordial relations between Myanmar and Japan up to now and in view of future bilateral relations."
Now recovering from his ordeal in quarantine in Japan, Kitazumi will speak to the FCCJ about his experience, and the increasingly chaotic situation in Myanmar.
According to observers, hundreds of people have been killed by the junta, and thousands have been thrown into prison. Among the detainees are dozens of journalists. The arrest of a Japanese citizen has highlighted the deep economic ties between Japan and Myanmar – some 400 Japanese companies flocked to the country after it transitioned to civilian rule under Aung San Suu Kyi in 2011.
How to attend:
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions attendance will be limited to 20 people. Doors open 30 minutes before the event. Please sign in, giving your name and contact details at the reception, and have your temperature taken before proceeding.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel.
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/GShhZgDkHbXCZcYA9
Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form (English only).
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 45 minutes before the event. There will be five positions available for livestreaming.
Professional Activities Committee