Japanese Red Cross rejects blood of Myanmar residents

Asian Economic News, Sept 24, 2001

TOKYO, Sept. 20 Kyodo

The Japanese Red Cross Society has rejected offers from a dozen Myanmar residents to donate blood, saying interviews to prevent HIV infection cannot be effectively conducted with foreigners, members of a group representing the Myanmar residents said Thursday.

Members of the League for Democracy in Burma visited a blood donation depot in Tokyo's Toshima Ward on June 17 because they wanted to do a good deed prior to the June 19 birthday of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, they said. One of the members speaks Japanese.

The group said the Red Cross previously accepted blood donations from its members in similar offers. After talks, the Red Cross apologized to the members and said it will accept their offers, the group said.

The group accused the Red Cross of discrimination. A Red Cross official rejected the accusation, saying workers at the depot were unaccustomed to foreigners.