ACADEMIC FREEDOM IMPERILED BY FINANCIAL INTERESTS

The United Nations University accepts, then rejects, a controversial guest speaker for a human rights forum.
Me.
Due to financial pressure from the Hokkaido Government, Doukeiren et al.
(Hokkaido Shinbun article confirming all details below dated 6/16/01 in Japanese here)

By Arudou Debito/Dave Aldwinckle (debito@debito.org)

As a forum for human rights issues, the United Nations University (Kokusai Rengou Daigaku, or UNU) of Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, sponsored the UNU Global Seminar, Second Hokkaido Session in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan. It was to take place on August 22-25, 2001 in Otaru, Hokkaido, with several prominent speakers.

I was invited to give a seminar by Dr Aiuchi Toshikazu, Professor at Otaru University of Commerce and coordinator of this event, on discrimination against foreigners and foreign-looking peoples in Japan and Hokkaido, drawing attention to the bathhouse exclusions issue (http://www.debito.org/otarulawsuit.html).

I accepted Dr Aiuchi's invitation on January 6, 2001 (see English email at http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#acceptance), and I was duly placed on the Seminar Schedule (see Japanese http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#schedule).

However, four months later, I received notification dated April 30 from UNU's Director of Administration, a Mr Komatsuki Akio. My invitation had been withdrawn by the university.

This was due to, quote, "delays in finalizing the programme for the seminar", as "it is not possible to go forward with the planned Hokkaido Session of the UNU Global Seminars in August 2001." (see English scan of letter at http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#ding). This is a development the Otaru University of Commerce had not even been appraised of (see English at http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#aiuchidingresponse).

Professor Aiuchi has informed me that he heard, in phone calls and private emails, that the reason for my rejection is in fact financial.

The Hokkaido Government and the Hokkaido Keizai Rengokai (Doukeiren) were scheduled to financially support the Global Seminar (allotting 2,750,000 yen, about one-third of the budget). However, in February 2001, they made it clear to the UNU that if I was allowed to speak, they would withdraw their funds.

As a result, the UNU, in English through a Mr Max Bond (bond@hq.unu.edu), Senior Officer, Office of the Rector, has since informed the Programme Committee that people who are involved in lawsuits related to their topic are not allowed to speak at UNU functions. According to Professor Aiuchi, he said in emails that "it is the UNU's basic policy not to include lecturers who are in legal actions directly related to the theme of their lectures".

This is ironic, because the right to sue is fully within the bounds of the Japanese Constitution. This seminar on human rights is thus violating a person's human rights.

The UNU was also told by the Doukeiren that they must withdraw an invitation from an Ainu speaker, a Mr Kaisawa (see schedule again below), who had sued the government over the appropriation of land for the Nibutani Dam. However, since his lawsuit has been brought to a close, I became the only discussant falling under the UNU rubric for exclusion.

There has been protest. Programme Committee Chairman Aiuchi and three of the other six coordinators on the Programme Committee have resigned their posts, believing that this U-turn due to this "University Basic Policy" (which the Committee had never been informed of until after the financiers protested) is moot. Being thus beholden to financial interests is a violation of academic freedom and integrity, not to mention an infringement of my rights. (See Japanese from Aiuchi at http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#aiuchiprotest, and English protest to UNU Rector from Ainu Professor Kayano Tomoatsu http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#kayanoresponse).

The UNU claimed that 1) as a Plaintiff I would no longer be "objective" (the UNU could make the same claim even if I was not in a lawsuit, so this is irrelevant), and 2) if allowed to speak would make the sponsor look like a supporter of the lawsuit (even though appropriate disclaimers are pro forma in seminars with controversial speakers, and as such does not constitute grounds for censorship). However, these claims ring hollow when one considers the background involvement of government and business financial interests. The Global Seminar, as it stands right now, is in limbo, and the former Programme Committee is considering organizing a parallel seminar.

******************************

I am deeply honored that so many people would take all this trouble for our case. However, I might add that this phenomenon is one of the problems of suing in Japan. Thus far, I have also possibly lost one speaking engagement (at the JET Renewers' Conference, where I spoke last year--see English notification at http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#jetding), and one possibility of employment (at Hokkaido Shinbun, which refused me an occasional newspaper column because I am "in the middle of a dispute" (keisouchuu)--see Japanese at http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#doshinding).

The difference is that I asked for the JET and Doshin opportunities. The UNU, however, asked me. They invited me, accepted me, then withdrew their invitation. In violation of their Programme Committee's mandate, and in a method unbecoming of a university with the name and prestige of the United Nations University.

I have already written a query letter about this situation to the UNU dated May 10, 2001 (see English at http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#dingresponse). I received a response dated May 21, 2001, where, inter alia, one cause for cancellation was "four Programme Committee members, including Prof. Aiuchi, suddenly resigned from the committee". Chicken and egg. See that letter at http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#UNUreply52101

Arudou Debito
Sapporo

(Permission has been granted to anyone interested in contacting Dr Aiuchi about this matter)

REPORT ENDS

JAPANESE


国連大学：「融資」と「学問の自由」の危い関係

国連大学は人権セミナーの発言者を受入れてから招待を撤回
その却下された発言者は小生、有道　出人
北海道庁と北海道経済連合会から抗議と協賛金がなくなる恐れによる

背景:

本年８月２２ー２５日の予定、国際連合大学（東京都渋谷区神宮前）はグローバル・セミナーを開催し、「人権：グローバルな眼・ローカルな眼」というテーマでした。北海道第２回セッションとなり、開催所は小樽市だった。

本年１月６日、私は小樽商科大学の教授　相内　俊一氏より講議依頼を受けて(http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#acceptance)、そして依頼状況の知らせの中、講議がきちんとスケジュールに載った(http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#schedule)。テーマは「外国人に対する入浴拒否問題」（サブテーマ「人権と国籍」）にした (http://www.debito.org/nihongotimeline.html)。

ところが、約４ヶ月後、４月３０日付、国連大学事務局長　駒月　昭雄氏から英語で却下状を送った。(http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#ding) お手紙によると、「セミナーのプログラムはまだ未定」と「北海道セッションは予定通りで開催できかねます」。即ち、保留もしくはキャンセルとなった。

でも、相内先生によると、この問題はスケジュール問題とは無関係である。原因は、国連大学が有道出人を講師からはずせと主張しはじめたのに対し、北海道の大学の先生６人が参加しているプログラム委員会で反対があり、委員長を含む4人が辞めたという事情によるものだった。国連大学がプログラム委員長の相内先生に伝えた内容は、有道出人は裁判中の当事者だから不適格ということの他に、彼を講師にするとセミナーのスポンサーの協賛金の撤回の恐れがあるというものだった。（これからの情報を相内先生から聞いたので、質問や取材ならどうぞ彼に直接お聞き下さい。取材許可が出ました。連絡先は一番下のところです）

本年２月、北海道庁と日本経済連合会は国連大学に協賛金２７５万円を融資する予定だった（セミナーの予算の三分の一）。ところが、有道　出人が発言者として参加するならば、道庁と道経連は融資的にサポートしないと言った。

結局、国連大学の駒月氏は３月２２日、「大学の基本政策として、現在裁判中の当事者を大学主催のプログラムに参加できない」と言い、「有道　出人はセミナーの講師としてふさわしくない」と相内先生に伝え、駒月氏は「有道　出人に伝えて下さい」を頼んだ。

相内先生は拒否した。依然、こういう基本政策について一切知らせてもらわなかったので、本当に以前から存在していたのかは非常に疑わしいと言った。それに、「裁判中」で何が悪いですか、と。提訴するのは国民の権利であり、違憲・違法性行為ではないので、裁判中の当事者を却下するこそ人権侵害になる。人権セミナーが人権を侵すことは大変皮肉だと感じたようた。しかも、駒月氏は学者ではなく、大学の行政者である。セミナー内容は学者・プログラム委員会の決定権限であるのでなぜ大学が手に入れるのかは不明だった。説明も不明なので（この件について大学で行った会議は非常に不透明だとも感じたよう）、相内先生は抗議を打ち出した。

結局、ここまでスポンサの「融資の虜」になると学問の自由の侵害ともなると思い、相内先生はプログラム委員会会長として辞任した。その他の委員会委員６名のうち３名、合計４名が委員を辞めた。(相内先生： http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#aiuchiprotest) (萱野ともあつ氏の英文： http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#kayanoresponse

ところで、道経連はもう一人の発言者をやめてもらいたかった（貝澤耕一氏：「アイヌ民族に対する人権侵害」）が、裁判中ではなくて排斥するのは無理だった。だから、有道　出人のみが却下された。

国連大学の言い分だが、「客観的に話せないので裁判中の当事者はふさわしくない」と「当事者を招待すると国連大学は原告の味方に見える」である。但し、裁判中であるかないかにとって、あくまでも私はこの論争で当事者とはなりますので、こういうふうに「客観的さ」を守るなら社会問題について詳しいスピーカーを招待するのが大変限られるようになる。いずれにしても裁判中と却下は関係がないと思う。そして、「味方」の件だが、セミナーやフォーラムに出る発言者の感想は「スポンサーの意見ではない」というdisclaimerを予め明確にすれば、普通は問題ないはずである。発言者を検閲の原因とはならない。私個人が思うには、この理由が「こじつけ」であるので、やはりスポンサの融資には恩義を受けていると思う。これこそ「国連大学」の威厳と評判にはふさわしくない行動であると感じる。

これは残念だとは片付けやすいかもしないが、実は法廷で戦うと色々な社会却下を招くようである。例えば、私は新聞のコラムを書くために道新に尋ねたが、結局はっきり「あなたが係争中だからダメ」（資格や才能を見ず）と断った。(http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#doshinding) しかも、CLAIR （財）自治体国際化協議会（JETプログラムの指揮機関）は２年連続の契約更新予定者研修会の温泉問題と全く無関係な発言機会を却下した（もちろん、これは裁判中とは関係がないかもしれないが、断る理由は一切書いてありません。 http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#jetding ）。でも、これは国連大学と若干違う待遇である。私から道新とCLAIRに志願した。国連大学の場合、大学からの依頼の撤回された。

ともあれ、既に駒月氏に説明を乞う手紙を送って (http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#dingresponse)、御返答が５月２１日付で、英語で「プログラムが最終決定される前、相内先生を含みプログラム委員会委員４名がいきなり辞めた為、キャンセルとなった」と主張した。（http://www.debito.org/UNUGlobalSeminar.html#UNUreply52101）

有道　出人

Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 10:54:59 +0900
From: Toshikazu Aiuchi <t_aiuchi@...>
X-Accept-Language: ja
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: Arudou Debito/Dave Aldwinckle <debito@debito.org>
Subject: Re: Hello there. I would be happy to participate

Hi David,
Thank you for accepting my offer. The seminar's name is United Nations
University Global Seminar, Hokkaido Session. I will let you know the exact
schedule in late February soon afte our second program meeting.
The schedule of the seminar itself has already been set, from August 22 to 25,
at Marine Hill Hotel in Otaru. You are expected to give one lectur at te session
for 90 munutes shared with another lecturer, and free discussion for onother 90
minutes with the participants. You can stay at the hotel free during the
program, whole period if you like, participate in the other sessions, too. Your
lecture will be scheduled either on 23rd or 24th. The reasonable amount of
honorarium for academics is provided.
I tried to reach you again a couple of times by phone but Iwas not lucky to talk
to you directly.
Talk to you soon.
Best,
Toshi
Program Chair of the UNU Global Seminar in Hokkaido

Arudou Debito/Dave Aldwinckle wrote:

> Hello Aiuchi-sensei. Got your message about the UN Conference in August. I
> would be happy and honored to participate. Quick email to get your question
> answered. Sorry to have been so late in responding. And Happy New Year to
> you too! Best wishes, Debito/Dave in Nanporo
> -------------------------------------------
> Visit Debito/Dave's new website and domain name:
> http://www.debito.org
> Catalog of other issues of domestic discrimination:
> http://www.debito.org/TheCommunity
> Background on Businesses Excluding Foreigners in Hokkaido:
> http://www.issho.org/BENCI

Date: Mon, 07 May 2001 22:17:11 +0900
From: Toshikazu Aiuchi <t_aiuchi@...>
X-Accept-Language: ja
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: Arudou Debito/Dave Aldwinckle <debito@debito.org>
Subject: Re: Aiuchi-Sensei, received Kokurendai Rejection today

Dear Debito,
Thanks for your e-mail. It sounds quite strange that the UN University is
telling you that it became impossible to go forward with the planned Hokkaido
Session in August 2001. Otaru University of Commerce has not been informed
such decision yet. You may be the only person to be told that the plan was
cancelled. Why don't you try to tell them that you can adjust your schedule to
the new plan?

We had Program Committee meeting on 28 April in Sapporo, and the UN University
administration repeated that the policy that the UNU never includes lecturers
who are participants in legal actions that are directly related to the theme
of their lectures. This message had been told to us by the letter from the
person of the Office of the Rector. In this letter, another thing was
mentioned. I quote, "We understand that Mr. Komatsuki received a letter from
the HOkkaido Keizairen and a telephone call from the Hokkaido prefectural
government concerning the programme content of the Hokkaido Global Seminar".
I was told the detail of content of the letter and telephone call from Mr.
Komatsuki, Secretary General of the UN University, that Hokkaido Keizai dantai
rengokai would not sponsor the Global Seminar unless the UN Univ would
withdraw the Onsen issue and the Ainu issue.
They say that they received this letter on 2 March, but they refused to show
this letter to the Program Committee members,
They reached the conclusion on 22 March that no inclusion of the participants
of lecgal action is or had been their basic principle.

Debito, we had Program Committee meeting on 16 February in Otaru and discussed
how to keep fairness of the session with the plaintiff of the legal case. We
decided that I, as a chairperson, would go to see the Mayor of Otaru and
guarantee the fairness and academic quality of the seminar. Mr Komatsuki and
Visiting Professor Akiko Yamanaka was participating this meeting and they did
not mention anything about the basic policy on selecting the lecturers. More
than that, even after they returned Tokyo and started investigating the
appropriateness of asking you a lecturer, it took over a month to reach
conclusion. We can not believe that the basic principle had existed before
their 22 March meeting.

Mr. Komatsuki restricted the circulation and disclosure of the letters he had
sent to me only among the Program Committee members. I can not show you his
mails but I can tell you the exact contents of them upon request.

All the best,
Toshi Aiuchi

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X-Map-MIXER-Originators: false
To: debito@debito.org
From: "s-ishida"<s-ishida@clair.or.jp>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Date: 18 Apr 2001 09:54:00 +0900
Subject: Kobe Conference.

Dear Debito,

I trust this message finds you well. I must be the bearer of bad news today - though your credentials impressed CLAIR and your previous experience of involvement with the JET Programme was carefully considered, unfortunately, you were notselected as one of the CLAIR workshop presenters at the Conference for Re-contracting JETs in Kobe. It is nevertheless my hope that both CLAIR and I will havethe opportunity to work with you again in future JET Programme conferences and seminars.

Thank you for your valuable time and permitting me to place your name on the list of potential speakers. I hope to see you again before too long - please takecare of yourself well in the meanwhile.

Yours sincerely,

Shingo Shawn Ishida
CLAIR
s-ishida@clair.or.jp