Unions and peace organizations gather at U.S. embassy in protest against abuse of Iraqis

Labor unions and peace organizations on May 13 converged on the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo in protest against torture and mistreatment of Iraqi people by U.S. forces.

Representatives of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), the Japan Peace Committee, and other democratic organizations assembled in front of the embassy building to deliver a protest note addressed to U.S. President George W. Bush. They shouted, "The U.S. occupation forces must withdraw immediately from Iraq."

A representative of the Central Action Committee for Abrogation of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty read the note stating, "U.S. atrocities in Iraq took place not by chance, but as a consequent result of the causeless U.S. war of aggression against Iraq."

They also visited the Cabinet Office and demanded that the Japanese government immediately withdraw the Self-Defense Forces from Iraq, emphasizing that there are no "non-combat zones in Iraq and that an increasing number of countries are pulling out their troops from Iraq.

Later in the day, about 150 citizens from 22 civic organizations gathered near the U.S. Embassy to protest U.S. abuses of Iraqis. Wearing hoods made of newspapers carrying "No more lies and violations of Geneva Rules", they chanted, "Release innocent captives immediately!"

Their representatives handed their petition to an embassy officer for the U.S. president, protesting atrocities by the U.S. and British forces, demanding an immediate cease-fire, and calling for Iraq's occupation to be discontinued.(end)