Activities Report

On March 26th (Mon) 15 families / 2 individuals / 35 persons of undocumented residents and their supporters gathered and held a parade in Ginza from 1 PM to demand Special Permissions for Residence.
Before starting from Hibiya Park, with the children’s lead they prepared billboards making appeals about their reasons to continue their stay in Japan etc. While raising their voice and communicating their feelings why they want to remain in Japan, they marched to Mizutanibashi Park. By handing out many flyers to passersby, we managed to earn deeper understanding about problems faced by undocumented residents.

These 35 people who are demanding Special Permissions for Rasidence are originating from nine different countries of Bangladesh, Bolivia, Iran, Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, and they also have various backgrounds such as history of stay in Japan. However, after the parade ended, they made a decision with one voice about the following four points concerning their demands to the Minister of Justice for Special Permissions for Residence. From a fundamental human rights and humanitarian perspective, these are all obvious requests.

1. Grant residence to undocumented families with children who are at least in the fourth grade of elementary school
2. Do no separate parents and children / husbands and wives
3. Grant residence to undocumented residents who have children in Japan
4. Grant Special Permissions for Residence to families with undocumented entry too

APFS staff took the responsibility and went to the Ministry of Justice on the same day to submit the resolution which, based on these four points, demands immediate Special Permissions for Residence to the 15 families / 2 individuals / 35 persons.

On March 20th (Tue) 2012, to let many people know about Mr. Suraj’s case, we held a parade in Shinjuku.

Altogether 60 people from Mr. Suraj’s friends and supporters participated and marched through busy central areas of Shinjuku.
There were some passersby who asked about details of the case, so we believe that we managed to broaden the circle of supporters!

On March 12th, the 3rd court day was held from 2 PM in the trial for state reparation in Mr. Suraj’s case.

Last time, the judge indicated to the state, that is to the defendant side to stop delaying the arraignment and respond properly. However, the document prepared by the state this time was merely a summary of what our, that is the plaintiff’s side had submitted before. The attorney team has pressured that the fact that there are no objections against our points of emphasis probably means that there is no dispute over the facts. However, the defendant side argued that they had only clarified the content and would like to avoid any influence on the criminal process. In addition to delaying arraignment, there is also a limit to this sort of insincere response, that is why angry voices were raised among the observers too saying “How long could it take to make it clear!”

On a proposal by the judge, the plaintiff side will summarize the points of emphasis while the court will also try everything and think of a way to deal with the situation.

The next court day will be on May 21st (Mon) from 4 PM in courtroom No. 705. We hope that our readers will follow the state’s response too. Cooperation as court audience is also a great help.

We, APFS, started support to foreigner parents who are not able to meet their own children since the press interview held at The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in August, 2011, and keep trying especially to those fathers and mothers from five countries; Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Myanmar and Tunisia.

On November 30, 2011 APFS hold a strategic meeting with Left Behind Parents Japan (LBPJ）who are dealing with the West people with 20 participants from 13 counties coming both from APFS and LBPJ. The meeting covering all continents; America, Asia, Oceania, Europe and Africa were an unprecedented global gathering. Mr. Kato, President of APFS, facilitated the meeting.

The meeting began with a workshop to identify and share the home countries of each participant by using a world map, followed by self introduction of the participants. Some of them were nearly in tears to recall bitter experiences not to meet their own children. The participants were impressively encouraging each other beyond border lines. The meeting continued to establish an action plan which includes study session with diet members, collection of signatures, parades, etc. An approach to the government, politicians, etc. is planned after fixing Policy Statement within this year.

APFS are pleased to take consultation from foreign parents who cannot meet their children. Please call 03-3964-8739 at APFS to make an appointment for consultation.

We kindly ask for your continued support.

We received many visitors at the booth.

APFS for the first time ran a booth at Global Festa Japan, 2011 held on October 1 and 2 at Hibiya Park.

At the booth posters were hung on the wall to introduce activities of APFS and Mr. Suraj’s case.

Visitors varying from students to the aged keenly listened to our presentations at the booth.

We are glad of the APFS’s activities known to visitors and Mr. Suraj’s case which attracted visitors in particular.

At a food court booth we made a good sale of Bangladesh food; a set of chicken coconut curry and naan as well as chai and lassi containing tapioca. Naan baked on the spot made visitors greatly interested forming a long cue to watch how naan is prepared.

There was a nice coincidence that one of the visitors met Mr. Hassan a the booth again after the visitor ate curry made by Mr. Hassan during one of his repeated visits to the affected area in Iwate to make meals outdoor to support victims.