Welcome to Hokkaido! Except for Koreans

Welcome to Hokkaido! - Except Koreans
By Yasuda Yukihiro
July 5, 2008, 00:09

On the afternoon of July 3, nineteen members of two South Korean farmers’ organizations, along with two members of a South Korean NGO, were detained by Japanese immigration officials at Hokkaido’s New Chitose airport, while entering Japan to participate in meetings related to the upcoming G8 summit. The organizations are the Korean Peasants’ League and the Korean Women Peasants’ League, who had been invited by Japanese famers’ organizations, along with the NGO, People’s Solidarity for Social Progress. Officials refused entry to one NGO member on the July 3. On July 4, they reached their final decision, barring entry to all nineteen Farmers’ League members. They returned to South Korea on July 5. The remaining member of the NGO was granted entry on the afternoon of the July 4.

Immigration officials have not made public their reasons for refusing entry, but the groups maintain they were told they had inadequate identification, or an inadequate account of their planned activities. Members of the groups also testify that immigration officials questioned them about their attitudes towards the G8, whether or not they had participated in anti-WTO demonstrations in Hong Kong, or any other illegal demonstrations.

The groups in question coordinated with groups in Japan, and had received official letters of invitation. The reason for their visit, along with their plans and arrangements for lodging, had all been made public prior to departure. The South Korean groups insist that there was no reason to doubt their declared intentions.

The groups felt the official questioning unfairly treated them as criminal organizations. Members refused to undergo individual questioning and asked that they be permitted to enter as a group.

Members of the Farmers’ League and Women Farmers’ League who were refused entry, stayed at the airport on July 4, discussing their options.

Leaders and rank and file members under Korea’s largest labor umbrella organization, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, were also waylaid at the New Chitose airport on July 4. Four members of the same union, who arrived in Narita airport were all granted entry. 　

July 4 also saw the arrest of one Confederation of Trade Unions leader seeking entry at Chitose airport. The man was reportedly taking pictures in an area of the airport where photography was forbidden. When approached by officials he became unruly, and one of the officials fell to the ground. He was arrested for interfering with the duty a public servant. Four people travelling with him were questioned on the same day. At present, the arrested leader has been sent to the Sapporo police station, while the remaining four remain at the airport after being refused entry.

According to a person who has met with South Korean groups entering the country, all South Koreans entering on tourist visas are now having to undergo detailed questioning, without exception. It appears that South Korean authorities have also supplied prior information to Japanese authorities in the case of groups such as the Peasants’ League and the Confederation which are under special surveillance.

Groups which were refused entry report that when they underwent interviews, officials in charge carried specially prepared files. It is possible that all members of certain groups such as the Peasants’ League and Confederation are being denied entry. However, according to Keisen University’s Lee Young-Che who talked with members from the groups, there have not yet been any instances of authorities giving this as the official reason for turning people away.
On July 4, the Confederation sent a letter to the Japanese embassy in South Korea, objecting to the Japanese refusal to grant entry, saying that, “It is unjustified to interfere with a peaceful gathering designed to voice our opposition to the FTA (the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement).