Letters of Solidarity(2006): The Sayama Case

Dear IMADR International Secretariat:

On behalf of the IMADR-North America Committee Focal Point, I am writing to express solidarity with the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), the Buraku Liberation League (BLL), and others concerned in support of the Sayama International Solidarity Campaign. Mr. Ishikawa’s case is an important illustration of the ways in which racism and discrimination can compromise and subvert justice. Please accept this statement of solidarity with the Sayama International Solidarity Campaign as a symbol of our commitment to the fight against racial discrimination in the administration of justice around the world.

Yours in solidarity,
Michael Sharpe
IMADR North America Committee Focal Point
May 17, 2006

To all concerned,

As a professor of law at the University of Maastricht (Netherlands), and as a former Special Rapporteur of the United Nations, I wish to express my full support for the Sayama International Solidarity Campaign and, in connection with the third appeal for the retrial of Mr. Ishikawa, I want to urge that the basic human rights principles of non-discrimination, due process and fair trial be faithfully and strictly respected.

Yours sincerely,
Theo van Boven
May 2006

At the occasion of this press conference, I, as the Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, would like to convey my message of solidarity to Mr Ishikawa and the Buraku Liberation League for your continuing efforts for the retrial and acquittal of Mr. Ishikawa.

Forty-three years after the erroneous arrest of Mr Ishikawa because of the alleged murder of a teenage girl it is due time to finally bring justice to him. The submission of the third appeal to the Tokyo High Court for the retrial of the Sayama Case opens up a path for the responsible judicial authorities to pay due respect to the discrimination and prejudice against Burakumin, which had led to incorrect police investigations and Mr Ishikawa’s conviction. After dismissing the appeal for retrial two times, the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, as the umbrella organization of 16 regional organizations of Sinti and Roma in Germany, strongly urges the Tokyo High Court to open up the case and bring justice to Mr Ishikawa.

Since the beginning of our cooperative work within the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism, the Central Council and the BLL have made the topic of the prosecution of Mr. Ishikawa on the basis of prejudicial investigations and prejudicial reporting a number one priority. We did so, because we are aware of the fact that within the administration of justice and among law enforcement institutions discrimination against vulnerable minorities is widespread. This is true for Japan as well as for Germany and for the rest of Europe. Sinti and Roma are, in fact, frequently objects of police violence and they are constantly denied access to equal justice. The Central Council and its member organizations, therefore, will keep up solidarity with Mr Ishikawa and use all means at its disposal to assist the campaign for a retrial of the so called Sayama case.

To fight discrimination and racism effectively, states have to implement and comply international human rights standards. Accordingly, the Japanese judicial authorities and government have to open up the path for retrial for Mr Ishikawa.

Romani Rose
Chairman, Central Council of German Sinti and Roma
Director, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism
May 23rd, 2006

Dear Friends,

The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) from India raises serious concern about false implication and denial of justice to Mr. Kazuo Ishikawa for more than four decades. NCDHR at the same time expresses its solidarity with Mr. Ishikawa in the Sayama case.

It is also to be noted here that Mr. Ishikawa is not alone in his struggle against false implication in a murder case and also for justice which has been wrongly denied to him for more than four decades by now. The worst forms of human rights violations and racial/descent/caste discrimination affects a large majority of global population, NCDHR and many others pledges its support for a Global Movement for Justice. It is also an opportunity to expose hypocrisy, racial and caste discrimination and the inbuilt impunity in the criminal justice system in different countries around the world.

NCDHR joins Mr. Ishikawa and others on behalf of Dalits of India and extends full solidarity and would like to be associated with Sayama International Solidarity Campaign. Let us work together and create a world free from all kinds of discrimination based on race, caste, descent, work, gender, etc.

With Regards & In Solidarity


N.Paul Divakar
National Convenor, NCDHR
Co-Chair, IDSN

J.Vincent Manoharan
General Secretary, NCDHR

Umakant, Ph.D
Secretary-Advocacy, NCDHR

Tamil Nadu Women’s Forum, Tamil Nadu Dalit Women’s Movement and Alliance of People’s Movement on the 43rd anniversary of Mr. Ishikawa’s arrest regarding the Sayama’s case vehemently condemns False Charges against Kazuo Ishikawa and the Conviction of Mr. Ishikawa.

The movements in India strongly campaign and show solidarity against the conviction of Mr. Ishikawa. As movements we are joining with all the other discriminated communities around the world to fight against racial, caste and other discrimination. We continue to combat all kinds of discrimination against people.

We condemn the Japanese criminal justice system which perpetuates racial discrimination. The Japanese racial discrimination against Buraku people, the role of media in perpetuating discrimination against the Buraku community in Japan should be uprooted from the society.

The prejudice against Buraku community is reflected in the Sayama case. We join hands with 6 million Buraku people in Japan, to fight against the discrimination. Mr. Ishikawa is innocent, he should be released and his rights should not be violated.

We demand the Japanese Government not to recognise the criminal justice system and not to promote the anti Buraku sentiment in the Japanese society. We condemn this act and insist to treat all as equals without any discrimination.

LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!

BY
TAMIL NADU DALIT WOMEN’S MOVEMENT

To all concerned,

As a professor of law at the University of Maastricht (Netherlands), and as a former Special Rapporteur of the United Nations, I wish to express my full support for the Sayama International Solidarity Campaign and, in connection with the third appeal for the retrial of Mr. Ishikawa, I want to urge that the basic human rights principles of non-discrimination, due process and fair trial be faithfully and strictly respected.

Yours sincerely,
Theo van Boven