Robert Kajiwara asks UN to investigate human rights violations in Okinawa

 

 

 

Transcript:

 

Robert Hernandez Kajiwara

The Peace For Okinawa Coalition

c/o International Committee for the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas

#443 94-245 Leoku St.

Waipahu, Hawaii 96797

contact@PeaceForOkinawa.org

www.PeaceForOkinawa.org

The 41^st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
The 41^st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

June 25, 2019

Thank you Mr. President. We noticed in the oral report by the High Commissioner that there was no mention of self-determination, which is crucial to the peaceful settlement of disputes regarding territorial sovereignty. A complaint on this matter was filed to the Human Rights Council on February 16, and on June 4 we received a request for further information.

Since time immemorial Okinawa was an independent nation known as Ryukyu. In 1879 Japan illegally annexed Ryukyu against the will of Ryukyuans. Japan shortly after did the same to many other countries, such as Korea, China, and the Philippines. After World War II all of those nations were given back their independence – except Ryukyu.

During World War II Japan used the Battle of Okinawa as a cover to commit genocide against Ryukyuans, during which Japanese soldiers purposely murdered thousands of Ryukyu civilians, and forced thousands others to commit suicide. Overall at least 140,000 Ryukyuans were killed during a timespan of just a few months, amounting to between one-fourth to one-third of the population.

Today Japan is once again preparing to sacrifice Ryukyuans by placing an inordinate amount of military forces in Ryukyu, which comprises less than 1% of Japan’s total territory, yet contains 70% of its military. In the event of another attack from one of Japan’s enemies, Ryukyu will again be annihilated.

Ryukyuans have long been peacefully protesting and trying to reverse this inordinate amount of military build up in our home islands. We urge the Human Rights Council to support Ryukyu in this matter; hence, it will be sending a message to the world that peaceful actions are the Council’s priority and violence is not the only action that gets the Council’s attention. The very foundation of the UN must not be undermined and rendered obsolete. Therefore, we strongly urge the Human Rights Council to assist Ryukyu and to ascertain the fact that Ryukyuans have suffered from prejudice, discrimination, and genocide. Your time and consideration are much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Robert Kajiwara

President

The Peace For Okinawa Coalition

Circulation: 200,000

c/o International Committee for the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas

Hawaii’s Police Should Follow Okinawa’s Example

Police at Mauna Kea Photo from of Hawaii News Now

As the issues surrounding Mauna Kea rage on, Hawaii’s police have been put in a difficult position. Many of them feel it is wrong for them to forcefully remove and arrest Hawaiian protectors of the Mauna, especially the kupuna. Yet they also have families to provide for and can’t risk losing their job.

So what should Hawaii’s police do?

They might want to look at Okinawa as an example.

In Okinawa, which is experiencing something very similar surrounding the construction of a military base at Henoko, the Okinawan police were put in almost the exact same situation. They were ordered to forcefully remove, harass, and arrest Okinawa’s peace and environmental protectors, the majority of whom are elderly.

How did they respond?

The Okinawan police ended up siding with Okinawa’s protectors, refusing to lay a hand on them. Because the Okinawan police force did this as a whole, none of them (to the best of my knowledge) lost their jobs or were punished.

Instead, Prime Minister of Japan sent in Japanese police, who have brutally mistreated the Okinawan protectors.

But that’s besides the point.

The point is, Okinawa’s police refused to harm the Okinawan peace protectors. They did the right thing, and it forced the Government of Japan to further demonstrate their human rights violations, prejudice, and discrimination against indigenous Okinawans. And the Okinawan police were even able to keep their jobs.

Now Hawaii’s police have a choice to make. If they make their choice in unison not to harm Hawaii’s protectors, they may be able to keep perform their kuleana for Hawaii and their kupuna, while also keeping their jobs safe.

Ronald Barnes – Native Alaskan representative to the UN, speaks about human rights in Hawaii

Ronald Barnes, a Native Alaskan representative to the United Nations, spoke about human rights violations occurring in Hawaii, specifically about Bradley Pai, a Hawaiian Kingdom subject who is being wrongfully detained without charges due to his nationality. Recorded on June 25, 2019, at the Palais de Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of the 41st Human Rights Council.