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JAPAN: LEAVE OR FACE DEPORTATION!

I arrived at Narita International Airport at 6.45 this morning from Kuala Lumpur but was barred from entry by the Japanese immigration authorities and was told to board the first flight back home or face deportation.

When I asked why I was not allowed to enter, they told me that it was because of my previous conviction in 1999. I told them this could not be a valid reason on account of the fact that prior to this I had already entered Tokyo without hindrance on three previous occasions in 2006, 2009, and 2012.

I told the immigration authorities there must be some mix-up in this matter and protested that it was not proper for them to bar me from entering the country without a bona fide and valid reason. As I persisted in asking for an explanation, they finally told me that they had to take this action “because of a latest report” possibly in 2013.

I then had no choice but to take the next flight home at 10.45 am.
I had gone to Tokyo on a personal invitation by Mr Sasakawa, Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, to present a paper on Muslim Democrats. As a routine pre-travel procedure, my office had made inquiries with the Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur last week and was informed that there would be no issues outstanding which would be an impediment to my entering the country.

I protest in the strongest terms this unwarranted action of the Japanese government in refusing me entry and denying my legitimate rights to travel freely without let or hindrance. It is indeed inconceivable for one of the world’s leading democracies to take this unprecedented action under such tenuous grounds and leaves me with the impression that hidden hands may be at work here.

In this regard, I demand an explanation from the Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, in particular, as to what role Wisma Putra has played in this scandalous episode in respect of the so-called “latest report” that has purportedly led to my being forcibly evicted from Japan.

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Anwar, who had arrived at the Narita International Airport early Sunday, was prevented from entering the country and was immediately told to leave on the first flight out of Tokyo.

Anwar said he had flown to Japan after receiving a personal invite from the chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Tan Sri Yohei Sasakawa to present a paper on Muslim democrats.

He claimed that “hidden hands” could have played a part in this and had demanded an explanation from Wisma Putra.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/anwar-did-not-ask-for-special-permission-this-time-says-japanese-embassy

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Malaysiakini

5:33PM Jan 21, 2014

Boycott Japanese products, says PKR

PKR Youth today led a small group of protesters outside the Japanese embassy in Kuala Lumpur calling for a boycott of products from the land of the rising sun.

Vexed that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim was barred from entering Japan on Jan 19, the protesters also stomped on posters featuring the Japanese flag.

PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, who submitted a memorandum to the embassy, said the party is seeking an explanation and apology for Anwar’s forced deportation from Narita Airport in Tokyo.

“This is shocking as Anwar has never had any problems (entering Japan) before this…

“We believe that Japan’s actions are excessive and goes against Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” added the Bukit Katil MP.
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The group also burned posters in front of the embassy at Jalan Stonor.

However, PKR Youth denied that those who burned and stomped on the posters with the Japanese flags are its members.

http://beta.malaysiakini.com/news/252387

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Malaysiakini

12:00PM Jan 21, 2014

Pakatan sends protest note to Japanese Embassy

Pakatan Rakyat yesterday submitted a protest letter to the Japanese Embassy over the deportation of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim from that country.

In the letter addressed to Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Shigeru Nakamura, it demanded an explanation on the move.

“Pakatan Rakyat strongly protests the deportation of the leader of the opposition, who is also a senior member of the Malaysian Parliament, which is very surprising considering the fact that Anwar’s office recorded no issues outstanding that may bar his entry into Japan when it made inquiries last week with the Embassy of Japan in Kuala Lumpur.

“As such, we demand a clarification and an immediate apology for this truly regretful treatment of the opposition leader,” the letter states.

It was jointly signed by the parliamentary whips of all three component parties in Pakatan – Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak), Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban) and PAS deputy whip Abdul Khalid Samad (Shah Alam).

http://beta.malaysiakini.com/news/252334

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Malaysian Insider

Anwar did not ask for special permission this time, says Japanese embassy

January 21, 2014

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) had not requested for special permission to enter Japan as he had done previously, the Japanese embassy said today.

Anwar had obtained special permission to enter the country in 2011 and 2012 after he was convicted of sodomy in 1999.

The Star reported Japan embassy spokesperson Tomoko Nagai as saying that the country would deny entry to anyone who have had a prior conviction in Japan or any other country, and have had been jailed for a year or more.

“This time, however, he did not request for the special permission. And as such was not allowed to enter the country,” Nagai said.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/anwar-did-not-ask-for-special-permission-this-time-says-japanese-embassy

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