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October 10, 2003 Dear sisters and brothers, I would like to inform you of a very good news. Today (October 10), the seven JRU union members were granted bail. Yesterday, the Tokyo District Court decided to bail out the seven union members and as in the last time, the Tokyo Prosecutors Office made an immediate appeal to Tokyo High Court. However, the Tokyo High Court dismissed the appeal of the Prosecutors, to which the Prosecutors did not make an appeal. This should show a clear evidence that the truth is coming to be revealed through the past nine times of public trials. Accordingly, the seven will be released within today. The unionists at our office have headed for the detention house to see the seven members and all the JRU members are looking forward to the seven members’ safe and sound return to their workplace. We would like to show our sincere appreciation toward the great solidarity and support for the seven members and our fight against oppression coming from trade unions all over the world. Even after the release of the seven, our fight will be continued until we obtain the complete innocence. Let us again thank you for your support and we would also hope to have your continued support for our fight against oppression. In solidarity and appreciation, Sei Tamamori
Japan Confederation of Railway Workers Unions (JRU)
Release of the Seven Assured JRU Confidence on Victory of Court FightToday on October 10, 2003, Tokyo District Court decided to bail out the seven accused members of JR Urawa Incident. On October 7, the Defendant requested the bail for the 6th time, and on October 9, Tokyo District Court decided to grant the bail for the seven. This time however, again, the prosecutors side made an unjust appeal to the Tokyo High Court. Responding to this, Tokyo High Court came up with a duly decision and the bail was granted. Though there was no possibility of Evidence Destruction which was the alleged reason for their prolonged detention, the JRU seven union members had been kept in the detention house for as long as 344 days since their abrupt arrest on November 11, 2002. Most of all, we would like to pay our utmost respect for the detained seven and their families who have fought through with an invincible spirits. We would also like to express our sincere respect and appreciation to the comrade unionists in Urawa Train Depot, which was on the forefront of this struggle, and in Urawa branch, Omiya local office, JR East, and other affiliated unions. Since November 2002, a number of domiciliary searches had been conducted in June and September in our union. The investigation authority has seized approximately 3000 items from 145 places, and a large amount of unrelated items to the alleged incident were confiscated. We can see an unduly intervention into our union under the pretext of incident of compulsion. However today, we were able to have our seven comrades back with us, who were unjustly arrested, indicted and detained. Through this fact alone, we can be assured that we have achieved some victory in our struggle. Firstly, through the trials at the court, it was revealed that the case itself had been planned and set. During the nine times of trial, it has been becoming obvious that the case is based on false accusation framed up by the state power. Secondly, solidarity movement accusing the injustice of this case has been gradually prevailed, including the formation of Support Group for False Accusation of JR Urawa Incident and Kanto Area Coordination Office, etc. Furthermore, on August 1, we submitted a complainant to the Freedom of Association Committee of ILO and on October 2, ITF submitted the joint complainant. Also, responding to our appeal, labor unions overseas have been sending their solidarity support for us. These phenomena shows that today it is a common practice to support and join hands with labor unions oppressed by their government and power. Thirdly, we have been repeatedly protested to relevant agencies about the injustice of the investigation authorities, and clarified the unfairness of their series of investigation practices. We have appealed not only the Urawa Incident, but also the forced searches under the pretext of the violent incident or intrusion of residence. These were the oppressive acts against labor union that opposes to the war. Through the news of the released seven, we are assured of the coming victory at the court fight. At the same time, the record of the long term detention and forbidden visits to the seven during the time and numerous other unjust acts by the authorities, which is so called the $B!H (BHostage Judiciary, can never be forgotten. Before closing our statement, we would like to give sincere appreciation to all of those who have supported us. October 10, 2003 Japan Confederation of Railway Workers Unions (JRU) |