Asia-Wide Campaign against U.S.-Japanese domination and aggression of Asia
AWC-Japan
[Statement]
This is a protest statement issued by the AWC-Japan regarding the recent crackdown on the people's movement against the US X-band radar base in Kyotongo city, northern part of Kyoto prefecture. All 3 arrested activists were already released until evening of June 17. Any repression can not oppress the people's will for peace in the region and for genuine social change.
Protest Statement
June 8, 2015
AWC-Japan
On June 4, 2015 Osaka prefectural police arrested 3 activists in the Kyoto/Kinki Coalition against the US X-band radar base under the pretext of the ‘alleged violation of the Road Transportation Law’. Members of AWC-Kyoto was also included these arrested activists. The police also raided 17 offices and houses in total in Kyoto, Osaka and other areas on June 4-5.
Last September 28, 2014 the Kinki Coalition held a protest action to oppose the U.S. X-band radar base in Kyotango city, located in northern part of Kyoto prefecture. At the time, people shared the expense of transportation and went to Kyotango city by a labor union-owned bus. The police insist that it was a business to make money and that it violated the above-mentioned law. We can clearly understand that it is nothing but the political crackdown.
This was a crackdown that aims to oppress the expanding people's movement against the US X-band radar base in Kyotongo. At the same time, it was also a repression against people's anti-war and anti-base movement in whole Kansai region including the campaigns against building of the new US base in Henoko, Okinawa and against the Japan's war-related bills (new security bills).
We AWC-Japan strongly condemn this crackdown against the Kyoto/Kinki Coalition against the US X-band radar base and demand the immediate release of the 3 arrested activists. At the same time, we call to people to further strengthen the struggle against the US X-band radar base in Kyotongo, the planned construction of the new US base in Henoko, Okinawa and the government-promoting war-relate bills, overcoming any political repression. ###