The parks are the refuge of people displaced by the brutal economy of Japan. The homeless recieve no help from government or political parties, and are not eligible for social welfare. The winter here is incredibly severe, and the tent cities and soup kitchens that the homeless themselves organise have been attacked by the city authorities.
As we recieve reports and photos of the assault on these dispossessed people we shall update you on the situation. There have been a number of arrests, and as far as we know, some comrades are looking at long jail time for taking part in the resistance.
If you can make a response to the Japanese Embassy in the UK, it would mean a lot to us. Please BCC any emails also to the homeless liberation intiatives:
nagaipark_tentvilla (at) yahoo.co.jp
kamapat (at) infoseek.jp
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Embassy of Japan
101-104 Piccadilly
London
W1J 7JT
info@jpembassy.org.uk
General: 020 7465 43 / 6544
Culture: 020 7465 6580
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Also, on the 28th January there was a street demonstration in Osaka that developed into an intervention into the City Hall of Osaka, there was a brief skirmish inside the City Hall lobby with officials and police.
The homeless struggle in Osaka is under severe attack and surveillance by many police and their intelligence service friends. The street demonstration was very heavily contained by many police, but still we resist.
After the intervention in the City Hall, we gathered at the Courts of Justice to attend the case of a homeless comrade who had been sumoned for not having an address and residing 'illegally' in the place he was living. Fortunately he won the court case and had his living registeration returned to him, which is a first in Japanese history. (Everyone by law must be registered at an address, with penalties for the breaking of this code.)
So, many homeless people inspired by this judicial precendent attempted to register their unusual living situations, to prevent the victimisation and harrassment from city officals. The legal situation is ongoing, as Osaka City Council attempts to overturn this ruling, as it would mean that homeless people would be eligible for social support and welfare. We understand the limitations of fighting our struggle so that we the dispossessed can fit into the brutal economic system. We want our whole lives as ours, not workfare, not welfare - We want a entire change from this capitalist system.
BURN YOUR RENT CONTRACTS!
OCCUPY SOCIAL SPACE!
FOR A BEAUTIFUL LIFE!