Japan's Justice Ministry Violates H

[carol@xxxxxxx]

Dear Friends:  We know you are all busy with 8-8-88 activities, but we
appeal to you to take a moment to speak out on behalf of Burmese asylum
seekers in Japan, who are facing a life-or-death situation.  Thanks for your
help.

* * * * * * * *

MORE BURMESE REFUGEES THREATENED WITH ARREST AND DEPORTATION BY JAPAN;
URGENT ACTION REQUESTED

	As you know from Burmese Relief Center's July 28 and August 1 postings,
Japan's Ministry of Justice lately has been busy expediting the applications
of Burmese who are seeking political asylum in the country.  On July 24, one
Burmese and one Iranian were granted refugee status, but on the same day
three other Burmese were rejected, immediately arrested and scheduled to be
deported within 60 days.
	As noted in the previous postings, the actions of the Japanese authorities
against the three violate UNHCR codes and international standards for
refugee applicants -- guidelines that Japan, as a signatory to the 1951 UN
Convention on Refugees, is obliged to follow.  What was not mentioned in the
postings is that immigration officials are also breaking Japanese law by
denying rejected applicants their right to appeal the Justice Ministry's
decision as well as their right to sue the Ministry.
	Many more Burmese refugee applicants are now in danger of such summary
rejection, arrest and deportation by Japan's Ministry of Justice.  In the
past few weeks, at least eight Burmese have been summoned to meet with
immigration officials in connection with their applications.  Because of the
arrests on July 24, lawyers representing these Burmese asylum seekers have
advised them NOT to go to the so-called "interviews," which are in fact
traps laid by immigration authorities.  Refusal to meet immigration
officials, however, does not ensure the safety of these applicants; it only
buys them time.  Officials can still obtain a warrant and arrest applicants
at their homes.
	Two other applicants recently received a notice in the mail summoning them
to the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau in Otemachi on August 5 with this
ominous advice:  "Bring your belongings."  They went as requested, but armed
with their lawyers and some members of the media.  The immigration officials
informed the two that their application for refugee status had been rejected
and probably would have arrested them immediately if the lawyers and media
had not been present.  The two applicants were told to report to the Tokyo
Regional Immigration Bureau in Jujo (the Tokyo area's main immigration
detention center) on August 11.  Immigration officials will likely try to
arrest the two applicants then; it is unclear whether the lawyers and media,
who will also join them on this appointment, can prevent this.
	Supporters of Burmese asylum seekers in Japan -- their lawyers and their
fellow activists -- believe the best chance the applicants have to avoid
arrest and deportation to Burma is for supporters around the world to raise
an international outcry.  We would therefore like to repeat the request by
People's Forum on Burma to please send a fax or letters to the following
Japanese officials urging them to end their inhumane 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) as well as due process under Japanese law.

Letters 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)

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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