Jan 5, 2006, Osaka city launched legal procedure for eviction called "administrative subrogation" against around 30 homeless people in Utsubo park (all of the residents) and Osaka castle park (part of the residents).

At the earliest, administrative subrogation will be executed in Jan 20-23. The city authority will mobilize probably hundreds of city officers, guards, and security police to destroy tent village of homeless comrades.

One year ago, Jan 24, 2005, Nagoya city evicted homeless people in Shirakawa park using same method, mobilizing more than 600 officers.

(see pictures of Shirakawa Park Eviction in Jan 24, 2005)
d.hatena.ne.jp/homeless758/200501

In recent few months, Osaka city have stopped negotiation with homeless comrades in these parks, where the city have been planning reconstruction for events like "World Rose Convention 2006" and "National City Greenery Fair in Osaka".

Oct 4, 2005, the city issued written order to homeless people demanding to leave Utsubo and Osaka castle park until Nov 30, 2005. Despite several protests carried out by homeless comrades and supporters, the city has not changed the attitude.

In Osaka, there are more than 10,000 homeless people live in the streets, parks, riversides. The largest reason of their homelessness is unemployment, but the government have taken no fundamental solution for the unemployment issue, and rather tried to cut down social welfare expenses. Every year, at least more than 200 homeless people die in the streets in the city.

Faced with the eviction, homeless people in two parks sued Osaka city in Jan 11, calling for suspension of the eviction procedure. But so far, the Osaka district court has denied ordering for suspension.

This time, Osaka city have offered a "shelter" or "self independent centers" for evictee as alternative housing for eviction, but we stress that these accommodations cannot be the alternative. Both facilities lack adequate space for individuals (only small cot, and no privacy guaranteed), and they can't bring all of their belongings (only several luggage are allowed). And in several months they have to find job by themselves. If they can't make it, they will be homeless again, this time "on their fault". So naturally, no homeless comrades in the parks want to go these shelters voluntarily.

Lacking any viable alternative and due process, the eviction process is nothing but a violation of constitutional right of Japan (article 25, the right to live) and International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (article 11, the right to adequate housing).

To stop eviction against 30 comrades of Utsubo park, Osaka castle park, we call for international protest action against Osaka city authority. And we want to stress that this is not only for 30 comrades, but for all of the homeless people in Japan. They are representing more than 10,000 homeless comrades in Osaka city, and 30,000 homeless comrades in Japan, who now often threatened by eviction, and live under growing tension of social exclusion.

1) Please send protest to the Mayor of Osaka city.

Junichi Seki (Mayor of Osaka City)

Fax: +81-6-6202-6950

Form on the web:
www.city.osaka.jp/shichoshitsu/iken/index.html
www.city.osaka.jp/yutoritomidori/request/index.html

1-3-20, Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka-si, Japan

2) Please send protest to Park Office of Osaka city

Fax: +81-6-6441-6797

2-1-4, Utsubohonmachi, Nishi-ku, Osaka-si, Japan

Fax: +81-6-6943-6877

3-11, Osakajyo, Chuou-ku, Osaka-si, Japan

3) Please send protest to overseas office of Osaka city.

City of Osaka, Chicago Office

c/o JETRO Chicago
401 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 660
Chicago, Illinois
60611 USA
Tel: 1-(312)832-6002
Fax: 1-(312)832-6066
info (at) osakacity.org
www.osakacity.org/office/contactus.aspx

City of Osaka, Dusseldorf Office

c/o JETRO Dusseldorf
Konigsallee 58
40212 Dusseldorf
Germany
Tel: 49-(211)1360241
Fax: 49-(211)326411

City of Osaka, Singapore Office

5 Shenton Way
#37-01 UIC Building
Singapore 068808
Republic of Singapore
Tel: (65)6220-8588
Fax: (65)6224-9980
webmaster (at) osakacity.com.sg

Bureau de Representation
de la Ville d'Osaka a Paris

29, rue des Pyramides
75001 Paris
France
Tel: 33-(1)4015-9366
Fax: 33-(1)4015-9172
ocparis (at) netntt.fr

City of Osaka, Shanghai Office
Room 407, Shanghai International
Trade Center
2200 Yan An Road West
Shanghai, China
Tel: 86-(21)6275-1982
Fax: 86-(21)6275-1983
webmaster (at) osakacity-sh.com

4) Please send copy of your protest to:

Kamagasaki Patrol (member of No-Vox Japan)

TEL: +81-90-9700-0296
FAX: +81-6-6374-2233

kamapat (at) infoseek.jp

kamapat.seesaa.net/category/164090.html
japan.indymedia.org/newswire/display/2550/index.php

(END)