Crackdown: Japanese professor’s arrest “extremely unjust” — Publicly opposed burning of radioactive debris

http://enenews.com/crackdown-japanese-professors-arrest-extremely-unjust-publicly-oppossed-burning-radiaoctive-debris

Published: December 14th, 2012 at 2:23 pm ET
By ENENews

Title: Unjust Arrest of a Professor Opposing Debris Incineration in Osaka
Source: Civic Activity (Organization supporting citizens opposing spread of radiation)
Translation: Fukushima Voice
Date: December 14, 2012

[…] On December 9, 2012, Masaki Shimoji, an associate professor of economics at Hannan University was arrested by the Osaka Prefectural Police. This arrest is extremely unjust in form and content. It is clearly a crackdown on citizens’ movement.

Professor Shimoji and others are opposing the “areawide management of the disaster debris” measure, which intended to spread, incinerate and bury harmful substances in the disaster debris all over Japan that should not be incinerated, such as radioactive material and asbestos. Osaka-city is trying tobegin regular incineration and burial beginning in February 2013.

The following is the timeline for the arrest:

At 3 pm on October 17, 2012, voluntary citizens opposing to test incineration of disaster debris in Osaka-city, including associate professor Shimoji, gathered on the sidewalk outside the northeast corner of Osaka station. They began to walk towards Osaka city hall, walking through the east concourse inside Osaka station from north to south. This act was considered a “violation of Railway Operation Act,” “forcible obstruction of business, “ and ”non-withdrawal,” and used as charges for the arrest.

However, this act of “walking through the station” was conducted nearly two months ago, and it is extremely unnatural for them to arrest him for it now. We can’t help but consider it as an intentional crackdown on citizens’ movement. […]

Dec. 12, 2012 letter from Professor Shimoji here

December 15, 2012 - Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized