Briefly: Activist vows nonviolent protest

PARIS--Robert Menard, secretary-general of Reporters Without Borders, said Monday he planned to stage a "nonviolent" protest against China's human rights abuse during the Beijing Olympic torch relay in Nagano on Saturday.

Menard, 54, told The Asahi Shimbun that he would leave for Japan on Tuesday to put up a banner and organize other demonstrations.

Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama on Tuesday indicated the government has no grounds at the moment to deny Menard's planned entry to Japan.

Menard said he believes that his entry will pose no problem, saying that Japan is a democracy.(IHT/Asahi: April 23,2008)