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Scuffle between Japanese police and Burmese voters, 15 injured |
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by Mizzima News
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Sunday, 27 April 2008 00:20 |
Burmese migrant workers in Japan who come to vote had a scuffle with Japanese policemen outside the Burmese embassy this afternoon. The clash left 15 injured and 10 had to be hospitalized.
The Burmese migrant workers had queued up since 8:30 this morning at the Burmese embassy to cast vote their in the referendum. It was when the embassy called the Japanese police to control the crowd that a scuffle broke out which left 10 people injured.
"Ten fainted and a man and four women were injured, totaling 15. The Red Cross nurses treated five people in the nearby park. Some had broken arms while some fainted. Then we requested the Japanese police to call the ambulance and they agreed," a man who joined the crowd today told Mizzima.
Of the 10 who were hospitalized at the 'Nursing Home' after being dispersed by the Japanese police, one was a pregnant woman and some had heart diseases, he added.
"Three months pregnant Ma Thawdar Min Tun was not feeling well. The police dragged out everyone in the crowd. We protected each other by holding hands. Ma Thawdar Min Tun fell to the ground and fainted during the scuffle," Ma Yamin who was nursing her said.
There were about 300 voters. Some of them still have valid visas and some had overstayed.
Only 10 were allowed to enter the embassy compound till 5:30 p.m. when this interview took place. So some left the queue and went back home, a Burmese migrant worker who has an official work permit in Japan said.
"We were standing in the queue to vote. But the Japanese police blocked our way. Only three or four people had entered the embassy compound and I have not yet been allowed," he added.
The voters who cast their votes said that though they voted secretly and freely, the embassy staff examined their papers, household registration list in Burma among other documents. So the voters had to cast their votes in fear.
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