SOCIALIST UNITY

From the No! G8 Legal Team July 6, 2008

* Arrestees are still in jail and face years in prison
* Local organizers may face arrests
* Arrestees and organizers friends and families are facing harassment and
possible house raids by police

Activists and organizers are asking local groups and individuals to call,
e-mail, visit and protest at Japanese embassies over the unjust arrests,
detentions, deportations, and repression occurring around counter-G8
mobilization in Japan.

Japanese police continue to escalate repression against protesters of the Group
of 8 Summit. This is part of a growing trend of the suppression of human rights
in Japan. Yesterday’s demonstration of approximately five thousand was lined
with, and sometimes boxed in by, several thousand police in full riot gear. At
least four people – including a Reuters reporter – were arrested.

In one arrest, the police shattered the window of a sound truck and dragged out
the driver. Hours after the demonstration ended the legal team had already
received numerous reports of police misconduct.

This latest action comes after weeks of repressive activity on behalf of the
police and government. Activists throughout Japan have been arrested at
demonstrations and in their homes, often on “technical” charges, such as not
registering a change of address. Overt surveillance of activists, academics and
reporters has been taking place for months, and with some local activists for
years. International conference participants and protesters have been
interrogated for hours at the border and many have been denied entry into the
country without warrant. The legal team sees this as a violation of people’s
right to freely exchange ideas.

“What we have witnessed in the streets of Sapporo is part of an ongoing and
escalating campaign to suppress the movement for real democracy in Japan,” said
Marina Sitrin, professor and member of the National Lawyers Guild, a US based
human rights organization that is a part of the No! G8 Legal Team.

“We were surprised by the excessive force used by police in today’s
demonstration,” said Ko Watari, of WATCH, a Japanese legal network created to
document police and government misconduct during the anti G8 protests. “This
was a non-violent demonstration where no acts against property or people took
place, or even appeared likely to take place.” The arrested Reuter’s cameraman
was standing on a public sidewalk when seized by plainclothes police; his video
camera was confiscated and has not been returned. The arrest of the sound truck
driver followed immediately thereafter. Footage of the driver’s arrest shows
him screaming in pain as the police pulled him out of the truck, his foot stuck
in the steering wheel.

Protesters are organizing various events in the upcoming days of the G8 Summit,
between the 7th and 9th of July. The No! G8 Legal Team will be paying close
attention to the behavior of the police and government. “Labor and peace
movement leaders are concerned that the police will arrest them for organizing
these protests, search their homes and interrogate their family members,” said
Dan Spalding, Legal Worker Vice President of the National Lawyers Guild.

Japanese law permits police to hold and interrogate suspects in the police
station for 23 days without formal charges. They can interrogate suspects for
up to 12 hours at a time. While detained arrestees can be forced to sit on
their knees the entire time they are awake, not being able to move, even to use
the bathroom without asking permission. This permission is not always granted.

“We take all arrests very seriously, and the specifics of the procedure, such as
the 23 day detainment in the police station, the absence of lawyers to oversee
the conditions of process, the physical violence involved in the
interrogations, not being allowed medication, the fear of putting friends,
family, and affiliations at risk are only a part of the damage. Its also about
the anger and sense of shame which stays and creates more damage. It’s the
humiliation of not being able to take care of your own.” Commented Gen, a
participant in the counter G8 protests.

He continued: “I am personally grateful for the presence of activists from
throughout the world. The spirit and experiences, levels of militancy they
bring, for just being here in solidarity. Overall it has been a very energizing
experience, and we are in high spirits. I am grateful for your continued
presence and support. It is what authorities have tried to prevent through
repressive measures. International solidarity and pressure at this moment will
bring us to another level.”

International pressure can help prevent more people being arrested.

* Link to footage of brutal arrest of sound truck driver:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frfl_qdi2Y8

* Link to footage of Reuters reporter arrest, the truck driver and some of the
demonstration: http://blip.tv/file/1052811/

See embassies list: http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Repression/5318.html