Foreword
The year 2001 sees the opening of the 21st century. For the period from August 31 to September 7, 2001, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) will be held in Durban, South Africa under the sponsorship of the United Nations.
The world is currently in a critical situation. With the occurrence of ethnic conflicts that sometimes evolve into civil wars, and with Neo-Nazism becoming more visible, the UN's WCAR will have special significance to international society. The Conference will address the on-going discrimination and racial, ethnic and past class system prejudice, and will focus on finding solutions for the complete elimination of all these forms of discrimination.
To extend our support to the worldls efforts, we have produced a booklet to show the reality of discrimination against, and liberation movements of the Buraku people in Japan. While discrimination based on the past social class systemis still apparent in some societies, not only in Japan, but also in lndia, SriLanka, Nepal, and Bhutan, it has not gained much worldwide attention. These are serious human rights Problems which have long histories stretching over several centuries.
Just as the untiring efforts of the international community have supported South Africa's steps towards a complete solution to Apartheid, We strongly hope that you will also show grave concern over the issues of such discrimination against the Buraku people in Japan and the Dalits in India, and take action towards the complete elimination of these long existing problems.
We expect that this booklet will open a path leading towards our goal.
Nimalka Fernando, President, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
Kinhide Mushakoji, President, lnternational Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism - Japan Committee (IMADR-JC)
Shigeyuki Kumisaka, President, Buraku Liberation League
Sueo Murakoshi, President, Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute
