A statement of protest to the forced deportation of the 75 undocumented Filipinos through a chartered flight

The Justice Ministry of Japan and the Immigration Bureau deported 75 undocumented Filipinos by use of a chartered flight on July 6th 2013.
The following information has been made clear so far, and their families and friends who are left in Japan are filled with sorrow and anger at what the Justice Ministry of Japan and the Immigration Bureau enforced.

-Some of the 75 Filipinos were transferred from Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau to Higashi Nihon Immigration Center (Ushiku, Ibaragi) with the intent of deportation.
-The 75 deportees included women and children.
-One of the 75 Filipinos was deported despite the marital relation with a Filipina who has resident status.
-Some of them were deported even though they do not have places to stay in Philippines. 

3 Filipinos who had used our consultation service were also included in the forced deportation. It happened just when we were preparing actions for avoidance of written deportation order and applications for the provisional release for them. Although we have confirmed their safety, they have been facing many difficulties such as how they can rebuild their lives.

On March 22nd 2010, there was an incident that Ghanaian citizen Abubakar Awudu Suraj, whom A.P.F.S. had supported to take a special permission of residence, died as he was being deported from Japan. Since Suraj’s death, the Justice Ministry of Japan and the Immigration Bureau had suspended forced deportations. Suraj’s lawsuit claiming damages against the Japanese government and Immigration Department officials is still continuing in the pursuit of truth. Under such circumstances, the Justice Ministry of Japan and the Immigration Bureau enforced the forced deportation through a chartered flight. The 75 undocumented Filipinos were forced to leave Japan even without having time to say goodbye to their families and friends.

This forced deportation through a chartered flight is an utterly inhumane treatment. We, A.P.F.S., protest strongly against the enforcement of the forced deportation conducted by The Justice Ministry of Japan and the Immigration Bureau.

July 9th, 2013
Nonprofit Organization APFS
(ASIAN PEOPLE’S FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY)