Kitakyushu, City in Kyushu, Japan

Myanmar national soccer goalkeeper Pyae Lyan Aung, who applied for refugee status in Japan last month, has been approved visa for six months on Friday, Kyodo News reported."Japan approved on Friday a six-month visa for a goalkeeper on the Myanmar national soccer team who refused to return home with his teammates last month," his lawyer said.Pyae Lyan Aung applied for refugee status and requested to switch his visa status in Japan on June 22 after expressing fear for his life over making a three-finger salute, a sign of protest against the military coup in his country, during a recent World Cup qualifier near Tokyo.The 27-year-old was granted a "designated activities" visa permitting him to stay and work in the country for six months, based on an emergency measure of the government to stop Myanmar residents in Japan from being deported, Kyodo News reported."I am very grateful to the Japanese government and everyone who has helped me so far. The soccer (skills) level in Japan is high, but I want to play for any (team) that will take me," Pyae Lyan Aung told reporters following a meeting with immigration officials in Osaka.Japanese immigration authorities had said the office would promptly process his application as he would most likely face persecution by the military if he returns to his home country.Pyae Lyan Aung entered Japan in late May as a Myanmar national soccer team member with a visa for a short-term stay not to exceed 90 days.During the match between Japan and Myanmar in Chiba in late May, the goalkeeper, who came on as a substitute, raised three fingers of his right hand with "WE NEED JUSTICE" written on them in English while Myanmar's national anthem was being played. The salute has been used as a show of resistance in Myanmar to the February 1 coup.Since the February military coup in Myanmar that ousted the democratically elected government led by civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who turned 76 recently, she and other prominent politicians have been detained and hundreds of civilians have been killed by security forces.As the team was about to leave Japan on June 16 after playing two further World Cup qualifiers, he told immigration authorities at Kansai airport in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, that he wanted to remain in Japan.( With inputs from ANI )Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

KitakyushuFOLLOW

Kitakyushu, Latest News

Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday made a decision to place Tokyo under the fourth state of emergency for the duration of the upcoming Olympics to curb a recent rise in COVID-19 cases. ...

Tokyo Olympics are likely to be held without spectators due to a sudden spike in coronavirus cases, a government official said on Wednesday. ...

Metal scrips surged during last hour of trading on Wednesday, lifting up key equity indices in an otherwise lacklustre session. ...

Tokyo, July 7 Authorities in Osaka prefecture on Wednesday made the decision to request the Japanese government to ... ...

Tokyo, July 7 The Japanese government will launch a databank of infectious diseases later this month to help ... ...

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was saddened by the loss of life and destruction caused by a mudslide in Japan, said his spokesman on Monday. ...

Soba and Udon are traditional Japanese noodle dishes that are very popular in Japan, but their great flavour isn't complete without some "Shichimi" on top of it. ...

Myanmar national soccer goalkeeper Pyae Lyan Aung, who applied for refugee status in Japan last month, has been approved visa for six months on Friday, Kyodo News reported. ...