National and International
		A meeting held to seek the acquittal of innocent Govinda Prasad Mainali Govinda Innocence Advocacy Group, a civic group established solely to protect Mr. Govinda Prasad Mainali, a Nepalese, from a discriminatory prosecution, held a meeting on March 23, 2003 to demonstrate strong support for him, appealing that he should be acquitted immediately. He was arrested in March 1997 on charge of murdering a Japanese woman being with Tokyo Electric Power Company. The Tokyo District Court found him innocent on April 14, 200, saying that there was sufficient evidence to prove that his guilt of murdering the woman and ordered his acquittal. Surprisingly enough, however, the Tokyo High Court complied with the request of prosecutors who filed an appeal at the Tokyo High Court to retain him. Mr. Takagi Toshio, the presiding judge of the Court, reversed on December 22, 2000, the Lower Court's decision of acquittal of Mr. Mainali, sentencing him to life imprisonment. At first, police put him under arrest on charge of visa overstay. But it is investigating him on a murder case which is indeed irrelevant and not connected with the case, said a participant in the meeting. At the meeting, a message from Mr. Indra, his brother, who visited Japan in February 2003 to submit to the Supreme Court a written request to acquit his brother was read first. He wrote in the request, as quoted by the Japan Times of February 12, 2003, that 'I strongly believe that my brother (could not) have committed a grave crime in a country where he was making good money, and (while he was planning) to lead a (normal) life in Nepalese society." Ms. Rada Mainali who came to Japan only to attend the meeting followed the message. She told the participants that their two daughters know nothing about the father and the aged parents of Mr. Mainali are in poor condition because of much anxiety about their son. She made a deep impression on the participants in the meeting. After this, much was talked about the situation of false charges observed in Japan, including Ms. Rosal's case. Ms. Y. E., the victim of another falsely charge case appealed in her message read at the meeting that falsely charged cases which happen one after another show that Japanese culture is in a critically miserable condition of human consciousness for the dignity of human beings. To support to eliminate falsely charged cases not only save innocent people, but also put us Japanese into a serious question how we have to be as human beings and what kind of state we form. The existence of Mr. Govinda questions radically what is Japan, what are Japanese and what human dignity is. I hope people will fight for the purpose of his radical question. The following is an English translation of Mr. Govinda's letter written in English. Dear Friends, I'm innocent Govinda. I am glad that so many people are here today for me. I was arrested on March 23 six years ago. But, by God, I have done nothing wrong. The High Court's ruling is to blame. It found me guilty without any evidence. I am innocent, but I am confined to sit alone all day long in a narrow cell. I will be sick mentally as well as physically because of a long life of such nature. I am not able to talk with other peopled detained here in the house. I was told, "No". I am so lonely. Thanks to your help, I was able to see my brother in February 2003, first time in 9 years. I feel a little less lonely. My wife (Rada) was also invited to Japan by you. I appreciate very much. I will never forget your support and kindness. There is an old saying in Nepal. "Truth wins by all means." I'll do my best, believing this saying. Thank you again. From innocent Govinda Prasad Mainali

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