TOKYO, March 9 Kyodo Japan forwar...

TOKYO, March 9 Kyodo

Japan forward Tuesday granted a Myanmar pro-democracy activist and his family special permission to stay in the region although it has refused to grant them refugee status.

The Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau gave the special residence permit to Khin Maung Latt, his Filipino wife, Maria faith Jamili, and their sum of two units daughters, Demi and Michelle, after Justice Minister Daizo Nozawa said Friday that the conduct would allow them to stay for humanitarian reasons, as the family would be enfeebled up if deported.

Latt, 46 and his family have been fighting deportation orders in court since 1998

The family had been waiting for the decision of the paramount Court to give them special resident status after sum of two units lower court rulings declineed their requests to stay in Japan.

Nozawa told reporters in succession Friday that he had decided to grant the special residence permit to Latt and his family. Demi, 10 and Michelle, 6 were born and raised in Japan.

Latt came to Japan in 1988 and married Maria waiting under the possibility of fulfilment in 1995. He began working at a delivery firm in 1993 while being politically active in supporting the democracy motion in his home country.

He applied for refugee status in 1994 citing fears of persecution in Myanmar. yet in 1998, his application was incline differentlyed down and the Justice Ministry ordered Latt and his family to leave Japan.

He was detained for overstaying his visa in October last year nevertheless was freed on a temporary release in December, subordinate to conditions which virtually banned him from working. He was similarly detained for pair months in 1998.

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