Japan began fingerprinting foreigners entering the country
yesterday in an anti-terrorism policy that has sparked complaints
from human rights activists, business travelers and long-term
residents.
"At a time when terrorism is occurring throughout the world, we
want foreigners entering Japan to cooperate, and to understand that
it is better for them as well that Japan be safe," said Hisashi
Toshioka, head of the Immigration Bureau at Narita airport, the
main international airport serving Tokyo.
"The biggest objective is to prevent terrorism."
Critics, however, say the new procedures reflect a deeply
entrenched view in Japan of foreigners as more likely to commit
crimes and play down the possibility of home-grown terrorism.
"In Japan, fingerprinting has been limited to those arrested for
crimes, so treating foreigners the same way is a serious human
rights violation," said Mitsuru Namba, a lawyer at the Japan
Federation of Lawyers Associations.
"The government says the aim is to prevent terrorism, but in the
background is discrimination linking foreigners with crime and
overstaying visas," Namba said, noting the data would be kept even
after a visitor was deemed not to be a terrorist suspect.
Some foreign visitors arriving at Narita were unfazed by the new
procedures, which involve electronic scanning of both index fingers
as well as taking a digital facial photo.
The data is compared with international and domestic lists and
anyone considered to be a terrorist - or refusing to cooperate -
will be denied entry and deported.
The measures are similar to the "US Visit" system introduced in
the US after the September 11 attacks in 2001.
In a nod to historical sensitivities, "special" permanent
residents of Korean and Chinese origin - many born in Japan and
descended from those brought as forced labor before and during
World War II - are exempt, as are diplomats and children under
16.
Unlike the United States, Japan requires resident foreigners as
well as visitors to be fingerprinted and photographed every time
they re-enter the country, although if they pre-register they can
go through a fast-track line.
That has angered many resident foreigners, who have until now
been able to line up with Japanese for faster processing.
(China Daily November 21, 2007)
