The COLAP Conference was held in Tokyo, Japan from August 29th to 31st, 2024. Around 100 democratic lawyers from 10 Asian countries gathered together and seven subcommittees were held on topics such as peace, human rights, the environment, and immigration issues. On the last day of the conference, it adopted the Tokyo Declaration on overall situation in Asia and the Pacific.

TOKYO DECLARATION

We, lawyers from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Pakistan, South Korea and Vietnam attending the first Conference of the Confederation of Lawyers of Asia and the Pacific (COLAP) in Tokyo, Japan, declare the outcome and the essence of the three-day discussions as follows,

1. On Peace

Conflicts continue to escalate around the world. More than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza by the Israeli genocide and the war of Ukraine and Russia has intensified. Military tensions in Asia are higher than ever. If it goes further, military clash may occur anytime.

The COLAP is concerned about the possible military confrontation in Korean Peninsula,  Taiwan and the South China Sea in the context of the conflict between US and China.

The Korean Government strengthened the military exercises between the US and ROK aimed at intimidating the DPRK, which increases the tension in the region.

Tensions in Taiwan has been exacerbated and the U.S use this contingency as an excuse to intervene militarily in Asian affairs in violation of U.N. Charter.

Japanese government’s buildup of military capability and budget increase conform to US – Japan design to counter China. The military alliance between the United States, Japan, ROK under the leadership of the US is broadened to include the Philippines, Australia and other Asian and NATO countries, including AUKUS and QUAD. COLAP also expresses its concern over the intention to establish US military bases in Bangladesh.

We condemn the placement of nine US EDCA sites which are actually US military bases which threatens regional peace and even the efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace. We encourage the resumption of the peace talks in the Philippines to resolve the roots of the conflict.

Disputes over the South China Sea among China, the Philippines, Vietnam and other countries in the region continue. China’s further actions have increased the tension and threaten peace and stability of the region and could escalate into a military conflict.

The US has used the situation to conduct military exercises around the South China Sea together with Japan, ROK, Australia and NATO countries, which has further exacerbated the disputes.

COLAP, therefore calls for withdrawal of all US, NATO and any third nations’ militarized and provocative engagement; compliance with the arbitration tribunal ruling made on July 12, 2016 in the Philippines’ case against China and the provisions of UNCLOS; bilateral and multilateral dialogue among the concerned nations for the peaceful resolution of the dispute.

2. On Human Rights

We reiterate our commitment to the protection, promotion and defense of human rights in our region and throughout the world.  We continue to assert the protection of labour rights of workers, and pledge to help promote unity and solidarity relations among workers in Asia-Pacific including migrant workers. We condemn the continuing gender violence and other forms of oppression in various countries and commit to pressure our respective governments to battle these forms of human right violations both in their country and in other countries committing such atrocities against women. We also support the continuing search for justice which is long overdue in the case of Filipino women victims of Japanese wartime military sexual slavery. We shall explore legal options in the proper venues towards this end.

We condemn the continued use of National Security laws in different countries, such as that in South Korea, and employing anti-terrorism laws, such as that in the Philippines, to suppress freedom of expression, assembly, right to association, and other human rights, as we commit ourselves to work for the repeal of these laws and hold to account those who abuse these laws to suppress dissent.

We condemn the continuing attacks against lawyers and judges in the Philippines and many Asian countries and threats against the independent practice of the legal profession.

We acknowledge that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Law in Nepal has been unanimously adopted, which could mean the final conclusion of the longstanding peace process. We hope it will ensure justice, end impunity and uphold human rights of victims and vulnerable people.

COLAP expresses its concerns about current situation in Bangladesh and the cases of gross violations of Human Rights, attacks on religious minorities, political opponents and demolitions of sculptures on historical fact and culture. COLAP calls for an immediate general election to restore democracy, peace, and safety of people and independence of judiciary. COLAP calls upon interim government of Bangladesh to ensure respect for the due process of law and human rights.

3. On Environment

Today we are witnessing continuous environmental degradation with its direct impact on climate change and the lives of people around the globe. Yet, the global politics of environment and climate change has not enforced accountability on the rich, industrialized and war waging nations. On the other hand, the global south countries are heavily affected by the environmental concerns such as the melting of Himalayas and rising sea level because of global warming. The disaster of the Fukushima nuclear power plant caused lots of internal and international evacuees and its contaminated water release committed a great crime to human beings, especially in the Pacific Ocean. The political debate on environment policy has been dominated by neo-liberal economic interests. COLAP calls for a global just climate policy with appropriate and adequate compensation, technology transfer to the least developed and developing countries.

4. On Migrant and Refugees

COLAP stands against the forced migration of the broad masses of impoverished peoples due to war, the dearth of decent jobs, landlessness, transnational corporate control on governance and worsening authoritarianism. COLAP condemns the neoliberal Labor Export Program in the sending countries that result in the severe exploitation and oppression of their own citizens in host countries and the large-scale cases of modern day slavery in receiving countries. COLAP also calls on all receiving countries to keep human rights and labor rights accountability among the multinational companies, industries and labor supply chains as well as demonstrate their respect on human and labor rights, and to provide access to health and social services to all migrants and refugees in their territories. COLAP particularly demands that the Rohingya people and all refugees and stateless persons, be accorded status, protection, repatration and decent work in the host countries and that their human rights and dignity be respected.

5. On the situation of Japan

COLAP expresses its concern over the increased militarization of Japan and efforts to amend Article 9 of the Constitution. COLAP urges the Japanese government to leave the military alliance with the U.S., which causes military tension and suffering for the Japanese and Asian people; to renounce the military policy to enhance the capability of Self Defense Forces and their weapons to attack enemy bases;  to abide by the peace constitution, Article 9 and limit its military forces only for defense; to have a good relationship with other governments in the region, including China, DPRK and Russia. We call on the Japanese Government to change its immigration and refugee policy in line with international law and conventions.

6. Conclusion

COLAP, therefore,  reaffirms its vow to battle against human rights violations plaguing Asia Pacific and the determination to persevere in the search for peace as the region is embroiled in increasing tension due to imperialist intervention.

We recommit with more vigor to struggle with the people and be a part of the peoples movement for genuine social reforms, freedom and fair international order.

We leave Tokyo strengthened by the intense solidarity expressed by the participants to this 1st Conference of the Confederation of Lawyers of Asia and the Pacific, grateful of the warm hospitality of JALISA, and inspired by the ardent support of the Japanese people and renewed unity of COLAP.

A people united, will indeed never be defeated.

Long live international solidarity!

August 31^th, 2024