title l contents l foreword l introduction l bibliography 

 part 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l

 appendix 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l 7 l 8 l

 

Appendix 2

Message to the Churches:

     We have come to Japan at the invitation of the National Christian Council in Japan to look into the problem of the fingerprint system that is required by the Alien Registration Law of Japan. From May 25.31, 1986, we were able to visit 8 cities in which we met refusers, support groups, local and national government officials, defense lawyers of court cases for fingerprint refusers, as well as church representatives concerned with the issue. Most of the refusers we met were Korean residents in Japan, but we were also able to meet Chinese and other foreign residents. While we were in the country, 2 young Koreans, Mr. PAK Dae-wi of Kawasaki and Mr. CHANG Hak-ryun of Kyoto, were arrested and charged with violating the fingerprinting requirement of the Alien Registration Law. We were able to meet Mr. KIM Myoung Shik, a Korean studying in Japan, and Father Roan, a missionary working in Japan, both of whom face imminent deportation by Japanese authorities on the grounds of violating the fingerprinting requirement of the Law. These cases, and those of many others indicated to us the present crisis stage of this issue.

     Through our sharing with fingerprint refusers, we have learned of the deep hurt of Korean and other foreign residents who are forced to submit to the Alien Registration Law and its fingerprinting requirement. We have come to understand the Law as a humiliation and an affront to the human dignity of many who form part of Japanese society. We have also become aware that the churches in Japan, both the Korean Christian Church in Japan and the Japanese churches, have expressed their concern by participating in and supporting the struggle of Korean and other foreign residents against this unjust system and law.

     We take this opportunity to express our solidarity with fingerprint refusers, many of whom are Christians. We express our support to the churches and individual Christians in Japan who are fulfilling their mission to side with the oppressed and marginalised. We believe the challenge to an unjust law and the struggle to regain human dignity are important actions of Christian witness in this country.

     No church, seeking to be loyal to the Gospel of Christ, can ignore the present repression of the Korean residents, who live in constant fear. The New Testament assures us that none are preferred before any other in the sight of God. We challenge you, Japanese Christians and churches, to continue to confront the brokenness of Japanese society, to review the history of Japan and to reflect upon the attitude of Japanese people toward other peoples. For the churches to do nothing in this matter is to reinforce institutional racism. We challenge the church to maintain its role as an active healing force in society by sharing the stories of Koreans and other minorities in Japan — their history, their experience, their involvement in and contribution to the richness of society in Japan.

     We commit ourselves to make this issue known through channels available to us. We covenant to extend whatever possible support to encourage the ongoing struggle in Japan. May God bless you in your ministry and in the struggle for justice and human dignity.

Dr. Anwar Barkat
Director, World Council of Churches’ Programme to Combat Racism

Rev KWON Ho Kyung
Christian Conference of Asia, Secretary for Urban-Rural Mission.

Ms. May-an Villalba
Christian Conference of Asia, Race & Minority Concerns

Ms. Sandra Severs
Theological Student, United Church of Canada

Rev. KANG Eun Hong
Presbyterian Church, USA, missionary to Korean Christian Church.

Mrs. Jocelyn Armstrong
General Secretary, New Zealand Council of Churches.

Ms Kuni Jenkins
Chairperson, Maori Council of Churches, New Zealand

May 31, 1986

 

 

title l contents l foreword l introduction l bibliography 

 part 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l

 appendix 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l 7 l 8 l