Design by Shieko Malaysia
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
30th March 2011
“TOMAKOMAI MINPO”(Hokkaido newspaper) JAPAN
“GANBARE NIPPON!!” (Struggle On Japan!)
Messages from South East Asia
Solidarity linkages between Sumatra Earthquake and the support for the revival of JAPAN
Mr.Tomohiro Niinuma, President of IKKOSHA, a publishing company, (Yashiro-cho Tomakomai-city Hokkaido Japan) has received many support messages for the victims of the East Japan Earthquake, Tsunami and nuclear crisis. Many of these messages came from the South East Asian people who have also faced similar disasters in their respective countries.
It all started when during the Sumatra Earthquake & Tsunami in Dec 2004 when IKKOSHA supported a campaign to give aid and solidarity to the victims in Dec 2004. Today these messages are directed to support Japan’s relief and rehabilitation especially condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and.
These solidarity messages are being collected and compiled by Mr. Tan Jo Hann, a Malaysian who founded the regional organization called SEAPCP or the South East Asia Popular Communications Programme. This group is a network of NGO’s in South East Asia countries advocating for human rights.
Mr Tan’s his wife Kayo Sunazawa is from Tomakomai-city in Hokkaido who is also active supporter of the campaign and also translates all documents and acts as the mediator. So far 25 messages have been received from NGO organizations and individuals from Indonesia, Thailand and many other neighboring countries.
IKKOSHA upon the request of Ms.Kayo and SEAPCP members had established “SEAPCP HOKKAIDO” ( represent Mr. Niinuma when the Sumatra Earthquake struck in 2004. SEAPCP HOKKAIDO then collected donations to support the victims of tat disaster.
Photo: SEAPCP (regional and Hokkaido team discussing the aceh campaign in 2005 in Tomakomai City Hokkaido
About 800,000yen (about USD7,200) was sent to support 7 medical teams from Malaysia to bring medicines and carry out treatments to the victims in Aceh, Sumatra. (At that time the yen value was about 5 times more in Indonesia value so the real value today would be about 4 million yen or USD36,300).
“Many people in Southeast Asia have a good image of Japan and they feel the pain when they heard about this disaster. Please continue to think about the Japanese people and continue to be active to support us” Mr. Niinuma said.
“We also saw pictures of calm, grace and determination of the Japanese people to overcome these challenges. I believe that you as a nation will be able to rebuild again.”
“We stand with you in solidarity!”
“We fight with you about nuclear issues!”
Beside these messages, there was also a drawing of a pair of hands rescuing an origami crane from the waters (designed by a Malaysian human rights artist).
Ms. Kayo said psychological trauma healing will also be needed to support the people.
Mr. Niinuma advises the victims who are still remaining in the disaster area to read the local news papers in Tohoku (disaster) area. They will then know that many people in the world are paying attention to the rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in Japan now.
“Aceh people who have had experiences of big earthquakes and Tsunami have until today remained poor and still struggling. But they still sent their warm regards and heartfelt feelings to Japan who is similarly suffering right now. I really want to share this with the many victims in Japan.
(Photo: 1 year after the tsunami in aceh)
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