Shiga Branch

The discriminatory graffiti "Eta-bus" were written on a shuttle bus of the bus company in Shiga prefecture in July 2007. A companion of the Biwako Nanbu area Council of Buraku Liberation League, the related administration, and the organizations have held fact-finding and the coordinatory meeting with parties concerned aiming at the solution of this discriminatory graffiti case. As a result, though could not specify perpetrator, the tasks for the solution was confirmed to some degree, "Study meeting to think about the discriminatory graffiti" was held in Koka City on January 28. 1125 people participated. It was confirmed to learn the realities of discrimination from "Discriminatory graffiti", and to learn what we had to do, what we were able to do as an enterprise, as the administration, and as one resident to be going to tie to practice from tomorrow for the achievement of society where human rights are established.

The approach summarized, study meeting held.

"Study meeting to think about the discriminatory graffiti" was devided into two meetings, the one was intended for enterprises, the other for residents.

Meeting for enterprises was held at "Heki-Sui Hall" of Kouka city, in which 407 persons in charge of human rights activities within corporations participated.

Meeting for residents was held at "Ai Kouka Citizen's Hall" at 7:00 pm, 718 people attended.

Sponsoring Organization was the Executive Committee of Meeting, which was organized by 20 groups including Bus Company and Kouka city, and the Chairperson was Mr. Masao Yasuda, vice-Mayor of Kouka city and the Head of Dowa Policy task force of that city.

At that meeting, Chair Yasuda appealed "We could not specify perpetrator. However, such discriminatory graffiti are a malignant discrimination that trampled down the effort that a lot of people had worked on Dowa issue over many years, and extremely mean discrimination slandering people who suffered from discrimination".

After that, Kouka city and Bus company reported thier opinions. Mr. Masayuki Sakamoto, Vise-president of the Biwako Nanbu area Council of BLL, who was victim of this discriminatory graffiti, explaind the denunciation outline of this discrimination graffiti case, together with his own experience to be discriminated.

Mr. Sakamoto said, "I was discriminated in relation to the marriage by colleague immediately after finding employment in the bus company. though it could not help retiring for that, I was able to be reinstated by the mediation of the company afterwards. This time, I encountered discrimination immediately before the retirement, through this discriminatory graffiti against the bus of which I was taking charge."

"When I faced with first marriage discrimination, I did not know anything about Buraku liberation movement at all. I was questioned closely by my colleague, saying "Should I leave company, or you?" and I left company voluntarily. Afterwards, I found and participated Buraku liberation movemment so I learned "As for discrimination, those who is discriminating is responsible", "Discrimination will not be eliminated even if we cry silently", and "Necessity of the fight to eliminate discrimination". Therefore, today I can speak the marriage discrimination 35 years ago , and am able to restore the interparsonal relationship with employee concerned. "

"On the other hand, It was clarified the weakness of the approach on the question of Buraku issue and human rights issue, and that employee's sense of human rights was also weak, which is originated from this situation."

"The entire enterprise should positively grapple with the Buraku issue and human rights issue. I will fight at the head", he declared his determination.

Afterwards, Professor Kitaguchi Suehiro of Kinki University lectured entitling "Current situation and issues of discrimination against Buraku", and the participants deepened knowledge.

Outline of shuttle bus discrimination graffiti case

The discrimination graffiti "Eta-bus" were painted by the size of 41 centimeters in length and 85 centimeters in width on advertising signboard (white ground, 50 centimeters in length, and 131 centimeters in width) at a back of the shuttle bus parked at bus company's M office around 9:25PM, July 25th, 2007.

Up to now, The fact confirmation and investigation has been done. However, the perpetrator of the discrimination graffiti could not be specified.

However, this shuttle bus always parks the garage in M office to the interior. Someone stands by at the office day and night, and there are somebody who keep night watch in the middle of the night. Therefore, it is difficult to think that this graffiti was painted by the outsider. Moreover, the driver of this shuttle bus is Mr. Sakamoto, Vice Chairman of the Council of southern part of Biwako area, Buraku Liberation League. Therefore, perpetrator might have written this graffiti knowing the driver of this shuttle bus is a person from discriminated against Buraku, and is serving as a director.