GREENPEACE STAGES WORLDWIDE PROTESTS OVER PRISON DETENTION OF ACTIVISTS IN JAPAN

GREENPEACE STAGES WORLDWIDE PROTESTS OVER PRISON DETENTION OF ACTIVISTS IN JAPAN

24 March 1999

Amsterdam, Netherlands -- Greenpeace staged protests today in 21 countries demanding the release of three activists jailed in Japan for 6 days without bail, after protesting at the Tokyo Toy Fair against the use of toxic chemicals in children's toys.

Greenpeace today held protests at Japanese embassies in Europe, Asia, North and South America where activists dressed in prison clothes with their mouths taped shut. Greenpeace is calling on the Japanese government to allow freedom of expression as is required under international human rights law.

"It is unjust to detain the activists who staged a peaceful protest at a public building to save the children from potentially dangerous PVC toys," said Greenpeace International executive director, Thilo Bode, at a demonstration at the Japanese embassy in The Hague. "By raiding the office of Greenpeace Japan the Japanese police want to silence the critical voices in Japan."

About 20 plain clothes policemen raided Greenpeace's Tokyo office on Monday morning and later the same day the home of Greenpeace Japan's executive director Sanae Shida.

The Japanese detention procedures were criticised on Tuesday by Amnesty International in a public statement, saying, "The prolonged detention in police cells of three Greenpeace activists highlights the way Japan's detention procedures can be misused to silence rights activists by locking them up." Japanese detention procedures were also criticised in November 1998 by the UN Human Rights Committee.

The activists Mark Watson (NZ), Richard Pearson (UK/Aus) and Kirsty Hamilton (Aus), who abseiled down the side of a building to unfurl a banner saying "Play Safe, Buy PVC Free", on March 18th, were arrested but have yet to be formally charged. The Japanese authorities have indicated they will be charged with trespass and interfering with business. The Toy Fair action was part of Greenpeace's international campaign to remove toxic polyvinyl (PVC) plastic toys from sale around the world.

"Children face unnecessary risks from toxic PVC toys at the most sensitive stage of their development," said Greenpeace international toxics campaign coordinator Juan Lopez de Uralde. "Many toy makers have agreed to get rid of PVC toys, but others still drag their feet. We urge the Japanese lawmakers and enforcers to concentrate on this serious health and environmental injustice and let Greenpeace activists go free."

Soft PVC is used for example in teethers, rattles and squeeze toys. It can contain 10 to 40 per cent by weight of toxic additives, known as phthalates. These additives have been linked to cancers, liver and kidney damage in laboratory animals. The Japanese government has not banned PVC toys or required retailers to remove them from shop shelves, while several countries in Europe and North America have already done so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
- Thilo Bode, Executive Director, Greenpeace International, +31 6 532 38 474
- Juan Lopez de Uralde, International Toxics Campaign Coordinator, +34 91 444 1435
- Mika Railo, Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 20 5249 548, (m) +31 6 53504722

1. Greenpeace demonstrated today in Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Italy, Netherlands, UK, Belgium, France, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Lebanon, Israel, United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and China.

2. List of actions taken by governments to ban PVC is available from national Greenpeace offices or at the Greenpeace International PVC Toys website.