May 26, 2006
Kin of Japanese, S. Korean abduction victims pledge cooperation
Posted by THINK at 08:54 PM
February 20, 2006
"Concert for Rescuing Abductees" to be held Apr 22 in Washington D.C.
"ReACH: Rescuing Abductees Center for Hope," based in Washington D.C. is planning a rally and concert in front of the White House on April 22, 2006, in which the abductees' families and international supporters will read letters to the abductees, call names of the abductees, sing songs for the abductees and walk for the cause on the White House Sidewalk.
For details, please visit their website at: http://www.asanocpa.com/reach/
Posted by THINK at 01:34 PM
December 24, 2005
Kin of Japanese kidnapped by North Korea hold rally to demand return of abductees
Posted by THINK at 03:07 AM
December 22, 2005
Abductees' multinational kin unite -- Japan supporters to stage rally to boost awareness of North's misdeeds
The Japan Times Online
Mainichi Daily News ("Families who fear relatives were kidnapped by North Korea meet in Tokyo")
Posted by THINK at 11:32 PM
December 21, 2005
Relatives of possible Thai abductee to N. Korea visit Japan
Posted by THINK at 05:18 PM
June 26, 2005
I sat in
On Saturday, June 25, I sat in from 2 PM to 5 PM. Sitting quietly in front of Diet members' office buildings in central Tokyo were people of all ages and professions. Everyone gathered for just one aim: to get every single victim of abduction by North Korea back to their homes in Japan.
Family members of the victims went from one end of the line to the other, thanking the participants for their support. In the 30+C (90+F) summer heat, they looked so small and old. Many of them are in their 70's and 80's. How long more would they have to wait to see their kidnapped children again? Would they be around when and if finally the victims come back?
We don't have much time.
-- Editor-in-chief, THINK
I sat here on the pavement with 400+ people appealing to cars and people passing by. (Photograph courtesy of Mr. Mizunoo of Protect X website)
Posted by THINK at 02:58 AM
June 25, 2005
Relatives of Japanese Abductees Begin Sit-In
VOA News
Yahoo! News (AP) ("Families of Japanese abductees start sit-in protest, demanding sanctions on North Korea")
BBC NEWS ("N Korea kidnap families protest")
Yahoo! News (Kyodo) ("Abductee families stage sit-in outside Koizumi's official residence")
World Peace Herald (UPI) ("Protesters urge sanctions against N.Korea")
Mainichi Daily News ("Abductees' families demand sanctions against Pyongyang")
Daily Yomiuri On-Line ("Sit-in begins over inaction on abductees")
The Japan Times Online (AP/Kyodo) ("Pyongyang abductee kin stage sit-in for sanctions")
Dr. Norbert Vollertsen, German doctor and activist who has personally witnessed reality in North Korea, and twin brothers of abductee Megumi Yokota in sit-in.
Supporters from across Japan in the sit-in line. More than 300 gathered on the first day.
(Photographs courtesy of Mr. Yamamoto of Denno-Hokanroku website)
Posted by THINK at 12:50 AM
June 24, 2005
Sit-in to be held in front of PM's Office: June 24-26
Kazoku Kai (Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea) and Sukuukai (National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea) will hold a sit-in near the Prime Minister's Office to demand economic sanctions against North Korea. Details are as follows:
[Date/time]
.. Friday, June 24: 10 AM- 3 PM
.. Saturday, June 25: 1 PM-5 PM
.. Sunday, June 26: 1 PM-5 PM
.. (& public meetings at Seiryo Kaikan on Sat and Sun at 6 PM )
[Place]
.. Near the PM's Official Residence (In front of the
.. Diet Member's Office Building),
.. Subway Kokkai Gijido and Nagatacho stations
.. [map]
Family members and support group members will gather from across Japan and take part in the sit-in. Anyone can drop by and quietly join the action. Come and show that you care!
--Editor-in-chief, THINK
----------
Background Reading:
"On 24 June 2005, a three day "sit-in" will commence in front of the offices of the Japanese Prime Minister, organized not by a radical leftist group but by some of Japan's most famous and respected citizens and enjoying powerful backing in the National Diet and media, to demand the imposition of immediate economic sanctions against North Korea. Only by such means, the organizers argue, can North Korea be forced to return Japanese citizens they believe are still being held in North Korea against their will. As of that date, it will be six months since Prime Minister Koizumi declared, in December 2004, that the explanation thus far offered of the abductions by North Korea was unsatisfactory and false, in particular that the cremated human remains offered as evidence of the death of the most famous of the abductee victims, Yokota Megumi (on whom see below), were in fact not hers. The Japanese government therefore and promised "stern measures" unless Pyongyang responded "promptly and sincerely" to set matters right, and the sit-in will demand immediate recourse to these "stern" measures. More than five million people have signed a petition to that effect, and a meeting in Tokyo's Hibiya in April 2005 to promote this cause drew 6,000 people. The leaders, including the parents of Yokota Megumi, are household figures, regulars on major television channels. Their patience is exhausted, they say, and their anger at Koizumi's refusal to do as they demand, or even to meet with them and hear their demands, is at high pitch. If still not satisfied, they promise to renew their "sit-in" in July and subsequent months, and to expand it around the country."
(by Gavan McCormack, Znet, June 13, 2005. [Full text])
Posted by THINK at 04:18 AM
June 13, 2005
Disputed Bones: Japan-North Korea Clash
Posted by THINK at 11:30 PM
April 29, 2005
Masumoto joins protest rally at Chinese Embassy in Washington
Posted by THINK at 06:32 PM
April 25, 2005
6,000 people rally for sanctions on N. Korea over abductions
Yahoo! News (Kyodo)
BBC NEWS ("Japan protesters denounce N Korea")
Posted by THINK at 02:30 AM
April 24, 2005
7th National Rally to Be Held April 24
National Rally for the Rescue of Abductees will be held on April 24, 2005, in Tokyo's Hibiya Kokaido hall.
Kazoku Kai (Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea) and the Sukuukai (National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea) together with the Parliamentary League to Rescue Japanese Nationals Abducted by North Korea will hold the 7th national rally to demand the goverment to impose economic sanctions against North Korea. Members of these groups including Shigeru Yokota and other family members of the abduction victims will speak out to the public.
Come and show that you care!
When: Sunday, April 24, 2005 2P.M.-5P.M. (Doors open at 1P.M.)
Where: Hibiya Kokaido Hall (Kasumigaseki or Uchi-Saiwai Tokyo Metro stations)
[map]
Admission: Free (Donations are welcome.)
Posted by THINK at 01:01 AM