2017年6月22日木曜日

Summary of the UNHRC Side Event on "Freedom of Expression in Okinawa" (June 16, 2017)



IMADR wrote this summary of the UNHRC side event on "Freedom of Expression in Okinawa."

“Open space for protest must be created in Okinawa”, collective voice to Japan (16 June 2017)



Oral Statement by Hiroji Yamashiro (June 15, 2017)

 

Hiroji Yamashiro addressed infringements on Okinawans’ rights at UN Human Rights Council on 15 June. Here is his oral statement.

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Thank you Mr. President.

I am Hiroji Yamashiro. I lead the peaceful protest movement against human rights violations by the U.S. military bases in Okinawa, Japan.

The Governments of Japan and the U.S. are building military bases in Okinawa despite the strong opposition from Okinawan people.

Civilians are protesting the militarization everyday.

The Government of Japan dispatched large police forces in Okinawa to oppress and violently remove those civilians.

In the protest, I was arrested for a minor offence, followed by two retroactive arrests. I was detained for 5 months. I was not allowed to see anyone except lawyers. Not even my family. I was forced to confess and give up the protest activity. These are the clear human rights violations by the authorities.

However I and Okinawan people will never bow to oppression.

I demand the Government of Japan to stop human rights violations, and respect the Okinawan people’s will against the construction of new U.S. and Japanese military bases.

Thank you Mr. President

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Organisations1:
Franciscans International
International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
All Okinawa Council for Human Rights, NGO without consultative status, also shares the views expressed in this statement.

2017年6月10日土曜日

Geneva Side Event on Freedom of Expression in Okinawa (June 16)

The flyer for the Geneva side event on Freedom of Expression in Okinawa is out now.

The webcast will be streamed here: http://www.treatybodywebcast.org/treaty-body-webcast-ii/



Yamashiro to address infringements on Okinawans’ rights at UN Human Rights Council in June (May 30, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo)

A single person, a world of difference By Kaoru Yamaguchi, Amnesty International Japan (19 May 2017, Kaoru Yamaguchi, Amnesty International Japan)

Freedom of Expression Under Siege in Okinawa: The Abe government has been particularly harsh on cracking down on dissent in Okinawa. By Taisuke Komatsu (June 06, 2017)

The All Okinawa Council on Human Rights is accepting donations to cover the costs and travel expenses related to this symposium. Contributions can be made online at the following URL: https://japangiving.jp/campaigns/5192 (in Japanese)

2017年6月1日木曜日

Comments by the State is also available



A/HRC/35/22/Add.5
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression on his mission to Japan: comments by the State

Search "Japan" in the following page.

35th session of the Human Rights Council: Reports