Asking for continuous support for 2,700,000 Signature Movement ! 21 persons who had appeared at the Tokyo Immigration bureau to obtain special permission for residence in September 1st, 1999 received decision made by the Ministry of Justice in February 2nd, 9th and 14th. 16 persons from 4 families were given permission and 1 Burma family(3 persons) and 2 individuals could not obtain permission as a result. 2 individuals and Mother and daughter of Burma family were given provisional release. But Mr. M, father of Burma family has been detained in East Japan Immigration Center in Ushiku, Ibaragi. APFS who has supported 21 persons had submitted suit to Tokyo regional court in the case of Burma family in February 9th and of 2 individuals in March 9th. We continue to fight for special permission for 5 persons in the court. Special permission is only way for undocumented foreigners to be admitted as 'legal' foreigners. The Ministry of Justice has applied this permission basically for the case of foreigners who were related to Japanese nationals. The decision to give permission to 16 persons who had no relation with Japanese was one break trough and epoch- making result. However, Family M whose child is quite small, only 2 years old was not given permission in spite of their similar living condition in Japan with other 4 family. 2 individuals who had been injured during work and have been on medical treatment were also not able to obtain permission. The wall is still high to be overcome and it is not so easy to see the day when the label "illegal stay" is not used. Steering Committee of gGive Ordinary living in Japan to 21 Persons-270,000 Signatures" launched in November,1999 with 30 groups and 15 individuals as a part of activity to support 21 persons to obtain special permission for residence. 34,000 signatures have been collected by April 1st. 5,300 signatures which have been submitted in the Ministry of Justice in December 20. The committee continues activity until June 2000 and seeks to collect 50,000 signatures in total. 16 persons out of 21 were able to obtain special permission and this has been possible by the nation wide support and cooperation. We appreciate all of those who have supported us and we ask continuous support for 5 persons who have not given support. Steering Committee of gGive Ordinary living in Japan to 21 Persons-270,000 Signatures" 24-16 Oyama-Higashi-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo c/o APFS ¦For more information TEL:03-3964-8739 FAX:03-3579-0197 mailto:apfs@jca.apc.org http://www.jca.apc.org/apfs/index.html ¦Asking for Donation!! To Postal Transfer account No. 00180-1-79158,APFS Please note " Donation for 270,000 Signatures"  TO: The Minister of Justice Twenty-one persons (4 Iranian families and 1 individual, 1 Burmese family and 1 Bangladeshi individual) appeared at Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau at Kita-ku on September, 1, 1999 seeking Special Permission for Residence. They have established now their living bases in Japan and leading stabilized lives. Some of them go to the Public Primary School and the Junior and Senior High School and spending everyday the same as Japanese pupils. Also there are the persons who have injured seriously by the accident while they were working at the company and need to continue medical treatment for the rest of their lives. The International Covenants on Human Rights ratified by Japan is stipulated that the fundamental human rights should be protected to the every person including undocumented foreigners. And Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 3, section 1, states the duty of the Administrative Authorities that "the best interest of the child shall be a primary consideration." It should be considered fully of the gist of these convents stated above, when the Minister of Justice makes a decision of the Special Permission for Residence against these 21 persons. We shall support them from the bottom of heart and demand the followings to the Japanese Government. 1. Never detained the 21 persons. Especially to make humanitarian arrangement for the children. 2. Approve the Special Permission for Residence to the 21 persons at the earliest possible date. Name Address