Gathering before Naha District Court backs Amnesty International’s call for Yamashiro’s release

Gathering before Naha District Court backs Amnesty International’s call for Yamashiro’s release

On January 30 Satoko Norimatsu stands before the Naha District Courthouse and insists that, “We absolutely cannot allow the Japanese government to oppress its citizens.”


January 31, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

The detention of chairman of the Okinawa Peace Movement Center Hiroji Yamashiro, who took on a central role in the movements opposing Henoko base construction and Takae helipad construction, has continued for more than 100 days. He was arrested and indicted on suspicion of obstructing official business by force. On January 30 an emergency gathering to call for his prompt release met in front of Naha District Courthouse.

At this gathering Satoko Norimatsu, an editor of The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus, read aloud Amnesty International’s English urgent action document calling for the prompt release of Yamashiro, which was made public on January 26. She called for an immediate end to Yamashiro’s unjust detention, as Japan has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). After the reading, Norimatsu and co-representative of the emergency gathering Isamu Nakasone submitted Amnesty International’s urgent action document to Naha District Court.

(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)

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