www.labornetjp.org/news/2006/0430shasin/

Police oppression on Mayday in Tokyo

On Sunday, April 30th, the rally and street demonstration of "Mayday for Freedom and Survival 06" in Tokyo was held with about one hundred participants who enthusiastically discussed the labor conditions of "precariats" (part-time and unstable workers).

Surprisingly, from the beginning of the demonstration, the police harassed us unjustly. Meanwhile, a crowd of policemen dragged down and arrested a DJ, who played music for the demonstration on our truck carrying the sound system, for “violating” the Traffic Control Law. At the same place, they also arrested one of the participants for "obstructing" officers from performing their duty. In addition, the police stole the truck and drove away along with all the equipment (Regained in the next day) though the usage of sound system and carrying the DJ on the rear deck was applied in due process to Harajuku police station in advance.

Even more arrest was being prepared. The police tried to rob our huge balloons carrying a banner marked with "Mayday" while the demonstration was passing under the railroad bridge nearby Shibuya station with numbers of passers - by the Hachiko cross point. In this confusion by the police, they arrested another participant, who tried to retrieve the balloons, for "obstructing" officers from performing their duty. Doubtlessly, this is another shocking outrage by masses of policemen.

The DJ unjustly arrested for "violating" the traffic law was released on May 2, which shows that even prosecutors could not find any reasons in the illegal act of the police to claim more detention. However, more detention was decided against the other two participants arrested for "obstructing" officers from performing their duty, and they are still detained in substitute prisons in police stations.

Just after the demonstration, we started moving to save and release the repressed peers as soon as possible. Please support and pay attention to our movement newly launched as a Mayday Relief Association.

Mayday Relief Association

一部5・3憲法集会の写真が紛れ込んでるんじゃないでしょうか？

kameさん〜そうですね。5・3憲法集会の写真もあわててあっぷしてしまいましたね。とっておきます。気がついたよかったです。ありがとう。ggg