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Press releases Archive |
LAST UPDATE
November 1, 2005
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| October 28, 2005 |
East Asian citizens jointly protest against the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi to Yasukuni Shrine |
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95 organizations and 234 individuals from 6 countries signed
Protesting against the visit by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumu to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on October 17th, NGOs in Japan, South Korea, China and others immediately released a “Joint Statement from the Citizens of East Asia.” 95 organizations and 234 individuals from six countries signed to this statement by October 28th.
The statement criticizes Koizumi’s visit as it “obstructs the stable diplomatic relationship between Japan and its Asian neighbors, which is to be built upon trust, by cooperation”. The statement also claims that Koizumi’s current policies, including the preparation of constitutional revision and the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces to Iraq, promote “measures which cause Japan to lose the trust of the people of Asia.” The statement further states that “creating a peaceful East Asia in which no threat of conflicts or tension exists, is only possible by rebuilding relationships based on trust, mutual understanding and cooperation.”
80 organizations that signed this statement from Japan include: Peace Boat, Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace, Asia-Japan Women's Resource Center, The Organization of United Korean Youth in Japan, and 230 individuals from Japan include Mr. Atsushi Okamoto, Chief Editor of the magazine Sekai and Former Ambassador of Japan to Lebanon Mr. Naoto Amaki. The ten organizations from South Korea include the Asia Peace and History Education Network, Women Making Peace, and Nanum House. Three organizations and 2 individuals from China include the Institute of International Studies of Fudan Univestiy, Shanghai, and the Professional Teachers' Union, Hong Kong. The Center of International Study of Maritime State University, Vladivostok, Far East Russia, also signed. Peace NGOs from the US and the UK also expressed their solidarity.
This joint statement was drafted by the Tokyo-based NGO Peace Boat. Peace Boat utilized its network of NGOs both home and abroad, including among Northeast Asian NGOs affiliated with the process of the UN-sponsored conflict prevention project “The Global Partnership of the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC),” in collecting signatories immediately. Akira Kawasaki, an Executive Committee member of Peace Boat explained, “It is of great significance that so many voices were gathered from so many countries in such a short period of time. It is necessary that citizens of East Asia hold a common understanding on history and get together to build a path towards a common peace in the region.”
Contact: Akira Kawasaki, Peace Boat Tel +81-3-3363-8047 gppac[a]peaceboat.gr.jp |
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