RENGO held its 4th Human Rights
Seminar on the evening of June 12. The seminar entitled, ‘Thinking about
the issue of alleged Japanese abductions by North Korea’ attracted approximately
170 attendees, who examined the incidents from a ‘human rights’ point
of view. Associate Professor Kazuhiro Araki of the Takushoku University Overseas
State of Affairs Research Institute, who also serves as a representative of the
Investigative Committee on Alleged Abduction Issues, gave the keynote speech.
Shigeru and Sakie Yokota, the parents of abduction victim Megumi Yokota, strongly
called for labor unions to support a resolution to the problem.
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| Photo: The Yokotas tearfully explain their activities over the past 25 years since their daughterÁs abduction and plead for Ëeven just one lookÓ at her. |
President Sasamori began the seminar with a speech saying, “it makes us
ashamed of ourselves as a national center that we have not taken the North Korea
matter into our own hands. I hope this seminar is the place to make us think about
what kinds of support activities we will do in the future.” Professor Araki,
who presented the keynote lecture, asked RENGO for support of their movement saying
“only Japan can stand up for human rights and freedom in Asia. We want Japanese
labor unions, especially the national center, to lend assistance to resolve these
abduction problems.”
Then Shigeru and Sakie Yokota offered their remarks on behalf of the families
of kidnapped victims. Mr. Shigeru Yokota explained what activities they have conducted
since the abduction until now. “(I want all of the participants here to)
continue to be very concerned about the issue of abductions and to give your support
to us.” His wife, Sakie gave a tearful appeal saying, “think very
seriously about Japan and let’s stand united to save the abducted. Please
fight together with us.” |
