By Lisa Daniel American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 4, 2011 - Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa today boarded the USS Ronald Reagan to thank U.S. service members for their help since a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and the tsunami it caused struck Japan on March 11.
"To all U.S. military members, on behalf of the people of Japan, I sincerely express my deep appreciation for the tremendous support provided by the U.S. military, the U.S. government and the American people at a time of unprecedented crisis in Japan," Kitazawa said. The USS Ronald Reagan responded immediately after the disaster, and its sailors, as well as other service members, continue their humanitarian mission in Japan "with pride and passion" and "are supporting Japan on an extraordinary scale," he said. As of March 25, more than 1,000 sailors and Marines were deployed in support of Operation Tomodachi and had flown more than 450 missions for recovery, transport and supplies distribution, according to the U.S. embassy officials in Tokyo. Kitazawa said he received a call from President Barack Obama right after the earthquake, pledging American support. "The entire Japanese people are deeply moved and encouraged by scenes of U.S. military members working hard in support of relief efforts," he said. "Those in Japan and the United States are true tomodachi. ... They share basic values such as democracy and respect for human rights." Faced with such a disaster, Kitazawa said, "in no time like the present do I feel so strongly about our friendship with the United States. Your support is a testament of our enduring bond for more than half a century. Japan, with your continuous cooperation, is determined to launch a full-scale effort to overcome these challenges ahead of us." U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos was part of the delegation that included senior Japanese military officials aboard USS Ronald Reagan today. "Looking out over this spectacular view, in front of all you great Americans, I am awed to be here, and I can't tell you how deeply moved I am by all you've accomplished in the last several weeks," he said. Roos offered U.S. condolences to the Japanese, noting that he saw the disaster's effects firsthand in northeastern Japan. "One cannot even begin to imagine the devastation until you witness it yourself," he said, "and even then it's hard to imagine. "I met with people who lost almost everything in their lives, including their loved ones," he continued. "I could not help but be moved by their calm dignity and resilient spirit." | ||||
| Biographies: John V. Roos Related Sites: USS Ronald Reagan Special Report: Earthquake in Japan – U.S. Military Responds | ||||
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Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Japanese Minister Thanks U.S. Service Members
Viet Nam must release Cu Huy Ha Vu..Amnesty
Amnesty International Demands Release of Prominent Vietnamese
Activist Jailed Over Democracy Calls
Activist Jailed Over Democracy Calls
Washington, DC : Viet Nam must release a high-profile activist sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for calling for an end to one-party rule, Amnesty International said today.
Human rights defender and environmental activist Cu Huy Ha Vu was convicted of "conducting propaganda against the state" by a court in Ha Noi yesterday after calling for a multiparty system in online articles and for giving interviews to foreign media. Vu was also sentenced to three years of house arrest upon the completion of his seven year prison term.
"This was a sham trial, with the presumption of innocence and right to a defense completely ignored," said Donna Guest, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific deputy director. "Cu Huy Va Vu is a prisoner of conscience and should be immediately and unconditionally released."
The son of a famous revolutionary colleague of the late President Ho Chi Minh, Vu had previously twice sued the Prime Minister of the country, once in an attempt to stop a controversial bauxite mining project from harming the environment, and the other challenging the legality of a decree banning class-action petitions.
His was the second major trial of a dissident this year, following the January conviction of Vi Duc Hoi, a pro-democracy activist and former Communist Party official prosecuted for posting articles online calling for democracy.
Two former prisoners of conscience who tried to observe his trial, Pham Hong Son and Le Quoc Quan, were reportedly arrested outside the court. Amnesty International is also calling for their immediate release.
"The Vietnamese authorities have outlawed any peaceful dissent through their misuse of the judicial system. The government needs to heed the calls of the international community to stop persecuting and imprisoning non-violent activists," said Guest.
Dozens of peaceful political critics and activists have been sentenced to long prison terms since Viet Nam began a concerted crackdown on freedom of expression in October 2009. Amnesty International is calling on the Vietnamese government to allow judicial independence, and to repeal or reform vaguely worded security legislation used to prosecute peaceful critics.
(Issued on Tuesday, April 5, 2011)
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
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