Three men arrested for unauthorized demonstration near Aso's house

Monday 27th October, 03:43 PM JST

TOKYO —

The Public Safety Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on Sunday arrested three men in their 30s for staging an unreported demonstration, which violates Tokyo’s public safety ordinance law, and interfering with policemen in the execution of their duty at the time of their arrest. The three called for the demonstration on the Internet and tried to march to Prime Minister Taro Aso’s house in Shibuya. About 40 people gathered for the demonstration.

According to police, the three men conducted the demonstration without reporting it to a local police station and assaulted police officers who were monitoring them on the street after they gathered in front of JR Shibuya Station at 4 p.m. The group of demonstrators raised flags and made speeches with loudspeakers during the march after police ordered them to stop the demonstration.

The organizers of the demonstration, a labor union, said advanced notification to police is not necessary and that the arrest was illegal. They said Aso’s house in Shibuya is worth 6.2 billion yen and they tried to “have a look at what it is like.” Some members of the group also gathered outside Shibuya Police station, shouting, “Police support only the rich!”

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Latest 15 of 18 Total Comments Show All

hotaruzoku at 06:33 PM JST - 27th October

I happened to be passing Shibuya police station and took some pictures of the demonstration that ensued later with the demonstrators claiming the men were unlawfully arrested. you can see them here:- http://tinyurl.com/shibuyaprotest
williamsmith at 06:33 PM JST - 27th October

Aso was not elected PM by the Japanese people. Fukuda wasn't either. 2 PMs and no election, doesn't sound very legitimate to me.
jerseyboy at 06:42 PM JST - 27th October

An "unreported demonstration"? Why do you have to report a demonstration to the police? Aren't they smart enough to discover it for themselves? Or are they so incompetent that they could miss guys with flags and loud speakers?
BBLeo at 06:45 PM JST - 27th October

The three men should register for their actions and obtained permission. How will the world look like if we act as animals on the streets. 'Union or no Union obey law of the land.' 'RESPECT FOR THE COUNTRY PLEASE, DON'T JUST THINK ONLY ABOUT YOURSELF.'
gogogo at 08:08 PM JST - 27th October

I love how in Japan you need a permit for a demonstration
badge123 at 08:31 PM JST - 27th October

In many other countries including democratic nations you need permits if you wish to hold demonstrations at certain locations.

I know thats a whole can of worms about something being democratic or not, I'm just looking at this from a public safety standpoint of view.
Ultradude at 09:26 PM JST - 27th October

williamsmith - Newsflash, PMs are never elected by the people by direct vote!
BlackFlag at 11:38 PM JST - 27th October

they should have just hired a big black bus and made their demonstration over a 100 decibel loudspeaker
Youdontknow at 12:20 AM JST - 28th October

A demonstration doesn't need permission unless of course you want to deprive people of their last few remaining rights to speak freely!
Kimigano2 at 02:14 AM JST - 28th October

Hopefully the government makes an example by giving them the maximum allowable sentence. Protesting Aso is a pro-China move, and we don't need that here.
ca1ic0cat at 02:25 AM JST - 28th October

Sounds like something from Beijing during the olympics. I wonder if the right wing black vans always get permission to pull up outside Hon-Atsugi station. Talk about a loudmouthed disruption!
neverknow2 at 07:29 AM JST - 28th October

No Japanese read this rubbish so dont bother making a serious comment.
CavemanLawyer at 08:34 AM JST - 28th October

I love how in Japan you need a permit for a demonstration

This prompted a facepalm. Yeah, we all got subjected to the brainwashing program called "school" where they tell us our country is free, free, free, but never get into the details of such things as needing a permit for a demonstration.

Just because they never told you needed one does not mean you don't. Go ask at city hall. Go ask how free you are. I dare you. I double dare you! --Cirroc
borscht at 08:37 AM JST - 28th October

Actually, in some democratic countries you don't need a permit to demonstrate, you need a parade permit - if your demonstration is going to be in the streets or the crowd overflows onto the street. Police need to be ready to 'serve and protect' and I've seen them protect both extreme left and extreme right demonstrations - when they had the proper parade permit.

The right-wing vans drive around without setting foot on the streets. Hence, no parade permit. There should be a volume permit though; I seriously doubt the police would allow me to blast Morning Musume through a billion-watt sound system. Well, maybe some police wouldn't mind.
Freakenese at 09:53 AM JST - 30th October

KnuckleHeads