GREENPEACE VOLUNTEERS' DETENTION CONTINUES IN TOKYO FOR THE THIRD DAY

20 March 1999

Tokyo/Amsterdam -- The detention of Greenpeace volunteers in Tokyo continues for the third day. Greenpeace considers the detention unjust and unreasonable. Volunteers were arrested for staging a public demonstration at the Tokyo Toy Fair on Thursday, March 18th. “If awareness raising work of environmental organisations continues to be met with such a strong reaction from police and legal authorities in Japan, there is a real danger that it might prevent the public from demanding proper environmental protection,” said Greenpeace Japan’s Executive Director Sanae Shida. “Those who initiated and agreed to the detention of the Greenpeace volunteers need to be held accountable for such a potential development.”

The Tokyo District Prosecutor’s Office charged today the volunteers with trespassing and intervention in business. The volunteers could face three years in jail. According to Greenpeace both charges are unreasonable since the demonstration took place on a public place and the Japan Toy Association who hosted the fair, has not made any claims for damages.

“The climbers’ activities were not illegal and they should be released immediately,” said Greenpeace Japan spokesperson Ayako Sekine. “The Greenpeace volunteers were drawing attention to the potential health problems inflicted on Japanese children through soft PVC toys. This is a concern for everybody.” Greenpeace calls for immediate release of its three volunteers. “The last time I can recall our volunteers being detained for such a long time before trial was in 1983 in the former Soviet Union at the height of the cold war,” said Greenpeace International campaign director Kelly Rigg in Amsterdam. “The Tokyo demonstration was peaceful action aimed at protecting Japanese children from the health hazards of soft PVC toys. Therefore we consider police reaction in Tokyo unjust and unreasonable.”

Greenpeace protest on the opening day of the Tokyo Toy Fair was aimed against the manufacture of soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toys which contain toxic additives from 10 to 40 per cent of their weight. These additives, known as phthalates, are used to soften PVC and have been linked to cancers and liver and kidney damage in laboratory animals.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
- Sanae Shida, Executive director of Greenpeace Japan, mobile: +81.90.2252 95 28
- Ayako Sekine, Campaigner +81.3.5351 5413, mobile: + 81.90.2254 0114
- Kelly Rigg, Greenpeace International mobile: +31.6.5366 2953
- Mika Railo Greenpeace International Press Desk, mobile: +31.6.535 04 722