Movement to end discrimination against buraku will change

The 80-year-old movement devoted to ending discrimination against "buraku" (historically segregated commmunities in which residents were forced into inhumane living conditions and poverty) is now beginning to adapt itself to a new situation surrounding buraku and develop a new movement for human rights and human dignity.

This is due to the fact that the 33-year-old government special measures to help eliminate the socio-economic disadvantages and improve living conditions in what used to be called "buraku" will end simply because no such gap exists any more.

In its 32nd Convention held in Tokyo from March 1-3, the All Japan Federation of Buraku Liberation Movements (Zenkairen) decided to explore a new action policy for the movement.

Zenkairen has followed the democratic values maintained since the founding of the Suiheisha (national levelers' movement) in 1922, which led the struggle against oppression and discrimination by the absolutist imperial government.

Zenkairen declared that discrimination against buraku residents has been eliminated and that prejudices that persist in society can certainly be overcome through public efforts.

Also, the Zenkairen movement makes clear that it opposes calls for new legislation that replaces the current special measures. The Liberal Democratic Party and the Buraku Liberation League (Kaido), an anti-communist group that has used threats and violence in the name of the buraku liberation movement to monopolize tax money, are advocating such legislation.

The Zenkairen convention also decided to consider changing the organization's name within two years. (end)