JAPAN: Actions around G8 - 2008

For resistance and repression at Lake Toya:
Ticker http://japan.indymedia.org/noG8/timeline/?lang=en

See https://ticker.gipfelsoli.org for actions in other countries.

__________
2008-07-07
Defense Ministry, SDF to ramp up air defenses for summit
The Yomiuri Shimbun
F-15 fighter jets will patrol the skies over the Group of Eight summit talks beginning Monday in Toyakocho, Hokkaido, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
The measure, decided by the Defense Ministry and Self-Defense Forces, has been prompted by concerns that fighters scrambled from the Air Self-Defense Force's Misawa and Chitose bases, in Aomori Prefecture and Hokkaido, respectively, would be unable to intercept a suspicious aircraft entering the restricted zone over the summit venue in time.
Source: http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Home/Hokkaido_2008/5324.html

__________
2008-07-07
Open letter to the Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda On Criminalization of Protest
Hokkaido, Japan—6 July 2008
We – environmentalists, social movements, peasant farmers, workers and civil society organisations – in solidarity with 23 Korean farmers and trade unionists who were denied entry to Japan denounce the authorities’ unwillingness to allow their participation in civil society events taking place parallel to the G8 summit on 7th until 9th July. Among other issues, the unionists and farmers were to raise awareness about the millions of Koreans who have been mobilising against their markets being forced open to the imports of American beef despite concerns of mad cow disease and the negative consequences for local food production and consumption. Organisations from around the world are protesting and holding public events in order to condemn the corporate-driven economic policies that are being ruthlessly being pursued by G8 countries with disregard for their impacts on people and the planet Due to reports from many signatory organisations, it appears that has been a broader, systematic approach to hinder civil society representatives entering Japan during the G8.
Source: http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Home/Hokkaido_2008/5323.html

___________
2008-07-07
Anti-G8 protesters are on their way to the G8 Hotel
Press Release July 7th 2008
·Japan: Summit protests are relocating
·Japanese army is supporting the police
This weekend the anti-G8 summit protests relocated from Sapporo to the vicinity of Lake Toya where the G8 summit is taking place. Around 1 000 activists are spread over the protest camps Toyoura, Soubetsu and Da-te. A number of official demonstrations have been registered against the official G8 summit. The goal is to get as close as possible to the conference hotel.
http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Home/Hokkaido_2008/5327.html

__________
2008-07-07
Water Cannons, Candlelight Vigils and Rebellion in the Streets
Citizens of the world are not invited to the G8 meetings in Tokyo, but global civil society is crashing the party.
July 3
(See below for previous dispatches.)
The following is a conversation with South Korean activist Dopehead Zo and the Just Words Collective -- Sarah Lazare, Marina Sitrin, David Solnit and Asha Colazione.
The anti-G8 mobilizations have been bringing together inspiring organizers and activists from all over the world. Japanese precarious temp workers, calling themselves "Freeters", South Korean anti-military base organizers, Spanish media activists, Farm workers from Via Campesina, Australian human rights activists, German direct action organizers, and many others from North America, Asia, and Europe, have all come together to share stories, struggles, ideas, and to network and plan actions. At The Counter G8 International Forum in Tokyo, we met one organizer whose story is so compelling we needed to share it as soon as possible. The following is a selected transcription of our conversation.
Source: http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Home/Hokkaido_2008/5336.html

__________
2008-07-07
Kept at arm's length, protesters slam G8 leaders

SOBETSU, Hokkaido — Marching in light rain, more than 100 antisummit protesters accused the Group of Eight industrialized nations of contributing to poverty and global warming as they made their way to Toyako from the small town of Sobetsu, Hokkaido, on Monday.
With raised fists, the protesters shouted, "We're against the G8 summit. They are the ones causing poverty and environmental destruction."
The police presence was heavy as the protesters marched toward the lakeshore carrying signs opposing the Iraq war and globalization. Others called on the G8 leaders to rectify the global food crisis.
Source: http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Home/Hokkaido_2008/5330.html

__________
2008-07-06
Japan tightens security for G8 summit

As the Group of Eight (G8) summit is to be held in northern Japan's Hokkaido early next week, the Japanese government has mobilized the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and police troops to tighten terrestrial, marine and aerial security both in the capital of Tokyo and around the location of the summit.
Under the command of Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the Ground, Marine and Air SDF have adopted the first-class alert and are ready to "take all necessary actions."
The one-year old anti-terrorist central rapid-reaction force, which is the top elite force of the SDF and follows direct command of the defense minister, will be put into action for the first time. It is to closely cooperate with the Ground SDF to deal with all possible terrestrial terrorist attacks.
Source: http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Home/Hokkaido_2008/5313.html

__________________________
Baggrundsartikel paa dansk
Japan: Aktivister varmer op til G8-topmøde i Tokyo
http://indymedia.dk/articles/251