18 May, 2003
Dear Colleagues,
I am a professor of physics at a university in Japan, and also a coordinator of a campaign against the government's problematic university reform plan.
Our website is: http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/znet/znete.html
I must tell you that the freedom of Japan's state-run universities is close to termination. The proposed bill "Incoporation of state-run universities" passed the committee of the Lower House last Friday and supposed to be approved by the Lower House within a few days. Although the bill must also be approved by the Upper House, it is not easy to block the bill at the Upper House, since majority of which are also ministerials. But we are making every effort to block by arousing the public opinion.
This new law introduces an order system by the government into the university. This order by the government, so-called "intermediary objectives", can mean practically everything. In fact, they includes "items regarding amelioration of the quality of education and research". In addition, the bill gives the president of each university almost absolute, Caesarean power. By this law the government can control what is studied and what is taught in universities in Japan. If this bill is passed, our country will join the group of dictatorial countries.
It is of course primarily our own issue to protect acacemic freedom in our universities, but I believe that the universities in every country belong to the global academic community. International collaboration is essential not only in studying but also in protecting the freedom of study and education.
I sincerely ask you to express your concern for the situation in Japan to the following people:
(1) Ms Tsuyako Ohno, Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Upper House: mail: tsuya@oono.net, fax: +81-3-5512-2242
(2) Mr. Takeo Nishioka, member of the Committee on Education and ex-Minister of Education, who is opposing the bill: mail: nishioka2424@aol.com
(3) UNESCO, Secretariat of the Executive Board: fax: (33-1) 45 68 57 02
Sending me its carbon copy is very useful. Circulating it among people resisting the government's plan will greatly encourage us.
Sincerly yours,
Kouichi Toyoshima
Secretary General of the People's Network Against the Plan to
Destroy Japan's National Universities
University of Saga, 1 Honjo, Saga-shi, 840-8502 Japan
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Some documents on this issue
(1) English translation of the
proposed bill.
http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/znet/znet/docs/NUClaw-extract.html
(Please read Articles 30 and 31 of it especially.)
(2) Letter to the General Secretary
of UNESCO
In English http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/znet/znet/appealtounesco.html
In French http://pegasus.phys.saga-u.ac.jp/znet/appeltoUNESCOf.html
(3) My writing appeared in a weekly
magazine
"Alleged "independence" may deprive universities
of their freedom"
http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/znet/znet/kinyoubi020419e.html
(4) Other related docs in English:
http://ac-net.org/dgh/e-index.html
Your support to our campaign by
subscribing to our petition is welcome.
http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/znet/pleae.html
homepage: http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/znet/znete.html