TOKYO: A Japanese business executive who was detained in Myanmar for more than a month has been released after being convicted of violating rice pricing rules, officials said Tuesday.
Hiroshi Kasamatsu, a director of the Myanmar supermarket Aeon Orange, was in custody in Myanmar since his June 30 arrest for selling rice at prices above the official regulations. Japan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday that the Japanese national was convicted of violating law related to daily necessities and service. He was sentenced to one year in prison and fined 500,000 kyat (about $150).
Kasamatsu was freed Monday afternoon, said Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for the Myanmar’s ruling military council.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry said it was unclear if Kasamatsu would stay in Myanmar or return to Japan. He was released from custody and is in good health, it said, but declined to give further details.
Rice is vital in Myanmar, a country struggling to stabilize its economy as civil war disrupts efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, triggering nonviolent protests that have evolved into armed resistance.
Aeon Orange is a part of Japan’s retail giant Aeon group, and operates several supermarkets in Myanmar. Aeon said it had no immediate comment.
Kasamatsu was among a number of foreign executives arrested on similar allegations in Myanmar.
The state-run Myanmar Alin newspaper reported in early July that the arrests for allegedly overpricing rice — from 31 percent to 70 percent over official prices set by the Myanmar Rice Federation — involved 62 suspects, 102 warehouses, 53 supermarkets and superstores, 25 mills and seven other shops in major cities.
Japan has historically maintained friendly ties with Myanmar. Compared with many Western nations, it took a softer approach toward Myanmar’s military government over its poor human rights record and undermining of democracy. Tokyo has not imposed economic sanctions though it does not acknowledge the legitimacy of the current government and urges restoration of democracy, and limits Japanese aid to humanitarian purposes.
Myanmar releases Japanese executive convicted of selling rice above set prices
https://arab.news/cug8n
Myanmar releases Japanese executive convicted of selling rice above set prices
- Hiroshi Kasamatsu has been in custody since his June 30 arrest for selling rice at prices above the official regulations
- Rice is vital in Myanmar, a country struggling to stabilize its economy as civil war disrupts efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic
Screaming students give French president rockstar greeting in China
- Macron arrived in Chengdu on Thursday evening after talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing that canvassed relations between the two governments, and as the French leader sought to shore up Chinese support for a path to a ceasefire in Ukraine
CHENGDU, China: Surrounded by security, French President Emmanuel Macron made his way through crowds of young fans, screaming with excitement, at a university in southern China on Friday, receiving a greeting more reminiscent of a rock star than a politician.
Hundreds of students and residents lined up outside a university sports hall in Chengdu to welcome Macron, some waiting for hours for the resident’s arrival.
“I’m delighted and honored that he has come to Chengdu and our Sichuan University,” 21-year-old material sciences student Ye Maoxuan said, describing the French leader as “charming.”
With a wall of students’ cellphone cameras fixed on the French head of state, the buzz around Macron’s visit quickly spread via social media.
He had already caused a stir after he was filmed on a surprise jog in a local park on Friday morning.
“We saw the videos online. He looks like he is still very lean and very healthy,” said 20-year-old student Su Chang, standing behind temporary barriers erected to contain the waiting crowd.
When Macron arrived around 3 p.m., students jostled for a chance to shake his hand in rapturous scenes that echoed his 2023 visit to a university campus in Guangzhou.
Macron arrived in Chengdu on Thursday evening after talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing that canvassed relations between the two governments, and as the French leader sought to shore up Chinese support for a path to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Closer to home, Sichuan University students said they hoped Macron’s visit would bring stronger academic ties.
“I think we should carry out some cooperative projects between our universities and France,” Ye, the material sciences student, said as he waited to enter the venue via a security check.
“China and France have advantages in different fields, so that we can learn from each other.”
While the president spent the afternoon on campus, his wife, Brigitte Macron, paid a visit to Chengdu’s giant panda research base.
The two nations signed an agreement to bring two pandas from China to France by 2027, replacing two that were recently returned to Chengdu from a French zoo.
“Sending the pandas to France is a display of the very friendly interactions between the Chinese and French people,” clinical medicine student Gu Xingyu said, ahead of Macron’s arrival.
“We really hope ... it can promote the friendship between our two countries.”
