On April 16, 2024, the GGR and Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) Democracy for the Future Project co-organized a Diet Roundtable, “Dialogue with the Members of Milk Tea Alliance Japan on Japan’s Role in Supporting Democracy and Protecting Human Rights.” About 40 participants including Diet members, Milk Tea Alliance Japan members, guests, and observers participated in the discussion. The Milk Tea Alliance Japan was established as a forum for solidarity among democracy activists in Asia and includes activists, scholars, musicians, journalists, and filmmakers from Japan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

With regard to Hong Kong, the erosion of freedoms in the daily lives of its citizens since the implementation of Hong Kong’s National Security Law (NSL) 2020 and the potential impact of such measures on East Asia were discussed. On Myanmar, the discussion focused on the 2.6 million displaced persons since the coup and the exodus of young people due to military conscription.

【Event report prepared by】

Minhee Jeong (Doctoral student, Graduate School of Law, Hitotsubashi University)