Japan Press Weekly

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2023 June 7 - 13 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Gov't bill ignoring asylum seekers' human rights enacted

A government-sponsored bill to enable the deportation of asylum seekers who applied for refugee status more than three times became law in the House of Councilors plenary session on June 9 by the majority vote of the ruling parties and their supplementary parties.

The Japanese Communist Party, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, "Reiwa Shinsengumi" and the Okinawa Whirlwind voted against the bill.

Prior to the vote, JCP Dietmember Nihi Sohei in opposition to the bill pointed out that Japan's immigration control policy in its origin has a history of prewar/wartime Japan's colonial rule and postwar discrimination of Koreans who live in Japan. He said, "We must put an end to the history of discrimination and pursue harmonious coexistence with foreigners."

Meanwhile, near the Diet building, concerned citizens braved the rain to take part in a rally protesting against the bill to adversely revise the Immigration Control Act.

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After the forcible enactment of the bill, lawyer Ibusuki Shoichi who was watching the plenary session with the bereaved family of a Sri Lankan woman who died in the Nagoya immigration detention center in the public-seating gallery spoke to an Akahata reporter.

He said that he does not want the protesters to feel disappointed or give up. He also said that many citizens are now aware of the presence of people who may be killed after their forcible return and who may be separated from their family members due to the new law, and that it is important to keep protesting against Japan's immigration control system.

He went on to say that lawyers and supporters will work to help enact the opposition-sponsored countermeasures in cooperation with opposition party Dietmembers before the new law comes into effect in 2024.

He stressed the need to make new efforts, if the new law is implemented, to stop the deportation of foreigners who applied for asylum more than three times and discontinue the use of criminal penalties against foreigners who refuse to be deported.

Past related articles:
> Opposition-drafted bills regarding immigration control law and refugee protection entered into discussions in Upper House [May 17, 2023]
> Immigration control bill which tramples on asylum seekers' human rights passed in Lower House [May 10, 2023]
> Min-iren calls for due medical care to asylum seekers on temporary release [April 19 & 20, 2023]