Japan Today
crime

Threatening letter sent to immigration center over Sri Lankan's death

77 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

77 Comments
Login to comment

I said it once, I will say it again. Instead of locking them up..put them on a plane and DEPORT them. Why are they being imprisoned and sentenced to death?

21 ( +41 / -20 )

put them on a plane and DEPORT them. 

Or why not have a fair and just immigration policy? And while we are at it, how about creating the nation's first NHRI?

14 ( +26 / -12 )

I said it once, I will say it again. Instead of locking them up..put them on a plane and DEPORT them. Why are they being imprisoned and sentenced to death?

People need to read up on Japanese laws before making judgement calls.

Under the current Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law, those in detention centers can can apply for refugee status as many times as they desire. Deportations in fact cannot be carried out during the refugee application or appeal process, so in effect one can postpone being deported back to the home country indefinitely. In fact, Japan was trying to reform this law so that refugees whose applications to stay in the country are rejected are forcibly deported (due to this poor woman's death, this reform attempt was pulled).

It is similar to another detainee a few years back who used similar tactics to stay for a long time under detention before also dying. The fact of the matter is, these refugees have a CHOICE to be deported back to their own country, it's not like Japanese authorities are keeping them hostage against their will.

Now, this poor woman being denied proper medical care is inexcusable. However, people need to understand the intricacies of the entire refugee/immigration law and procedures in Japan before making inflammatory or blanket statements.

7 ( +21 / -14 )

I said it once, I will say it again. Instead of locking them up..put them on a plane and DEPORT them. Why are they being imprisoned and sentenced to death?

Some countries will reject and denounce their citizen once their citizen asking for asylum elsewhere. So you can not deport someone who doesn't have a proper nationality anymore.

activists blamed on a failure to provide appropriate medical attention

Why she is being ignored and left to die alone in her cell in pain?

12 ( +19 / -7 )

give work permits to people.

they just want a peaceful live.

overstay is a minor fault.

-3 ( +25 / -28 )

Oh? Now, ‘they’ are the victim in all of this?

11 ( +17 / -6 )

Summary deportation for visa violators will solve the problem once and for all. Letting those human rights NGO’s intervene the process was the cause of the Sri Lankan woman’s death.

-4 ( +11 / -15 )

So, ‘now’ outside authorities are allowed to come in and ‘investigate’ some ‘circumstances’?

9 ( +13 / -4 )

There are absolutely no specific details given about any alleged “threat” in this ‘story’:

*- “Police received a complaint from the Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau in Aichi Prefecture and threatened to harm the facility's head, they said.” -*

The pattern of continued untruths from that facility and it’s directors would tend to indicate this is another possible ‘exaggeration’ of the ‘actual’ circumstances.

12 ( +17 / -5 )

Nothing from this facility and ‘requested’ but cowering, outside authorities can reasonably be believed as actual ‘truth’.

- “Her bereaved family have been demanding the Justice Ministry get to the bottom of her death... But the ministry, has turned down the request. -

8 ( +13 / -5 )

...‘covering’, (as well)

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Japan’s “Justice(?)” Ministry is using the same ‘excuse’ of why the “victim” was not given outside medical treatment...

- “demanding the Justice Ministry get to the bottom of her death and release video footage showing Wishma as her condition deteriorated. But the ministry, which has yet to determine the cause of her death, has turned down the request,...

... citing “security reasons”.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

Her death was avoidable.

Don't leave people in limbo!!!

18 ( +21 / -3 )

So why not release the full text of the letter? Hmmm. Perhaps because it is imaginary to drum up sympathy for the death camp.

17 ( +19 / -2 )

We were told a ‘story’ @MichaelMachida 8:16am: [ WELCOME TO JAPAN ]

- “How? Why did she die?

”... yet to determine the cause of her death,...”

*-** We all need to ask these questions to them.” -*

“Them” who? The Ministry of “Justice”(?).

- “Her bereaved family and opposition parties have been demanding the Justice Ministry get to the bottom of her death... But the ministry, ...has turned down the request, -

They’re not listening to ‘anyone’:

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Her family should sue J-govt to watch full video footage and all the documents, and J-govt should face it.

However, as for the psychiatrist's medical certificate on Mar 4, did anyone read full text ? It looks no way assertive for releasing her provisionally. It looks more inclined to the possibility of her feigned illness. He/she even implied meeting with NGO where she was told " provisional release will be granted for sick person" matched in timing with her psychosomatic disorder coming out.

https://tweetsoku.com/2021/05/24/%e3%80%90%e7%94%bb%e5%83%8f%e3%81%82%e3%82%8a%e3%80%91%e3%80%80%e5%85%a5%e7%ae%a1%e3%81%a7%e6%ad%bb%e4%ba%a1%e3%81%97%e3%81%9f%e3%82%b9%e3%83%aa%e3%83%a9%e3%83%b3%e3%82%ab%e4%ba%ba%e3%83%bb%e3%82%a6/

0 ( +7 / -7 )

No, I am NOT shocked by the fact that somebody sent a letter to the Nagoya Immigration facility threatening to "harm" its director. I hope people won't start calling this incident "terrorism."

What I would like is that the government investigates this person, and if he/she is responsible for the horrible way the young woman was treated, he/she should be punished under the law. Criminal negligence leading to death, I would suppose.

How can Japan be a democracy if its bureaucrats act like a state within a state, with total impunity?

8 ( +13 / -5 )

"they just want a peaceful live."

Yeah right, that is why they just threaten to kill Japanese people in Japan.

-13 ( +7 / -20 )

"I said it once, I will say it again. Instead of locking them up..put them on a plane and DEPORT them. Why are they being imprisoned and sentenced to death?"

First, they can fight the deportion order in court by claiming refugee status.

Second, what do you do if the country does not take back its citizen?

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

the mental acrobatics to dilute responsibilities is ridiculous,

Japanese try to put the blame on the victim, the ONG, even the lawyer...

8 ( +13 / -5 )

Breaking the law by sending threatening letters is a great way to show your support for another law breaker.

Let's hope they quickly find those responsible and deport them.

-10 ( +6 / -16 )

It’s interesting that no specific details of the letter are stated - including for instance the language it was written in.

It’s highly possible that the letter came from a Japanese person sympathetic to the lady’s treatment and death. I seem to recall she was being helped / supported by a Japanese person.

I know the article doesn’t claim it either way, but just to remove all ambiguity it would help to state the language of the letter, and where it was mailed from.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

great way to show your support for another law breaker.

j-immigration is systematically breaking international laws of refugees and human rights.

they kill detainees every year.

the only way out is to legalize the j-immigration laws to international standards.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

It’s interesting that no specific details of the letter are stated - including for instance the language it was written in.

It’s highly possible that the letter came from a Japanese person sympathetic to the lady’s treatment and death. I seem to recall she was being helped / supported by a Japanese person.

I know the article doesn’t claim it either way, but just to remove all ambiguity it would help to state the language of the letter, and where it was mailed from.

Yes. Media including TBS or Kyodo always report with their own flavor even if it is really not real picture of

the incident/tragedy. Shame on them

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Understood, @MichaelMachida 9:38am your questions are warranted. (Being understood here is sometimes difficult for ESL and students) @Antiquesavings recommends “*Use the [ ] quotation option on the upper left corner,” *like this:

*- or, put quotation marks around someone else’s comments and use the [ I ] on the upper left, *

like this: - “Please do not post in bold face alone. It's hard to read.” and “only use italics when you are quoting the story or another comment.

@MichaelMachida, we are looking forward to more of your questions, regarding this ‘unnecessary and inexcusable death’ of ‘another foreign national’ in Japan.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Thanks @oldman_13 7am for the info & insight. Your comments appear to be both sound in reasoning and compassionate toward the decedent.

- “this poor woman being denied proper medical care is inexcusable.” -

However, there are many questions about the sequence of events and the overall context of ‘this’ situation:

- “@Scarce 6:45am Q: “Instead of locking them up..put them on a plane and DEPORT them. Why imprisoned and sentenced to death?” - @oldman_13 7:04am A: “People need to read up on J laws before making judgement calls,... to understand the intricacies of the entire refugee/immigration law & procedures in Japan before making inflammatory or blanket statements.

- Under the current Immigration Control & Refugee Recognition Law, those in detention can apply for ‘refugee status’ as many times as they desire. Deportations, in fact, can’t be carried out during the application or appeal process. So, in effect, one can postpone being deported back to the home indefinitely.

*- *In fact, Japan was trying to reform this law so that refugees whose applications are rejected are ‘forcibly deported’[?] (due to this poor woman's death [health?], this reform attempt was pulled).” -

So, both, the ‘National’ govt agency and ‘*law-makers**were aware of her deteriorating health condition before *her death?

*- “It is similar to another detainee a few years back who used similar tactics to stay for a long time under detention before also dying. *

So, why not be somewhat flexible and compassionate to avoid another potential death? It’s not like she was a major ‘domestic flight-risk’ in her poor condition. (They knew the ‘who, what, when, and where’ of the kindly Japanese woman offering to sponsor and care for her while she recovered, awaiting appeals.)

The fact is, refugees have a CHOICE to be deported back to their own country, it's not like J authorities are keeping them hostage against their will.

In opposition, why are the Japanese agencies ‘so rigid’ and inflexible when they had many opportunities to avoid another death?

0 ( +5 / -5 )

But the ministry, which has yet to determine the cause of her death, has turned down the request, citing security reasons.

Security reason.. bureaucratic equivalent to "I was drunk I don't remember anything" which literally means

we are hiding something and this video will clearly reveal our inaction to this poor girls plea for medical help.

She lost 20kg in 8 months and it wasn't still obvious to the devils working there.

The story was fully reported by JNN (Mainichi TV) Hodo Tokushu last saturday and even her corpse was shown though partially if some of you had watched that program you won't be making the heartless comments you are making here except you are really heartless. Hodo Tokushu every saturday at 17:30 is the only truly

investigative journalism program in this country, they don't hold back any punches and call a spade a spade even if it places the country internationally in bad light. We have a saying don't wish unto others what you don't

want wished unto you. Yea, overstaying a visa is such a serious crime it merits death or immediate deportation.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

You’re right @kyushubill 8:38am.

“So, why not release the full text of the letter?

Agreed. They did it last week with the “Ibaraki Prefecture Itako Health ‘offenses’ aimed at foreigners and subsequent retraction. That was ‘transparent’.

“Perhaps because it is ‘imaginary’[fictitious(?)] and to ‘drum up sympathy’ for the ‘death camp’?” -

Aren’t we ALL tired of the J Govt recently, and routinely now, making ‘themselves’ victims, every time they screw up and then, playing the “Poor Us’ card, WE are the ‘real’ victims here.”

They’re like narcissistic children, always pointing fingers at others for problems they caused themselves.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

This might be a sympathy tactic ..

9 ( +9 / -0 )

But the ministry, which has yet to determine the cause of her death, has turned down the request, citing security reasons.

Autopsy still pending? I sense a cover up that has nothing to do with national security.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Both @MrKipling 9:46am and @HBJ 9:54am have a dilemma...

- “...sending a threatening letter. Let's hope they find those responsible and deport them.“

- “...no specific details - including the language it was written in.” - “it’s possible [it] came from a Japanese person sympathetic to the lady’s treatment & death.” -

... for @Eisenach 9:27am: “Hunt them down and punish them.

Would your recommended actions @Eisenach 9:27am apply to Japanese Nationals, as well.

For that matter, “Hunt them down and punish them.”, are you inferring or acknowledging there may be some ‘abuses’ of detainees going on in Japanese Immigration Services Bureau Detentions Centers?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

which protested the 33-year-old woman's death and threatened to harm the facility's head, they said.

Another delusional keyboard warrior , probably harmless.

Overstating is a crime but doesn't deserve the kind of neglect we see happening here.

I feel sorry for the lady, she wanted to escape violence and ended up dead.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Understood @Donald Seekins 9:21am

How can Japan be a “democracy” if its bureaucrats act like ‘a state within a state’, with total impunity?“ -

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Good points @kennyG 10:07am

- “Media including TBS, always report with their own flavor, even if it is not really the real picture of the incident/tragedy. Shame on them” -

And, @drlucifer 10:27am

- “The story was fully reported by JNN (Mainichi TV) Hodo Tokushu last Sat, (even her corpse was shown, though partially). IF some of you had watched that program you woouldn’t be making the heartless comments you are making here except you are really heartless.

Hodo Tokushu every saturday at 17:30 is the only truly investigative journalism program in Japan. They don't ‘pull punches’ and call ‘a spade a spade’, even if it places the country, internationally, ‘in bad light’.

This reads like JNN is doing a ‘professional’ job. Remember when ‘impartial, civic duty and ethics’ were part of the journalism curriculum before the “social-media influenced, pop-style” presentations took over?

Point taken @drlucifer; We ALL need to stay on top of ALL media, their possible hidden agendas & unexpressed intentions, other than “just, fair and accurate reporting”.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Threatening violence is NOT cool, we have courts and legal system, the problem is someone is hiding the truth and it will take time to get to the bottom of it, the key is NOT TO GIVE UP till justice is served to the victim and the system.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Why isn’t the death of an inmate a police investigation? If she was faking, sure took it to far. If not things are well bent out of shape at the facility.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

JNN(報道特集)/TBS is never impartial. It is a big mass of media manipulation. You can read actual psychiatrist's note on Mar 4 ( I added the link) and compared to how the program reported the contents of the note you have just watched.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

As said before, I was deported. Paid for my ticket, lost everything, but came back. Live here now. Legally with a proper visa. These people are like leeches.

Just leave, apply for a visa. If japan says no, try another country.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@snowymountainhell Today 10:15 am JST

Once you start being "flexible and compassionate", you'll be met with a wave of rulebreakers. Just think of the Mexican border, and Mexico isn't even that bad a country to live in. The point is that Wishma had every chance to save her life. She insisted (with encouragement from "rights groups") to play chicken with the authorities using her own life.

And before you completely blame the Japanese authorities, the psychiatrist's report made clear that she had undergone blood tests, digestory system checks and CT scans, none of which show any abnormalities.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Kazuaki Shimazaki Today 01:33 pm JST

OK, got it!

She killed herself voluntarily, she is the only one to blame.

No immigration agent or doctor have anything to do with her death.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

@Scarece ok just sit home and comment on youtube. as if your comments have any power on here. Japan will do what Japan wants without your opinion.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Threatening public servants in your host country for following the rules (unlike the deceased), what a shame. Yet, most people here will defend those 'peaceful poor immigrants from the third world'.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

The authorities don't give any details about the nature of the threats, which is fishy. Immigration authorities (probably not just in Japan) have no tolerance for scrutiny. This woman is one of a number of deaths in Japan's immigration detention centres with those responsible getting away scot free.

It seems like a strange double-standard to think that overstaying your visa warrants detention, deportation and, in a worst case scenario, death, while being responsible for that death can be waved away by saying they were just "doing their job". As if existing without proper documents was a threat to society while killing and hurting others for being undocumented wasn't.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

And before you completely blame the Japanese authorities, the psychiatrist's report made clear that she had undergone blood tests, digestory system checks and CT scans, none of which show any abnormalities.

yeah we should believe a psychiatrist under the payroll of the gov't.

We should a report made by someone who doesn't see a problem or fear for

the life of a girl losing 20kg.

After all it is normal here for those in power to appoint their own

independent-in-name only panel to investigate them.

How naive can people be.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

We’re reminded *daily *@Kazuaki Shimazaki 1:33pm that “Japan is a entirely ‘unique’ in culture, demographics and policies”.

“ Just think of the Mexican border, and Mexico isn't even that bad a country to live in.” -

Not saying her actions prior to detention were correct but, if you insist on making ‘country’ comparisons, for this case, it should be contrasting the conditions in Sri Lanka and Japan.

“The point is that Wishma had every chance to save her life. She insisted (with encouragement from "rights groups") to play chicken with the authorities using her own life.” -

Seems like you’re researching some of the circumstances of this case.

“the psychiatrist's report made clear that she had undergone blood tests, digestory system checks and CT scans, none of which show any abnormalities.” -

Then please, show us your findings about the decedent’s possible life “choices” ‘before and after’ she came to Japan and definitely, before her health started to decline.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Don’t know Your origins @El Rata 2:33pm but J nationals need to ‘keep in mind’, the people You’ve referred to as:

peaceful poor immigrants from the third world” -

... are destined to be ‘your future caregivers, food suppliers, etc that your elder population will depend upon.

We don;’t think Japan’s AI and robots will be able to do it.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@snowymountainhell Today 03:44 pm JST

Not saying her actions prior to detention were correct but, if you insist on making ‘country’ comparisons, for this case, it should be contrasting the conditions in Sri Lanka and Japan.

If her family can gather money to send her to Japan, at least they aren't destitute, don't you think?

Then please, show us your findings about the decedent’s possible life “choices” ‘before and after’ she came to Japan and definitely, before her health started to decline.

She might have started off by actually going to school as she said she will be here for, for as long as her family is willing to pay. When she is either unwilling or unable to continue school, she should realize that she no longer meets the terms of her visa and should choose to go home rather than going to live with some alien Sri Lankan male and doing menial labor. When that didn't work out and she had to go to get protected, she should have realized the game is up. The short version is that she would have lived if she lived her life in accordance with the law, rather than listening to rights groups telling her the Japanese government will let her get away with cheating if she got ill.

@drluciferToday 03:44 pm JST

the life of a girl losing 20kg.

Well, obviously, she lost 20 kilograms. The question is why. Wisma would not be the first or last person to lose weight in prison, and it is hardly unknown for people to intentionally starve themselves (called Hunger Strikes) to try and win unwarranted concessions from the prison.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

yeah we should believe a psychiatrist under the payroll of the gov't.

Isn’t he a professional psychiatrist outside the detention center? What do you mean he is under the gov't payroll? Do you simply mean the client is the govt?

We should a report made by someone who doesn't see a problem or fear for

the life of a girl losing 20kg.

If you reject eating, it would not take 8 months to lose 20kg, especially for the pyknic to revert to the balanced weight. Sorry to be direct but you can do it without deteriorating your health like she did. I know it was how JNN described it AFTER things happened.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It seems like a strange double-standard to think that overstaying your visa warrants detention, deportation and, in a worst case scenario, death, while being responsible for that death can be waved away by saying they were just "doing their job". As if existing without proper documents was a threat to society while killing and hurting others for being undocumented wasn't.

Sounds a bit too much. Overstaying itself is really in warranting detention here in Japan? She was willing to coming back home when she run into the police station. If it is non-intentional or inevitable overstaying( like you stupidly forgot or was sick in bed) , no one spent 8 months in detention center, I believe. That is proven under information disclosure system on the provisional release ratio which is 80% of total illegal stayers who actually refused deportation order.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

no one spent 8 months in detention center, I believe.

The max detention period allowed legally for overstayers in Japan is 1 month.

But somehow the immigration agents renew the detention every making any change to the documents, so they can extend another month.

As a result the average detention period is 6 months.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I believe there are serious problems in Japan's immigration law and the treatment. Yes it is more than just a shame that Japan had started " the 300000 foreign students campaign" before fixing those. But the facts are facts and I hate the most of those hypocritic law makers from opposition parties who have done nothing but always keep hopping on all the trendy issues without any following-ups afterwards.

RIP Wishma

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

If it is non-intentional or inevitable overstaying( like you stupidly forgot or was sick in bed) , no one spent 8 months in detention center, I believe.

As far as I know there are people who've spent up to 4 years in detention because of their expired visas. Some of them got detained after turning themselves in.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I have nothing much to add most here have said it all.

I do have one rule I and my mixed children decided on years back after certain things.

Stay away from Nagoya.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

As far as I know there are people who've spent up to 4 years in detention because of their expired visas. Some of them got detained after turning themselves in.

It is technically possible for the reason that some posters already mentioned. The oppositions crashed the reform of such problematic law without absolutely no counter-proposals. Yes. LDP had no balls to break it through either.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The oppositions crashed the reform of such problematic law without absolutely no counter-proposals

I've heard very good proposals from the opposition party.

I've even heard from immigration lawyers that getting and applying the UK immigration laws wont take much time or effort.

The reform you were trying to impose was soo in-human and problematic that even the UN had to pronounce against it.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

What are those? When exactly the CDPJ would propose it? During current term of diet?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

UN is against it simply because it wants Japan to accept more and more refugees without considering any other conditions like culture, language, geographical conditions. See? There are things that results better in the end by financially assisting them or their home countries rather than just accepting strangers for both of host countries and refugees themselves.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

That's your personal opinion.

The official one is:

The reform you were trying to impose was soo in-human and problematic that even the UN had to pronounce against it.

*BTW, there's lots of literate people giving up ideas and proposals for a better immigration system. You just don't wanna listen.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

So I am asking you what those better idea are, being proposed by the opposition.

And how exactly the bill was in-humane?

FYI, UN was not against all aspects of the reform which has just been withdrawn. They worried 2 times cap on application trial is problematic because it could lessens the chance and the number of refugee Japan would accept. If you get turned down twice, what makes you think it could have chance in 3rd time? no to mention ridiculous current endless procedure suspending deportation. Don't forget those on endless trial and error process include not a few serious criminals. On the other hand, UN was positive about it due to the fact it would have increased the protection of the refugees or quasi-refugees. See? UN was not so much interested in illegal stayers within such countries, who are not, in definition, refugees. How to deal with those are purely domestic issue under sovereignty. What UN should consider is to create Int'l framework to compulsory accept illegal stayers all over the world (illegal stayers not refugee) , deported, by home countries

Who are you talking about literate people anyway, those are all personal opinion after all. aren't they.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I wasn't aware that people stay in this limbo because of their own choice (choose to appeal for refugee status). If that is true, it makes these kinds of cases much less cut and dry.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

These detainees are people like you and me trying to get a visa.

Sadly, the immigration law gives all decision power to the immigration agent.

There's no rules or principles, all their future is up to the immigration agent that gets your submission.

There's no explanations or transparency, is just a lottery you must play until you get the prize.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I wasn't aware that people stay in this limbo because of their own choice (choose to appeal for refugee status). If that is true, it makes these kinds of cases much less cut and dry.

It is very true that in many of these types of cases, the extended stays of detention are due solely to the actions and behavior of the detainees themselves. According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, as of January of this year there were around 82,000 overstayers in the country. Of these overstayers, about 10,000 accept deportation orders and repatriate back to the home country, while 3,000 remain in detention limbo because they repeatedly file for refugee status or appeal deportation orders. As mentioned in my earlier post, doing so automatically stops the deportation process, and there is currently no limit to the numbers of times detainees can do either. You can't just put a detainee on an airplane immediately and deport them back as one poster suggested, there's a process to follow.

As a matter of fact, Japanese officials were working on reforming this so that the number of times a detainee could file for refugee status would be capped at two before they are deported (this was pulled in the aftermath of this woman's death).

This information is easily found online. At least you are open to this information. Some individuals on the other hand ignore all facts and instead continue on with false statements and inflammatory comments simply to suit their biased agendas.

There was hardly anything wrong with what Japanese authorities did in the first place in terms of placing this Sri Lankan woman in custody as she was clearly in violation of Japanese immigration laws. Why should Japan be unfairly maligned for enforcing its immigration policies; it has a right just like any other nation has a right to do so. From what I read, after she stopped attending school in Japan, she basically disappeared and ended up in a relationship with a Sri Lankan male. Later she claimed that she was abused by the male and when reporting to police that is when her illegal immigration status was discovered. From what I understand, she was originally to comply with the deportation orders, but then comes up with a story that her Sri Lankan ex threatened her by accusing her of snitching on him. Thus, her claim is that she was afraid for her life if she is sent back to Sri Lanka. While I sympathize with her situation if true, her status does not merit refugee status as defined by the United Nations 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. That's not 'xenophobism,' that's fact.

If there's one legitimate thing to criticize about this whole affair, as I touched upon before authorities should have given her provisional release long before she became seriously ill to the point of no return. The immigration authorities claim that she people like her are malingerers and feign illness. Clearly there was something wrong with her that needed medical assistance.

And downvoting is not a proper response.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Clearly there was something wrong with her that needed medical assistance.

you're right. she's dead. is prove enough that she was really sick.

the immigration agent ignored the doctor's notes to give her IV and release her.

her status does not merit refugee status as defined[...]

it can be true that she was not meritory of an immigrant status, but the immigration act in Japan is more than 200 years old, it doesn't contemplate her situation, so she had to file for the closest thing that exists.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Justice for foreigners is not the norm in Japan-why not?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

the number of times a detainee could file for refugee status would be capped at two before they are deported

Defenders of this piece of legislation always conveniently forget the part where those who refuse to be deported (even if they, say, face the threat of death or their old country has revoked their citizenship) can be imprisoned.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Defenders of this piece of legislation always conveniently forget the part where those who refuse to be deported (even if they, say, face the threat of death or their old country has revoked their citizenship) can be imprisoned.

Do you read Japanese?

http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/laws/bill/05_00007.html#midashi05

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Defenders of this piece of legislation always conveniently forget the part where those who refuse to be deported (even if they, say, face the threat of death or their old country has revoked their citizenship) can be imprisoned.

Do you read Japanese?

http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/laws/bill/05_00007.html#midashi05

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Defenders of this piece of legislation always conveniently forget the part where those who refuse to be deported [...] can be imprisoned.

you're absolutely right.

the immigration agent will judge & convict the detainee to make him a criminal, so they can farther abuse him.

to say NO 3 times makes you a criminal.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Asylum and refugee status should only be granted to those in refugee camps not for people who came on student/working visa and claiming refugee status once their visa ran out. They are jumping the queue and it is not fair on those that go through the proper process.

The death of this lady and others while in detention must be investigated and dealt with according to the law. It would appear that the current legislation, which allows for multiple appeals is opened for abuse where people will keep appealing (with no chance of succeeding), leading to long term detention and tragic event such as this case.

Moving to or being allowed to live in another country is a privilege and not a right, be prepared for rejection !!!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@kennyG

We're arguing slightly different points. The official claim to limit long-term detention comes at the same time as the proposal to introduce 送還忌避罪, explained, for example, here:

https://www.gifuben.org/info/statement/p2277/

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Yotomaya

Unfortunately I am positive for introducing new punishment(s) to those who do not follow the law of/the order made by Japan, and at the same time, solving the current issues like long-term detention, high escape rate during provisional release, recidivism, etc . The reform was also meant to introduce new treatments, backup plans, improvements in current procedure as you can see in the link to MoJ/ISA, all of those new measure are there for the multiple purposes including making it unnecessary to place those who still refuses with good reasons into prison/long term detention.

Unconditonally capping maximum detention period as suggested by these lawyers is ridiculous, I must say.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Unfortunately I am positive for introducing new punishment(s)

International community is angry at Japan because the systemic breach of human rights and high rate of fatalities in detainees.

Don't get surprised if the UN put economic sanctions on you and restricts visa issuing.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

oldman_13May 25 07:04 am JST

.....these refugees have a CHOICE to be deported back to their own country, it's not like Japanese authorities are keeping them hostage against their will.

Now, this poor woman being denied proper medical care is inexcusable...

A good summary of the situation. I got the impression that some people writing comments do mix up deportation with extradition.

This woman was facing deportation - for good reason - and she could leave Japan anytime, she was never a hostage.

However she refused to be deported and tried to extend her detention by claiming asylum with not very convincing arguments.

The only wrongdoing I see with this immigration office is that no medical doctor was called in regularly to check on her condition, this should not happen. Totally irresponsible. Even if you suspect her to fake an illness, immigration office should always insist to confirm that suspicion by requesting a medical attest from a hospital.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The only wrongdoing I see with this immigration office is that no medical doctor was called in regularly to check on her condition, this should not happen. Totally irresponsible. Even if you suspect her to fake an illness, immigration office should always insist to confirm that suspicion by requesting a medical attest from a hospital.

Yes you may be right even if it is not rare that some detainees intentionally deteriorate their own health through hunger strike, even if some human rights group possibly instigates them with cunning, even if professional doctors at outside hospitals hint the possibility of fake illness, ... and .. even if every detention center has a medical room with stationed doctor(s) and stationed nurse(s)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Follow the rule and the law as human being before arguing on human rights. Do something about what 's on in China or North Korea if you have time and resource rather than picking the subjects easy to attack

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Not just JNN/TBS about psychiatrist' medical note, Mainichi's media manipulation or erroneous reporting has also been exposed already

Mainichi reported that the doctor at outside hospital instructed in his/her medical record ”If the patient cannot take medicine orally, drip infusion, hospital admission ". Mainichi pointed out and criticized that MoJ/IsA hid this instruction, not being written in MoJ/IsA's interim report.

However, what actually happened was that the doctor's record was once prepared as such before gastro camera exam. The doctor 's final medical record based on the exam result was actually " Keep dosing ", which means the detention center simply followed the doctor's instruction.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites