{"id":11549,"date":"2013-06-12T13:39:30","date_gmt":"2013-06-12T23:39:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=11549"},"modified":"2014-05-26T15:29:17","modified_gmt":"2014-05-27T01:29:17","slug":"ueda-hideaki-goj-rep-at-un-committee-against-torture-repeatedly-tells-people-to-shut-up-for-audibly-laughing-at-japans-human-rights-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=11549","title":{"rendered":"Ueda Hideaki, GOJ rep at UN Committee Against Torture, repeatedly tells people to &#8220;shut up&#8221; for audibly laughing at Japan&#8217;s human rights record"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>eBooks, Books, and more from ARUDOU Debito (click on icon):<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/handbook.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11452\" title=\"Guidebookcover.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Guidebookcover.jpg\" alt=\"Guidebookcover.jpg\" width=\"75\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/japaneseonly.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11335\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/japaneseonlyebookcovertext-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"japaneseonlyebookcovertext\" width=\"75\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/handbook.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1298\" title=\"Handbook2ndEdcover.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Handbook2ndEdcover.jpg\" alt=\"Handbook for Newcomers, Migrants, and Immigrants to Japan\" width=\"75\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/inappropriate.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8577\" title=\"inappropriatecoverthumb150x226\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/inappropriatecoverthumb150x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"75\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/japaneseonly.html#japanese\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1700\" title=\"jobookcover\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/jobookcover-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\u300c\u30b8\u30e3\u30d1\u30cb\u30fc\u30ba\u30fb\u30aa\u30f3\u30ea\u30fc\u3000\u5c0f\u6a3d\u5165\u6d74\u62d2\u5426\u554f\u984c\u3068\u4eba\u7a2e\u5dee\u5225\u300d\uff08\u660e\u77f3\u66f8\u5e97\uff09\" width=\"75\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cinemabstruso.de\/strawberries\/main.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2735\" title=\"sourstrawberriesavatar\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/sourstrawberriesavatar.jpg\" alt=\"sourstrawberriesavatar\" width=\"75\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?cat=32\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4921\" title=\"debitopodcastthumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/debitopodcastthumb.jpg\" alt=\"debitopodcastthumb\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=10137\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-10142\" title=\"Fodors\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Fodors.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"75\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nUPDATES ON TWITTER: arudoudebito<br \/>\nDEBITO.ORG PODCASTS on iTunes, subscribe free<br \/>\n&#8220;LIKE&#8221; US on Facebook at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/debitoorg\">http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/debitoorg<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/handbookimmigrants\">http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/handbookimmigrants<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/JapaneseOnlyTheBook\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/JapaneseOnlyTheBook<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BookInAppropriate\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BookInAppropriate<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Hi Blog. I was going to blog on this yesterday, but I have a few deadlines to meet. Fortunately, other people have taken this up, so let me quote them and save time:<\/p>\n<p>Debito.org Reader JDG sent in this comment yesterday:<\/p>\n<p>======================================<\/p>\n<p><em>Just want to share this with you:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Japanese U.N. diplomat\u2019s shouts of \u2018shut up\u2019 to fellow delegates go viral, inflame<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/news\/2013\/06\/13\/national\/japanese-u-n-diplomats-shouts-of-shut-up-to-fellow-delegates-go-viral-inflame\/\">http:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/news\/2013\/06\/13\/national\/japanese-u-n-diplomats-shouts-of-shut-up-to-fellow-delegates-go-viral-inflame\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Japan Times\/AFP-Jiji: \u00a0<em>Japan\u2019s human rights envoy to the United Nations faced calls to quit Wednesday over a video that showed him shouting at fellow diplomats to \u201cshut up.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>YouTube footage of the incident at the [UN Committee Against Torture held 5\/21-5\/22]\u00a0provoked a storm of criticism on the Internet, with demands that Ambassador Hideaki Ueda be recalled to Japan.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Blogging Japanese lawyer Shinichiro Koike, who said he was at the session, explained that a representative from Mauritius had criticized Japan\u2019s justice system for not allowing defense lawyers to be present during interrogations of criminal suspects&#8230;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hkoQjIBA_3U\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><em>JDG: This is Japan\u2019s Human Rights envoy to the UN. He is telling other countries diplomatic delegations to \u2018SHUT UP! SHUT UP!\u2019 when they (allegedly) giggle at his claim that Japan is \u2018one of the most advanced countries in the world\u2019 on the issue of human rights. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>It says so much about what is wrong with Japan, and the way Japan views both international relations and human rights (the human rights representative shouting at other diplomats?).<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Sure, clearly he is not a success story of the Japanese education systems attempt to teach the English language, but is his (unfortunately typical) arrogant attitude, with his easily hurt pride resulting in an angry outburst that is the most telling about how myopic the society he comes from is; a classic case of \u2018The frog in the pond\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Of course, we must cut the guy some slack, after all, he is forced to try and uphold the tatemae that \u2018Japan is a modern nation\u2019 in a room full of people who clearly know the truth about Japan\u2019s human rights record.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>======================================<\/p>\n<p><strong>More at <a href=\"http:\/\/chirpstory.com\/li\/83743\">http:\/\/chirpstory.com\/li\/83743<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> \u56fd\u9023\u62f7\u554f\u7981\u6b62\u59d4\u54e1\u4f1a\u306b\u304a\u3051\u308b\u4e0a\u7530\u4eba\u6a29\u4eba\u9053\u5927\u4f7f\u306e\u767a\u8a00\u300c\u30b7\u30e3\u30e9\u30c3\u30d7\uff01\u300d<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> Japan&#8217;s Human rights Ambassador Ueda yells &#8220;Shut Up!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>COMMENT FROM DEBITO<\/strong>: Well, I&#8217;m not going to cut this character any slack. Ueda is a very embedded elite. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/policy\/human\/cv_ueda.html\">Here&#8217;s his resume at the MOFA<\/a>. And he is living in the culture of constant denial of reality that Japan&#8217;s elites excel at (get this bit where <a href=\"http:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/news\/National\/We-are-not-eating-whales-Japan-ambassador\/2005\/05\/26\/1116950813758.html\">he&#8217;s officially claiming in 2005 as Japan Ambassador to Australia that Japanese don&#8217;t eat whales<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>If I were listening to Ueda say these things on any occasion, I would laugh out loud too. \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=415\">The UN Committee Against Torture has commented previously (2007) on Japan&#8217;s criminal justice system, where treatment of suspects, quote, &#8220;could amount to torture&#8221;.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ueda is part of the fiction writers maintaining <a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/japanvsun.html\">the GOJ&#8217;s constant lying to the UN about the state of human rights in Japan<\/a>. \u00a0Consider his statement on February 24, 2010 to the ICERD regarding Japan&#8217;s progress in promoting measures against racial discrimination (excerpted, courtesy MOFA, see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/policy\/human\/pdfs\/state_race_rep3.pdf\">http:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/policy\/human\/pdfs\/state_race_rep3.pdf<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Mr. Chairperson and distinguished members of the Committee,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>I would like to take this opportunity to explain some of the major steps the<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Government of Japan has taken in relation to the International Convention<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em> First, Japan is working actively to establish comprehensive policies for<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> respecting the human rights of the Ainu people. Following the adoption of<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> General Assembly in 2007, the Japanese Diet unanimously adopted a<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> \u2018Resolution Calling for the Recognition of the Ainu People\u2019 as an<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Indigenous People in June 2008. In response to this resolution, the<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Government of Japan recognized the Ainu people as an indigenous people<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> who live in the northern part of the Japanese islands, especially Hokkaido,<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> and established the \u2018Advisory Panel of Eminent Persons on Policies for the<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Ainu People\u2019 with a representative of the Ainu people participating as<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> member. The Panel members visited regions where many Ainu people<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> reside and exchanged views with the Ainu People. In 2009, the Panel<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> compiled a report and submitted it to the Government of Japan.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>In this report, the panel expressed its view that the Government of Japan<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> should listen sincerely to the opinions of the Ainu people and make efforts<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> to establish Ainu policy reflecting the situations of Japan as well as the<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Ainu people. This view is based on the recognition that the Ainu people are<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> an indigenous people and the Government of Japan has strong<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> responsibility for the rehabilitation of their culture. The report identified<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> three basic principles on implementing the Ainu-related policies, that is, (1)<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> respect for the Ainu people\u2019s identity, (2) respect for diverse cultures and<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> ethnic harmony, and (3) nation-wide implementation of the Ainu-related<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> policy. The report also made recommendations on concrete policy<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> measures including promoting education and public awareness about the<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> history and culture of the Ainu, constructing parks as a symbolic space for<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> ethnic harmony, and promoting the Ainu culture including the Ainu<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> language. Furthermore, the report advised the Government of Japan to<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> conduct research on the living conditions of the Ainu people outside<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Hokkaido and to implement measures for improving their living conditions<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> throughout Japan.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>In August 2009, the Government of Japan established the \u2018Comprehensive<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Ainu Policy Department\u2019 to develop an all-encompassing Ainu policy, and<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> in December 2009 decided to set up the \u2018Meeting for Promotion of the<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Ainu Policy\u2019 with the participation of representatives of the Ainu people.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> The first session of the Meeting took place last month followed by the first<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> working group next month, and the meeting is scheduled to be held<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> regularly. The Government of Japan will materialize policies and also<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> follow up on the implementation of policy.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Prime Minister Hatoyama, in his policy speech at the Diet in October last<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> year, committed \u201cto promote cultural diversity to enable everyone to live<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> with dignity, by respecting the history and culture of the Ainu people, who<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> are indigenous to Japan\u201d. In this direction, the Government of Japan will<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> create an environment which will enable the Ainu people to be proud of<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> their identities and inherit their culture.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Secondly, let me explain our efforts to promote human rights education and<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> enlightenment. The Government of Japan believes that everyone is entitled<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> to human rights, should correctly understand other people\u2019s human rights<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> and respect each other. Under this belief, the Government of Japan places<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> importance on human rights education and enlightenment. In December<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> 2000, the Government of Japan enacted the \u2018Act for Promotion of Human<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Rights Education and Encouragement\u2019, which led to the formation of the<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Basic Plan for Promotion of Human Rights Education and Encouragement<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> in March 2002. According to the Basic Plan, the human rights organs of the<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Ministry of Justice expand and strengthen awareness-raising activities to<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> disseminate and enhance the idea of respect for human rights. Various<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> activities are conducted by the organs, with a view to fostering human<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> rights awareness as appropriate in the age of globalization, for eliminating<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> prejudice and discrimination against foreigners, as well as for promoting an<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> attitude of tolerance and respect for diverse cultures, religions, lifestyles<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> and customs of different origins.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Human rights organs of the Ministry of Justice also have been endeavoring<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> to protect human rights through other activities such as human rights<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> counseling, investigation and disposition of human rights infringement<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> cases. In particular, in April 2004, the Government of Japan fully revised<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> the \u2018Regulations of Human Rights Infringement Incidents Treatment\u2019 to<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> ensure quick, flexible and appropriate enforcement of investigation and<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> relief activities. Based on this revision, when the human rights organs<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> recognize the facts of a human rights abuse case, including acts of racial<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> discrimination, they commence relief activities immediately and carry out<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> the necessary investigation in cooperation with the administrative organs<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> concerned. If it becomes clear, as a result of the investigation, that a human<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> rights abuse, including acts of racial discrimination, has occurred, the<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> human rights organs take various steps to relieve individual victims. For<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> instance, they admonish and order the perpetrator to stop such acts of racial<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> discrimination and request that those parties authorized to substantially<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> respond to the case take necessary measures for the relief of the victims and<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> prevention of reoccurrence. The human rights organs also endeavor to<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> prevent reoccurrence of acts of racial discrimination by educating the<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> persons concerned with regard to respect for human rights.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Furthermore, from the perspective of remedying human rights issues, Japan<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> is currently working on studies aimed at the establishment of a national<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> human rights institution, which, independent of the government, would<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> deal with human rights infringements and remedy the situation as quickly<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> as possible. The \u2018Human Rights Protection Bill\u2019 which the Government of<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Japan submitted to the Diet in 2002 provided that a human rights<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> commission, to be independent of the government, take measures to<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> remedy human rights infringements in a simple, quick and flexible manner.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> However, the bill did not pass due to the dissolution of the House of<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Representatives in October 2003. Currently, a bill on a new human rights<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> remedy system is under review.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Mr. Chairperson and distinguished members of the Committee,<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> I would like to avail myself of this occasion to announce Japan\u2019s new<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> initiative with regard to refugee-related policies. As part of its efforts to<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> make international contributions and provide humanitarian assistance, the<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Government of Japan decided to start a pilot resettlement program and<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> admit Myanmarese refugees staying in the Mae La camp in Thailand. More<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> specifically, Japan will admit approximately 30 people once a year for 3<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> consecutive years from this year, in total approximately 90 people. For this<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> purpose, three weeks ago we dispatched a mission to the camp to interview<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> candidate refugees.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Japan is proud that it will become the first Asian country to introduce a<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> resettlement program. Japan will make the utmost efforts in order to live up<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> to expectations from the international community. The Government of<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> Japan, in cooperation with relevant organizations and NGOS, will provide<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> refugees substantial support for resettlement such as guidance for adjusting<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> to Japanese society, Japanese language training, and employment<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> consultation and job referral.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Japan, on the basis of the spirit declared in the Constitution and the<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> preamble of the Convention, will disallow any discrimination against race<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> and ethnicity, and continue to make tireless efforts to improve the human<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em> rights situation in Japan.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n<p><strong>COMMENT<\/strong>: \u00a0So, let&#8217;s see the tally here: \u00a0Paragraph after paragraph about the Ainu (fine, but they are not the only minority in Japan covered by the ICERD), then citing a dead law proposal that failed to pass about ten years ago as some sort of progress, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/policeapology.html\">absolutely useless MOJ Bureau of Human Rights<\/a>, a proposal targeting a sliver of the international refugee community (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=10943\">who refused the hospitality anyway because they knew how unsupported it is once they get to Japan<\/a>), and alleged cooperation with NGOs (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=544\">which I know from personal experience is an outright lie<\/a> &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=6201\">they are constantly ignored<\/a>.) \u00a0Meanwhile all sorts of things banned under the ICERD (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/roguesgallery.html\">including &#8220;Japanese Only&#8221; signs<\/a>) also go completely ignored. \u00a0It is, in the end, a joke.<\/p>\n<p>So world, don&#8217;t shut up. \u00a0Laugh aloud, laugh long. \u00a0International awareness to the point of derision is the only thing that really shatters the veneer of politeness these officious elites keep taking advantage of in the diplomatic community. \u00a0Arudou Debito<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JAPAN TIMES: Japan\u2019s human rights envoy to the United Nations faced calls to quit Wednesday over a video that showed him shouting at fellow diplomats to \u201cshut up.\u201d YouTube footage of the incident at the [UN Committee Against Torture held 5\/21-5\/22] provoked a storm of criticism on the Internet, with demands that Ambassador Hideaki Ueda be recalled to Japan. Blogging Japanese lawyer Shinichiro Koike, who said he was at the session, explained that a representative from Mauritius had criticized Japan\u2019s justice system for not allowing defense lawyers to be present during interrogations of criminal suspects&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>JDG: It says so much about what is wrong with Japan, and the way Japan views both international relations and human rights (the human rights representative shouting at other diplomats?)&#8230; Of course, we must cut the guy some slack, after all, he is forced to try and uphold the tatemae that \u2018Japan is a modern nation\u2019 in a room full of people who clearly know the truth about Japan\u2019s human rights record.<\/p>\n<p>DEBITO: Well, I&#8217;m not going to cut this character any slack. Ueda is a very embedded elite. Here&#8217;s his resume at the MOFA. And he is living in the culture of constant denial of reality that Japan&#8217;s elites excel at (get this bit where he&#8217;s officially claiming in 2005 as Japan Ambassador to Australia that Japanese don&#8217;t eat whales). If I were listening to Ueda say these things on any occasion, I would laugh out loud too.  The UN Committee Against Torture has commented previously (2007) on Japan&#8217;s criminal justice system, where treatment of suspects, quote, &#8220;could amount to torture&#8221;.  Ueda is part of the fiction writers maintaining the GOJ&#8217;s constant lying to the UN about the state of human rights in Japan.  <\/p>\n<p>Consider his statement on February 24, 2010 to the ICERD regarding Japan&#8217;s progress in promoting measures against racial discrimination:  Paragraph after paragraph about the Ainu (fine, but they are not the only minority in Japan covered by the ICERD), then citing a dead law proposal that failed to pass about ten years ago as some sort of progress, the absolutely useless MOJ Bureau of Human Rights, a proposal targeting a sliver of the international refugee community (who refused the hospitality anyway because they knew how unsupported it is once they get to Japan), and alleged cooperation with NGOs (which I know from personal experience is an outright lie &#8212; they are constantly ignored.)  Meanwhile all sorts of things banned under the ICERD (including &#8220;Japanese Only&#8221; signs) also go completely ignored.  It is, in the end, a joke.<\/p>\n<p>So world, don&#8217;t shut up.  Laugh aloud, laugh long.  International awareness to the point of derision is the only thing that really shatters the veneer of politeness these officious elites keep taking advantage of in the diplomatic community.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54,28,5,26,4,13,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pinprick-protests","category-anti-discrimination-templates","category-human-rights","category-ironies-hypocrisies","category-japanese-government","category-media","category-united-nations"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11549"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11549\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}