Job Discussion Forums

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 6:30 pm Post subject: ----Japanese Justice----

www.justicefornickbaker.org

Please tell me you guys know of this poor fecker??? Someone help him out!!!

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

I know about this alright and have even signed the online petition.

Looking through his supporters website, it's noticeable that there doesn't seem to be many, if any, Japanese signatories to the petition (I've just looked a few times, I haven't examined every entry admittedly), even though they do have an outline of his story in Japanese too. There could be lots of very good reasons for this, like hardly anyone knowing about etc, etc. Another one might be that, the clear injustice of his case notwithstanding, the website does seem to devote an awful lot of energy towards lambasting how the Japanese operate their legal system; I was struck particularly by the bit on the left of the front page asking people to sign the petition as it "will only take a minute and may save a man from 14 years in a Japanese jail."

I don't actually disagree with the criticisms made of the Japanese legal and justice system and I do have plenty of sympathy for this poor guy. But if they want to get more Japanese people on their side, which surely would be a help, they may have to be careful not to put off any potential sympathisers by giving the impression, whether intended or not, of being just more "Japan-bashing" foreigners.

Canuck2112 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 239

Good points ironopolis.

I can't even imagine what it's like being in a Japanese prison, particularily Fuchu. Amnesty international has been targetting this place for years, to little or no avail. Prisoners aren't allowed to make eye contact with one another, they're forced to sleep in certain positions and are routinely beaten by guards if they break any minute rule of conduct.

You may or may not know Chuck Zito. He was in the show Oz for the last 4 seasons. In real life, he's an enforcer for the Hell's Angels. Think about the kinds of lowlives a typical Hell's Angel would deal with on a daily basis...Chuck was called in when the normal members couldn't or wouldn't "deal" with certain people. Suffice to say, he's a tough SOB (he gained some notoriety for punching out Van Damme in a strip club). Anyway, Chuck spent 4 months in Fuchu, and he said it was absolute torture...they nearly broke him mentally and physically. If he couldn't hack it, think about how a 32 year old British sandwich maker would do.

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 4:19 am Post subject:

After posting my last entry, I watched a film by the name of 'The Last Warrior'. Enlightening to say the least. I am now mesmerised <sp?> by Japanese culture and history and you can see why thay would do something like this is prison...............ten thousand years ago!!!

This is the 21st century (according to the Christian calender). A time for equality, basic rights and the feedom to get high whenever you want.......oh well, two outta three ain't bad!

......or do the Japanese use a different calender???

LA

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

This has been discussed before under exactly the same title as well:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=6162

You'll garner the opinions of some of us oldies from that thread.

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 11:57 am Post subject:

I do aplogise schmooj! Crying or Very sad

I just felt appauled when I read this....

LA

Canuck2112 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 239

johnslat · Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 1:32 pm Post subject: Transformation

Dear LA,
Hmm, something a bit odd here - I signed and received this confirmation:

"This message confirms that your signature has successfully
been added as the 2,978th person to sign the petition"

But, when I went back to the petition this morning, I found this:

"2,978 7:30 am PST, Apr 2 P Lockbury Surrey GB"

Have I changed overnight into "P Lockbury" of "Surrey GB"?

Regards,
John

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

senor boogie woogie · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 4:30 am Post subject:

Hola!

I'm sorry that dude is in prison. I know that Japanese prisons are harsh, I saw something about Jap prisons many years ago on the American TV show 20/20.

There was a story about a young man named Eric Aude who was caught attempting to smuggle out heroin from pakistan and was caught at the airport and sentenced to 7 years in a Pakistani prison. He said that he was hired by someone to go to Pakistan to buy some leather goods there. Supposedly the paki immigration asked Aude if he had any dope on him and he was a smart a s s to them, to the tune of "Hell no, man whaddya think I am, stupid?" or something to that effect. he was just a "mule".

I travel to other countries alone, and am always wary to whom I speak. I know if I ever go to Japan (which I would like to) not to touch or do anything illegal or stupid. Im sorry what is happening to that Brit, I really am. "By the grace of God goes I" seems appropriate. But Japan is a safe country because criminals fear the police and the justice system.

Senor