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Request for Urgent Action



Coinciding with the suppression on Aung San Suu Kyi and her party members
in Rangoon, the Japanese Justice Ministry has started to arrest Burmese
dissidents in Japan.  We ask you to please disseminate this urgent action
request widely to protect the Burmese dissidents facing the deportation to
Burma.

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Request for Urgent Action for Burmese Asylum Seekers in Japan

On July 24th, two Burmese refugee status applicants were arrested, on July
27th another one was arrested at the Tokyo Immigration Bureau after the
Bureau issued a summons to appear at the Immigration office.  Since their
arrest, deportation procedures have begun. Several other applicants for
refugee status have also received such notices to appear at the Immigration
office.

This occurred on the first same day that refugee status was granted to one
Burmese and one Iranian.

While we welcome and commend the Ministry of Justice's granting of refugee
status to these two individuals, we are deeply  concerned by the concurrent
arrests.  

One, whom for security reasons we will call Mr. A  (40 years of age) was
summoned by the Tokyo Immigration Bureau on July 24th.   When he arrived at
the Immigration office, he was arrested and sent to the detention center.
In the detention center he was handed an official denial to his
application,  and deportation procedures were started.  Mr. A's wife and
two children remain at his apartment in Tokyo. 

The arrested applicants for refugee status are to be deported to Burma
within 60 days of detention.  It is sure that they will be arrested and
imprisoned for a longer term after arriving in Rangoon.

Such arbitrary detention is in violation of UNHCR codes and international
standards for refugee applicants.

Please send a fax or letters to the Japanese officials urging them  to end
such unreasonable treatment of Burmese pro-democracy activists, pointing
out that these asylum seekers face severe and brutal treatment if deported
to Burma's military regime.

Your letter should include the following points:

1.  Your approval of the recent granting of refugee status to the two
individuals.
2.  Your concern for those who have been denied refugee status and who are
facing deportation in the context of the current human rights/political
situation in Burma.
3.  Your belief that the Tokyo Immigration Bureau's treatment of refugee
status applicants is unjustified and goes against international standards
(as defined by UNHCR).

Letter should be sent to:

Mr.Keizo Obuchi,  Prime Minister of Japan
e-mail:  jpm@xxxxxxxxxxxx

Mr.Shozaburo Nakamura, Minister of Justice  
Fax:  81-3-3592-7008  (no e-mail)

Mr.Shigeo Takenaka, Director of Tokyo Immigration Bureau
Fax:  81-3-5511-7212    (e-mail address is not known)

Ms.Kuniko Ozaki, Director of the Refugee Recognition office
Fax: 81-3-5511-7212  (e-mail address is not known)

*****************************************************

Please also send carbon copies of your letter to:

People' s  Forum on Burma
Fax: +81-3-3263-3882       e-mail  qyno2403@xxxxxxxxxxx
or

Schu Sugawara   FAx +81-48-771-8179  e-mail   schus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Urgent Action officer of People' s  Forum on Burma


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