The Japanese Red Cross Society has turned away a dozen Myanmar residents wanting to donate blood, saying HIV risk-assessment interviews cannot be effectively conducted with foreigners, a group representing Myanmar residents said Thursday.
Members of the League for Democracy in Burma visited a blood donation depot on June 17 in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, hoping to perform a good deed prior to the June 19 birthday of Myanmar's prodemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, they said. One of the members speaks Japanese.
According to the league, the Red Cross has previously accepted blood donations from its members. The Red Cross later apologized to the group, promising to accept their blood should they return in the future, 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.