Hundreds gather in Japan and Thailand to protest against Myanmar military coup

Burmese protesters take to the streets after detention of Aung San Suu Kyi

Myanmar nationals in Japan demonstrate against the military coup that took place in their home country on Monday, February 1, 2021. Getty Images

A Myanmar national in Japan holds up a portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest held in front of the United Nations University in Tokyo. EPA

People hold up images of Myanmar's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a protest outside Maynmar's embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images

NLD supporters shout slogans outside Myanmar's embassy during a rally after the military seized power from a democratically elected civilian government and arrested its leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters

People use their smartphones to live stream a protest outside Myanmar's embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images

This screengrab provided via AFPTV and taken from a broadcast by Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) in Myanmar shows the announcement of a one-year state of emergency in the country. AFP

A screen grab from Myanmar state television footage shows Myanmar Acting President Myint Swe (R) and General Min Aung Hlaing (L) as they attend a meeting. Reuters

A military helicopter flies in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. EPA

Cars pass police sitting in trucks along a road in Yangon, as Myanmar's military detained the country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the country's president in a coup. AFP

Policemen sit inside trucks parked on a road in the downtown area of Yangon, Myanmar. AP

Myanmar military supporters riding a vehicle wave a military flag as they go around Yangon, Myanmar. AP

People wave flags as they ride on a vehicle in Yangon, Myanmar. Reuters

A view of Shwedagon Pagoda, a Buddhist religious landmark in Yangon, as Myanmar's military detained the country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the country's president in a coup. AFP

Myanmar soldiers are seen inside City Hall in Yangon, Myanmar. Reuters

A woman leaves her house while being escorted by soldiers (unseen) at an unidentified location in Myanmar, in this picture obtained from social media. Reuters

A demonstrator prepares to throw a rock towards riot police during a protest outside the Embassy of Myanmar in Bangkok, Thailand. Andre Malerba/Bloomberg

A Thai pro-democracy protestor confronts riot police in Bangkok, in the area where Myanmar migrants were demonstrating after Myanmar's military detained the country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the country's president in a coup. AFP

A group of Myanmar activists hold the portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest outside the United Nation university in Tokyo following a military coup in the country by a general after arresting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior officials. AFP

Anti-Thai government protester wields a traffic cone at riot police during a clash at a rally for Myanmar's democracy outside the embassy, in Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters

Hundreds of Burmese protesters holding portraits of Aung San Suu Kyi gathered in Tokyo on Monday hours after the detention of the country's leaders in a sudden military coup.

The demonstrators, wearing face masks and carrying flags, stood outside the United Nations University in central Tokyo and called on the international body to further condemn the Myanmar military's actions.

"I'm worried [about my family], but more than them I'm worried about Aung San Suu Kyi," said Tin Htway, a 22-year-old Burmese restaurant worker who attended the protest.

Than Swe, president of the Union of Myanmar Citizen Association, said he wanted Ms Suu Kyi and all of the other democratically elected leaders to be released immediately.

"The military needs to acknowledge the results of the 2020 [election] and stop what they are doing right now," the 58-year-old said.

One of the protest organisers said nearly 800 people attended the demonstration on Monday.

In Bangkok, at least two people were injured in clashes between protesters and police after nearly 200 demonstrators gathered outside the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok.

The police arrested at least two people, the Thai legal monitoring group, iLaw, said.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) party said on Monday that Ms Suu Kyi, the group's leader, called on the public not to accept a coup by the military and urged them to protest.

"The actions of the military are actions to put the country back under a dictatorship," the NLD said in a statement which carried Ms Suu Kyi's name.

"I urge people not to accept this, to respond and wholeheartedly to protest against the coup by the military."

Japan and Myanmar have long had close ties, with Tokyo a major donor over the years and scores of Japanese firms engaged in business activities there.

About 33,000 Burmese were living in Japan as of June last year, with almost half of them on "technical trainee" visas, which allow them to work in Japan.

The Japanese government on Monday urged Myanmar to release the arrested leaders and demanded restoration of democracy in the country.