Arrest of civil servant for distributing flyers exposed at U.N. Human Rights Commission

The Japanese Workers' Committee for Human Rights on April 2 called on the U.N. Commission on Human Rights to protest against the arrest and indictment of a Japanese citizen who had simply been distributing handouts door to door.

At the 60th session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Yoshida Koichi reported that the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Public Safety Bureau arrested and indicted Horikoshi Akio on suspicion of violating the National Public Service Law.

He stressed that this action is in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Covenant B).

Yoshida stated that the incident not only infringed on the Japanese Constitution that guarantees the freedom of thought, conscience, speech, expression, and political activities, but also violated international law. He stressed that Japan's government is obliged to comply with Covenant B.

The Japanese Workers' Committee for Human Rights has been making representations to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights and the International Labor Organization (ILO) in defense of human rights in the workplaces since it was founded 11 years ago. Recently, it obtained Consultative Status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). (end)