Japan Press Weekly

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2009 January 7 - 13 [WORLD]

Stop bombing Gaza now!

Japanese trade unions and various democratic organizations demanded a halt to the Israeli bombing attacks in the Gaza Strip.

Following U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s condemnation of the Israeli attack on three U.N.-run schools that took place in the wake of the insertion of ground troops into Gaza, the Central Action Committee against the Japan-US Security Treaty (Anpo-Haki) staged a protest in front of the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo with about 60 people from 20 organizations chanting, “Stop bombing Gaza!”

They tried to hand their protest statement to the Embassy, but embassy officials refused to receive it.

Holding banners that read “Don’t kill innocent citizens!” and photo-panels showing Palestinian victims, the protesters called for an immediate halt to the attacks as well as for political solutions, not military actions.

Participants said:
- “Many innocent people are being killed. I want Israel to pull its forces out of Gaza immediately” (Japan Peace Committee);
- “I must say, this is an indiscriminate slaughter. I strongly protest the Israelis bombing” (National Confederation of Trade Unions - Zenroren);
- “I call for a halt to the attacks as they violate international law and human rights” (Japan Federation of Women’s Organizations - Fudanren);
- “Looking at the picture of a mother holding a dead baby to her chest, I feel a surge of fury” (New Women’s Association - Shinfujin);
- “When I imagine the faces of the children being killed, I can’t help wishing both sides will embark on a dialogue” (Tokyo Teachers and Staff Union); and
- “The 21st century should not be an era of war but peace. I will never accept anything that runs against this idea” (National Confederation of Farmers’ Movement - Nouminren).