Evictions in OSAKA

From:  NANBA, Kazunari       Group of the Homeless in Nagai Park

PETITION TO STOP THE FORCED EVICTION OF THE HOMELESS

8th February 2001

We are the groups formed by the homeless living in Nagai Park in Osaka, Japan. In the vicinity of the park there are sports installations that may be used for the Olympic in the year 2008 (if Osaka is selected). Osaka City Authority began removing the homeless in the park by force. Whether having a job or not, we have the right to live. We petition the UN and IOC committees to take immediate measures so that Osaka City and the Japanese Government will duly respect Human Rights and stop their immoral act.

There were 480 tents in Nagai Park when the removal began. Last November, Osaka City Authority opened a temporary shelter in the park and began removing the homeless by force. An IOC inspection team is expected to visit the park this February. The act of removal has been intensified. As a result, there are only 50 homeless people left in the park. Osaka City Authority claims that they are not forcing but persuading the homeless to move to the shelter. The Authority denies the connection between this act and the Olympic plan. But it is obvious to us that we have been evicted by force.

The 20 prefabricated shelters have been planned with no consultation with the homeless people involved, although the authority had been aiming at the forced eviction of the homeless in the park from the beginning. In fact, the shelter was built in the form that makes the homeless difficult to survive. For example, if we stay in the center, we cannot continue collecting empty aluminum cans for survival. Initially, 90 % of the homeless people refused to move to the center.

Although 135 people have been forced to enter the center, there are at least 150 people trying to resettle in other parks in Osaka at the moment.  Moreover, those who have decided to leave the center because of its poor conditions are now faced with serious problems. When they entered the center, they were forced to sign the agreement saying that they withdraw their tents in the park. So they have no means and places to resettle.

Furthermore, on 23rd January, the City Authority threatened the remaining 50 homeless people and tried to destroy three tents that are used for self-helping communal activities as well as for living. We strongly protest against their act.

There are now at least 30,000 homeless people in Japan. There is an increasing number of forced removals of the homeless by authorities. The Japanese Government should be condemned for the serious violation of human rights, especially in the light of the Habitat Agenda signed by many countries in 1996 in Istanbul. The government of Japan will be asked to present their performance reports on the implementation of their commitments to Habitat II in the Istanbul + 5 Conference, which will be held in New City in June 2001. The Japanese government can be asked in this forum on the issues of the right to adequate housing and forced evictions, including the issue of the Nagai Park homeless people vis-a-vis Japan's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

We also believe that the Olympic should promote world peace, not the violation of the poor people's human rights. 

We would appreciate it very much if you can also communicate your concern to Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and Osaka City Mayor Takafumi Isomura.

Prime Minister MORI, Yoshiro     FAX+81-3-3581-3883

Mayor of Osaka City ISOMURA,Takafumi  
FAX+81-6-6202-6961 (Homeless Issue)

FAX+81-6-6344-5119 (Administration of City Parks)

FAX+81-6-6202-6971_$B!J_(BOsaka 2008 Olympic Bid Committee_$B!K_(B

JOCJapanese Olympic Committee  FAX+81-3-3481-0977

 

Kindly furnish copies of your letters to 

Group of the comrades in Nagai Park, 
E-Mail     nagai_nojuku@nakamanokai.freehosting.net

Group of the homeless in Nagai Park,
FAX+81-6-63-74-2233
E-Mail     kamapat@geocities.co.jp

Finally, we would appreciate it very much if you can take immediate measures.

 

Sincerely yours,

NANBA, Kazunari

Group of the homeless in Nagai Park

We are getting a big success! 

Thank you for your support!

Dear Ted, ( Evcition Watch Housing Rights Coordinator ACHR)

We are grateful to your support for homeless people living in Ueno Park. The protest actions by the homeless people everyday and many messages from friends in the world have abruptly changed an attitude of the Administration Office of Tokyo Eastern Parks. Finally, the office recently sat down with us, the homeless and the supporting organization, to negotiate the matter.

In the meeting, the office at first apologized to homeless people living in Ueno Park and promised the follows;

* The office apologizes that they did not inform and consult this matter to the homeless people.

* The office promises never to evict nor force the people to go to "self-support center" against their will.

Moreover, the office proposed the follows;

* The office will prepare another place in the same park for the people to be able to move their tents and live there at least six months.

* After six months, the office will negotiate the future plan with the people again.

We are discussing whether we should accept their proposal or not. We will have a meeting with the office again to negotiate their proposal and our requests.

We are getting a big success. The most important point is that the office declared they should not justify any evictions with the establishment of "self-support center". The results will support and encourage 30,000 homeless people in Japan.

Thank you very much for your support again. We hope to keep such a strong solidarity with you hereafter. We will report our situation again.

- Peace,

Nasubi

San'ya Welfare Center for Day-Laborers' Association Tokyo, Japan

Nasubi <nasubi@jca.apc.org> (^o^)/~  San'ya Welfare Center for Day-Laborers' Association 
1-25-11 Nihon-zutumi, Taito, Tokyo 111, JAPAN

Phone/Fax +81-3-3876-7073
http//www.jca.apc.org/nojukusha

JAN 20 

The Pakistan Railways has stopped the evictions. A policy meeting (see detail below) was held in Islamabad on 15 January, which has decided to make a resettlement plan in next two months for all settlement located along railway lines, river belt and other dangerous zones.

However it is victory for all of us.

On the behalf of NGOs, CBOs and railway colonies I would like to thank all of those who supported us in this struggle. I would also appreciate and thank your immediate response.

Cheers
Younus 

Plan Finalized to Regularize Kutcha Abadis

ISLAMABAD,JAN 15 

The chief executive, Gen Pervez  Musharraf, presided over a meeting here on Monday (15/01/01) to approve a plan for regularization of kutcha abadis (slums) in the country.

''A decision has been taken to offer low-cost housing to millions of people living in kutcha abadis ,for which the government will arrange funds from various sources, including poverty alleviation funds, Baitul Maal and Zakat'' ,said the minister for labour, manpower and local government, Umar Asghar Khan.

Speaking at a news conference,he said 0.5 million houses were needed every year, for which the government had decided to take up the issue, with the particpation of all the four provinces.

The minister said the meeting, which was also attended by four governors and chief secretaries,was told that, currently, 30 to 50 per cent people were living in Kutcha abadis.'' And the meeting decided to discourage migration from rural to urban areas by building new cities.''

Giving  details, he said the meeting had agreed to uphold the decision of the previous government to offer ownership right to occupants of kutcha abadis, living there since 1985.

'' In case any kutcha abadi falls in the category of dangerous zone, its occupants will be shifted to some other place,'' he added.

He said a new resettlement plan had been worked out to convert these Abadis into plots, to be offered on affordable rates. The government , he added, would offered lonans which could be repaid on easy instalments by plot seekers.

The minister said the provinces and concerned agencies had been directed to identify lands for the development of plots by Feb 28 Also, those who were to be evacuated from dangerous zones like railway tracks or river belts would be offered alternative land.

By June 30 this year, he said, all planning would be complete regarding development of plots, to be offered only to deserving people on highly concessional rates. In this context, he said, the model of '' khuda ki basti'' in Hayerabad would be followed, which had been developed by Dr Tasneem Siddiqui.

'' Over 2,800 families had been provided houses in that Basti,'' he added.

Mr Umar said low -cost houses would be built in kutcha abadis and added that his ministry would coordinate efforts with the provinces for developing new housing schemes.

Responding to a question, he said resettlement would be done in a transparent manner. He clarified that Afghan refugees, many of whom were living in kutcha abadis, would not be given the facility of resettlement and that it was purely a plan for poor Pakistanis.

(Bureau Report Daily Dawn Karachi 16/ January 01)

Dear friends,,

Despite assurances from Federal Minister for Environment, Local Government and Rural Development and other higher authorities the Pakistan Railway started a massive bulldozing operation of poor settlements railway colonies along the railway lines.

On 8  9 January 2001 they have bulldozed over 200 houses in Karachi and are planning to bulldoze 500 more houses.. According to press reports this operation will continue until 30 January 2001 and thousands of houses would be bulldozed in these poor Railway Colonies, which are mainly occupied by railway lower staff, their relatives and people who provide services to the city i.e. watch men, domestic workers, drivers, gardeners etc

We would like to build a national and international pressure against these evictions. Therefore we request all individuals and organizations to send direct faxes to the authorities listed below in a sample letter.

Regards