Photo/Illutration Protesters hold slogans condemning the military government in Yangon, Myanmar, on April 13. (AP Photo)

BANGKOK--A Japanese freelance journalist detained by Myanmar security forces on April 18 is believed to have been transferred to a prison.

Yuki Kitazumi, 45, was detained at his home in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, at around 7:50 p.m. on April 18 and is thought to have been moved to Insein Prison, the Japanese Embassy in Myanmar said on April 19.

Kitazumi was detained by Myanmar security forces as the military is thoroughly searching residential areas to detain people related to anti-coup protests as it steps up its crackdown on demonstrators.

Multiple local media outlets had reported that he was taken away by security forces on the evening of April 18.

The embassy said it has yet to confirm the charges against him and his state of health.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on April 19 said his government will do everything in its power to protect Japanese nationals in Myanmar.

The government has been asking Myanmar authorities to release Kitazumi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a news conference that day. 

Kitazumi, a former Nikkei business newspaper reporter, began covering protests against the Myanmar military immediately after it seized power in a coup on Feb. 1.

Security forces also detained him on Feb. 26 while he was covering a protest in Yangon and released him the same day.

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