Re Urgent Action (r)

[tinkyi@xxxxxxx]

Dear friends,

Please take a moment to (1) read this important message about Ko "Z," a
democracy activist Japan is about to repatriate, and (2) write to the
Japanese authorities urging them NOT to deport him.  Japan is very conscious
of its international image, so pressure from abroad can make a big
difference not only for Ko "Z" but also the rest of us who have applied for
refugee status here.  When we made a similar appeal last October on behalf
of Ko Mya Wai, your letters to the Japanese authorities helped secure his
release.  We hope you will show the same support for Ko "Z."

Thank you in advance for your help.

Metta,
Tin Kyi
Burma Youth Volunteer Association-Japan
on behalf of
Joint Action Committee (Japan)

>Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 18:29:00 +0900
>From: =?ISO-2022-JP?B?GyRCRU9uNCEhPjQ4ZxsoQg==?= <QYN02403@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: Urgent Action
>To: carol@xxxxxxx, kl@xxxxxxx, kyawkyaw@xxxxxxx, n-mohammed@xxxxxxxxxxxx,
>        tinkyi@xxxxxxx
>
>URGENT ACTION REQUEST
>
>ASYLUM DENIED FOR ACTIVIST; DEPORTATION ORDER ISSUED 
>
>15 June 1998
>
>On 12 June, the Ministry of Justice in Japan denied a Burmese student 
>activist's application for refugee status, and issued an order for 
>deportation. The activist, who had been detained at Narita Airport for 2 
>months, is now being held at another detention center.
>
>Z <his full name is not shown for security reasons>, a student activist from 
>Burma, arrived in Japan on 29 March. Shortly after arrival, he applied for 
>refugee status in Japan. However, the immigration authorities have kept him 
>in detention since his arrival, against international standards. On 12 June, 
>they notified him that his application for refugee status was denied, and 
>that a deportation order had been issued. 
>
>Early last month Z applied for provisional release, but no decision has been 
>made on the application. Now that the deportation order has been issued, he 
>could be detained indefinitely.
>
>Z was one of the central figures in the pro-democracy demonstrations in 
>Rangoon in  December 1996, as well as one of the leaders of an ethnic 
>Rohingya pro-democracy organization. He was twice arrested by military 
>authorities in Burma due to his participation in pro-democracy activities. 
>
>Please write to the Japanese immigration authorities! Please ask them to 
>immediatel release Z, and to favorably review his application for refugee 
>status. 
>
>A sample letter follows.
>
>Send urgent faxes and letters to:
>Mr. Kokichi Shimoinaba, Minister of Justice
>1-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku
>Tokyo, JAPAN
>FAX: +813-3593-3009
>
>Lawyers' Group for Burmese Asylum Seekers / People's Forum on Burma
>******************************************
>
>SAMPLE LETTER
>                                                      Date    /   /   
>ATTN: Mr. Kokichi Shimoinaba, Minister of Justice
>1-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku
>Tokyo, JAPAN
>FAX: +813-3593-3009
>
>Dear Mr. Shimoinaba,
>I am writing with regard to Z, a Burmese (Myanmarese) pro-democracy activist 
>who arrived at Narita on 29 March and applied for refugee status on 2 April. 
>His application was denied on 12 June, and he is now being held at the 
>immigration detention center at Ushiku, Ibaraki Pref.  
>
>As a pro-democracy activist and being of Rohingya ethnicity, and considering 
>his previous arrests by Burmese military authorities, it is clear that Z 
>would be in danger of persecution upon his deportation to Burma. 
>
>Japan, having ratified the Convention on the Status of Refugees, has an 
>international responsibility to offer protection to those who are in danger 
>of persecution in their own countries. It should also be noted that it is 
>against international standards to detain asylum-seekers.*
>
>I strongly urge you to favorably review Z's application for refugee status 
>and to release him immediately. It would be one step towards the fulfillment 
>of international responsibility. Thank you for your attention. 
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>*Cf. Art. 31, 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees; UNHCR Executive 
>Committee Conclusion No. 44; UNHCR Guidelines on Detention of 
>Asylum-Seekers.
>
>