Japan Flag Burning, Yakuza And Hidden Hands, The Full Story Behind Anwar's Deportation

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was prevented from entering Japan on the morning of 22 Jan 2014 by immigration authorities and immediately told to leave on the first flight out of Tokyo.

themalaysianinsider.com

Anwar said he was barred from entering the country when he arrived at Narita International Airport at 6.45am yesterday and was told to board the first flight back or face deportation.

Anwar said he had flown to Japan after receiving a personal invite from the chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Tan Sri Yohei Sasakawa. He had been scheduled to present a paper on Muslim democrats.

themalaysianinsider.com

Japanese authorities told Anwar that he had been denied entry because of his previous conviction for sodomy in 1999.

themalaysianinsider.com

“I told them this could not be a valid reason on account of the fact that prior to this I had already entered Tokyo without hindrance on three previous occasions in 2006, 2009 and 2012. "The Japanese authorities finally admitted that they had to take the action to bar me from entering because of a latest report, possibly from last year."

"I am puzzled and shocked by the incident," Mr Anwar, 66, said. "It is not the way for a democratic country to treat an opposition political leader and a veteran politician." He called on Malaysia's government to "probe this incident and lodge a strong protest against Tokyo".

theaustralian.com.au

Anwar said he had no choice but to take the next flight home at 10.45am. He claimed that last week, prior to his travel to Japan, the Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur had affirmed with his office that there were no outstanding issues that could impede his entry into Japan.

"The Japanese embassy in Kuala Lumpur said there were no outstanding issues which would impede my travelling to Tokyo," Anwar said.

themalaysianinsider.com

Today, Latheefa said it was “strange” that Anwar should be denied entry over an old “politically-motivated charge” as he had no problems entering Japan on numerous occasions.

themalaymailonline.com

In a blog posting, Mr Anwar said he felt "hidden hands may be at work here" and demanded an explanation from Malaysia's foreign ministry.

"The barring of Anwar Ibrahim from entering Japan raises serious questions on the involvement of this (the Malaysian) government," Anwar's People's Justice Party said in a separate statement.

theaustralian.com.au

“I protest in the strongest terms this unwarranted action of the Japanese government in refusing me entry and denying my legitimate rights to travel freely without let or hindrance," Anwar.

PKR’s human rights and legal bureau chief Latheefa Koya said the onus was on the government to ensure the PKR de facto leader has unrestricted movement, calling the entry ban a latest of series of attacks and harassment by the Malaysian government.

themalaymailonline.com

“We therefore call the prime minister to rectify the situation by immediately withdrawing this unwarranted report sent to the Japanese government and giving full travel clearance to Anwar,” she said in a statement today.

“The barring of Anwar Ibrahim from entering Japan raises serious questions on the involvement of this government.”

themalaymailonline.com

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was denied entry into Japan due to the country's immigration law, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said.

“Every nation has a sovereign right to deny a person entry into the country if the immigration authorities deemed the person undesirable. In such a case, there is no obligation to explain why they (immigration authorities) are exercising this right.
“It is unthinkable that Wisma Putra or I could have such influence over another sovereign country. We have nothing to do with it,” he added.

freemalaysiatoday.com

He also denied Anwar's claims that he may have been barred from entering Japan due to a 2013 report on him from Wisma Putra.

"I have never submitted any reports (on Anwar) to Japan.

"Why would we need to submit any report to stop from him from travelling to other countries when his (Anwar's) conviction is public knowledge," he added.

Anifah said Wisma Putra had contacted the Malaysian Embassy in Tokyo for clarification over the matter as it involved a Malaysian citizen and "not because it was Anwar."

"It doesn't matter if the person is from the government or opposition. To us, Anwar is a Malaysian citizen," he added.

freemalaysiatoday.com

Supporters of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim rallied in front of the Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday to protest his eviction from Japan at the weekend, while the embassy blamed the episode on Mr Anwar's "misunderstanding" of entry requirements.

They handed over a memorandum to the Japanese Embassy demanding for clarification and an immediate apology over the regretful incident. “We PKR members strongly protest the deportation of the opposition leader who is also a senior member of Malaysian parliament,” Shamsul Iskandar Amin told reporters after handing over the memorandum.

freemalaysiatoday.com

“It is a surprise when considering the fact that Anwar Ibrahim’s office recorded no issues outstanding that may bar his entry into Japan when it made inquiries last week with the Embassy of Japan,” said the Bukit Katil parliamentarian.
“We hope the Japanese Embassy will conduct a proper investigation on this matter.”

freemalaysiatoday.com

The group also called for Japanese authority to remove Anwar's name from its black list and issue a public apology for the incident.
"They couldn't give us a date on when they'll respond, so we shall give them some time to sort it out."

The youth wing finds the deportation "surprising" considering the fact that Anwar's office recorded no outstanding issues that may bar his entry into Japan, when it made enquiries last week with the Japanese embassy in KL.

theedgemalaysia.com

"No doubt we think Anwar's refusal was politically motivated. So we specifically asked who was updating them (Japanese embassy) about the cases. But they couldn't answer," he said.
Shamsul said prior to this visit, Anwar had frequented Japan in 2006, 2009 and 2012 without any issue.

About a dozen members of Mr Anwar's People's Justice Party held placards calling for a boycott of Japanese products to protest Japanese authorities' refusal to allow Mr Anwar to enter the country after he arrived there from Malaysia on Sunday.

Protes dan Memorandum Bantahan kepada Kedutaan Jepun yang dianjurkan oleh Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) hari ini dilihat tidak mendapat sambutan dari akar umbi sayap Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) itu apabila hanya dihadiri 20 ahli dan penyokong.

rakyatnews.my

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was barred entry to Japan at the weekend because he did not obtain a visa, an official with Japan's embassy in Kuala Lumpur said on Tuesday.

channelnewsasia.com

She said Anwar did not apply for a visa, as he had for previous visits.

"Japan could not consider a special arrangement for Anwar since we did not receive any prior application for a visa," she said.

channelnewsasia.com

"As we know, Anwar was allowed to enter Japan in 2011 and 2012 but during both the period, he had special permission from the country.

"This time, however, he did not request for the special permission, and as such was not allowed to enter the country," she said in a phone interview on Tuesday.

straitstimes.com

But embassy official Tomoko Nagai said that while Japan last year lifted a requirement that Malaysians obtain visas to enter the country, Anwar is still required to have one due to his past criminal record.

channelnewsasia.com

“All this unnecessary hassle could have been averted had Anwar followed procedure in accordance with the Japanese Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act,” said the official.

“All those legal things had been explained to Anwar at the Narita Airport on Jan 19.

“After the explanation, Anwar did not exercise his option to file an appeal to get special permission to enter Japan.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today he was not informed of the need for “special permission” to visit Japan, after its embassy said this was why the opposition leaders was prevented from entering the country last week.

themalaymailonline.com

“Previously I only applied for visas, and I had no problems at all. I was there last year,” he added, saying he was “shocked” when he was denied entry to the country upon landing at Narita international airport.

themalaymailonline.com

“Our office inquired about what was needed in order for me to travel to Japan. I was only told I need not apply for a visa, nothing else,” Anwar told The Malay Mail Online in a telephone interview today.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil confirmed that the party had asked both the Japanese embassy in Kuala Lumpur as well as the Japanese foreign ministry about requirements for the PKR de facto leader to visit the country. “We were told that because of a change in policy in July 2013, Malaysians need not apply for a visa when visiting Japan. We made inquiries prior to Datuk Seri (Anwar) flying there.

“I find it curious that a ‘special permission’ is now required,” Fahmi.

themalaymailonline.com

Anwar failed to tell us that his host, Yohei Sasakawa, is the son of Sasakawa Ryoichi - the creator of the gambling industry that we know today. Imprisoned as a Class A war criminal after World War II, Sasakawa is viewed with hostility by intellectuals internationally. Most importantly, Sasakawa is the founder of the Yakuza in Japan.

blogspot.co.uk

Now, what is the TRUE reason Anwar wanted to go to Japan so desperately? Could there be a hidden link to the Yasukuni Shrine controversy?

blogspot.co.uk

Yakuza are members of transnational organised crime syndicates in Japan. They are notorious for their strict codes of conduct and very organised nature. They have a large presence in the Japanese media and operate internationally with an estimated 103,000 members. Yakuza is the world's largest criminal organisation.

wikipedia.org

Scandalous? Anwar is frustrated at the inconvenience caused. And even more so he is undeniably embarrassed. This is understandable. However, to claim “Hidden Hands” are at work is Anwar’s usual conspiracy theory nonsense.

mole.my

Anwar’s stubborn arrogance and self-righteousness is nauseous. Anwar like every other foreigner does not have a “legitimate right to travel freely without let or hindrance” into Japan. Entering Japan is not the right of a person of foreign nationality and the right to travel is at the discretion of the Japanese government and Japanese immigration. By no means is what Japanese immigration authorities did unprecedented. To say this is just plain nonsense.

mole.my

osition leader Anwar Ibrahim was denied entry to Japan and subsequently deported. While not only an inconvenience it most certainly was an embarrassment for a man whose arrogance and sense of entitlement now reaches all the way to Japan. As is the case in Malaysia, entering Japan is not automatically the right of a person of foreign nationality. Rather, permission to enter Malaysia, Japan or any other country for that matter is at the discretion of the receiving country. To say otherwise, as Anwar has done, is not only foolish but unbecoming.

mole.my

In keeping with its strict immigration rules, Japan has refused entry to many people over the years, including Hollywood celebrities and famous personalities.