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In 1986, incidents happened
against the ceremony of the 60th anniversary of enthronement of Emperor
Hirohito and against the Tokyo Summit Talk of G7. Rocket bombs were shot
to the State Guest House (“Geihinkan”) and to the U.S. Air Base in Yokota.
The prosecution states that Mr. SUGA Taketoshi, Mr. SOGAME Hirofumi, Mr.
ITAGAKI Hiroshi and FUKUSHIMA Masao participated in these incidents. However,
the four defendants have been claiming consistently their innocence since
their arrest. They have been nevertheless in solitary
confinement in Tokyo Detention Center for a long period.
Stop Extremely Prolonged Detention!
It was 16 years as of October 2002
since Messrs. Suga, Sogame and Itagaki had been brought into detention
and 10 years in the case of Mr. Fukushima. Such a long term of unconvicted
detention is unprecedented.
“Unconvicted” means that a judgment is not yet passed upon a defendant.
Therefore an unconvicted defendant is not necessarily guilty; there is
a good possibility of innocence. An unconvicted defendant must be presumed
innocence. That is the principle of “presumption of innocence.” Moreover,
the four defendants have been consistently claiming their innocence. It
is a flagrant violation of human rights to detain them 16 or 10 years
depriving all freedom.
During 13 years of prosecution’s testifying no direct evidence relevant
to the case has been submitted to the court. However, Tokyo District Court
continues the trial for such a long time detaining the four defendants
saying, “a lack of evidence is a result of defendants’ concealment”(Judge
Nakatani). Extraordinarily abusive words as a remark of a judge!
This is de facto life imprisonment in advance. Such unjust detention should
be stopped without any delay.
For Medical Treatment Outside the Detention Center!
They are locked up in solitary cells in Tokyo Detention
Center -- very narrow rooms with about 5m2 -- for 24 hours a day, forced
to sit upright in daytime and cannot move freely. It is strictly restricted
to commune with nature such as to exercise outdoors. Prolonged solitary
confinement has been ruining their health. Although Mr. Suga has been
suffering from hernia of his intervertebral disk since February 1998,
Tokyo Detention Center neglected necessary treatment. Consequently he
has still difficulty walking. Messrs. Sogame, Itagaki and Fukushima also
suffer seriously.
Too long detention is clearly the ultimate cause of destruction of their
health. We should free them from detention immediately and ensure them
medical treatment at a hospital outside the Detention Center.
Oppose “Hostage Justice”!
Every time the defense council demanded that the four defendants be bailed,
Tokyo District Court rejected it. Moreover, “the detention could not be
described as unreasonably prolonged,” proclaimed the court defiantly.
Recently such cases are increasing in which a defendant is not bailed
if he or she claims innocence. Hearing their prosecutors whispering, “You
can go out, if you cease to claim innocence,” some innocent persons accept
their charges. This method is called “hostage justice.” Prolonged detention
of the four defendants is a typical case of it.
We should refuse a society in which the state possesses despotic power
and the rights of citizens are entirely oppressed. To end immediately
human rights violation by the court and to get the four defendants bailed
should be a common battle for a protection of everybody’s human rights.
● Your Signature on Petition for Bail is a Powerful Aid to the
Four Defendants’ Liberation.
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