UN Special Rapporteur shows concern over Japanese government’s crackdown on Henoko protesters

UN Special Rapporteur shows concern over Japanese government's crackdown on Henoko protesters

At the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on April 19, UN Special Rapporteur David Kaye told media he had reported concerns to the Japanese government about a crackdown on protesters opposing the construction of a new U.S. military base in Henoko, Nago.


April 20, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, visited Japan to research how the Japanese government has been handling its citizens’ freedom of expression. Kaye held a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo on April 19. Kay said he had reported concerns to the Japanese government about a crackdown on protesters opposing the construction of a new U.S. military base in Henoko, Nago.

After hearing reports of excessive force being used by the police and the coast guard against the citizens’ nonviolent protest, Kaye decided to report his concerns to the Japanese government. He also expressed his concerns over hate speech against citizens opposing U.S. military bases in Okinawa and Japanese politicians’ pressure on two Okinawan newspapers. Kaye stated the situation was very serious and said he would continue to research the matter further and report concerns to the Japanese government.

Kaye said that he had personally researched the crackdown on protesters opposing the construction of the new military base in Henoko. He said that he had heard about the excessive security blocking the citizens’ nonviolent protest in Henoko and said he would continue to pursue the issues.

(English translation by T&CT)

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