Statement of protest against the government-funded repatriation of 75 undocumented Filipinos by chartered plane.

On July 6, 2013, the Ministry of Justice's Immigration Bureau deported 75 Filipinos who were illegally residing in Japan via a chartered plane.
The following has been revealed so far. We have also heard angry voices from family and friends left behind in Japan.
- On July 5th, a person was transferred from the Tokyo Immigration Bureau to the East Japan Immigration Center (Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture) and subsequently deported to the Philippines.
- Women and children were among those deported.
- There are individuals who have been deported despite being legally married to Filipino women who hold resident status.
- Some people still have no idea when they will be able to return home.
　
Three Filipinos who had visited APFS for advice were also deported on a chartered flight. This happened just as we were preparing to file lawsuits to revoke the deportation orders and apply for provisional release for the three individuals. We have confirmed that all three are safe, but they face numerous challenges in rebuilding their lives.

On March 22, 2010, Abubagar Awudu Suraj (a Ghanaian national), who was being assisted by APFS in obtaining special permission to stay in Japan, died while being deported at government expense. Following Suraj's death, the Ministry of Justice and the Immigration Bureau suspended the deportation of those who were refusing deportation. The Suraj case is still the subject of a state compensation lawsuit, and the truth has not been fully investigated. Despite these circumstances, the Ministry of Justice and the Immigration Bureau proceeded with the deportation via chartered flight.

The 75 individuals were forced to return home suddenly, without even being able to say goodbye to their families and friends. This repatriation by chartered plane is utterly inhumane. APFS strongly protests the Ministry of Justice and the Immigration Bureau's decision to carry out this forced repatriation by chartered plane.
July 9, 2013
APFS (Non-Profit Organization)
(ASIAN PEOPLE'S FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY)
*The PDF version of the statement is availableHere

[Urgent! Request for donations to make on-site interview research in the Philippines possible]
APFS is considering sending staff to the Philippines to conduct interviews to investigate the problems with repatriation by chartered planes and the difficulties faced by those who have been suddenly repatriated. The findings will be compiled into a report, and a request to the Ministry of Justice is also being considered.
We would greatly appreciate your cooperation in order to make the dispatch of staff a reality.

* How to donateHereYou can view it from here.