MINAMI Soma
10th grade, Keiai Gakuen Senior High School
I had never pondered on the North Korean abductions issue. It was because I thought somewhere in my mind, "It has nothing to do with me." The other day, I watched the anime "Megumi" to write this composition. It made me directly face the tragic reality of the North Korean abductions issue and realize how inaccurate the perception I had earlier was. Megumi desperately screamed for help when she was forcibly carried into a tanker. Her horrified screams made me realize that this was never somebody else’s problem.
On June 5, 2020, Megumi's father, Mr. YOKOTA Shigeru, passed away. He devoted the latter half of his life to the campaign for Megumi's return. The regret and disconsolation he must have felt when passing away without being reunited with Megumi is totally beyond my imagination. However, we can inherit his desire to rescue Megumi.
In order to resolve this problem, I think it is important for us, as the Japanese people, to become interested in the abductions issue and transmit our opinions. One way to get more people to know about the abductions issue is to use social media. For example, a government-led discussion on social media, I think, would be effective. When we use them, I believe that even people who would usually never go out to attend events or who are not good at interpersonal activities could easily participate and exchange all kinds of opinions with other people.
The Japanese are not the only victims of abduction. Currently, we know that victims from fourteen countries were abducted. In order to get the abductees back, we need to cooperate with these countries. I would like to propose that the abductee countries create an organization that is independent of world situations and exists for the sole purpose of rescuing the abductees. If the abductee countries continue to appeal together to the international community, I think it can put considerable pressure on North Korea.
Abduction is a serious human rights issue that robs people’s freedom. We must take this issue gravely and work toward a resolution. I have pondered on what I can do now to resolve the abductions issue. One of my answers is to use social media to increase the number of people who are interested in the abductions issue. When more people than now become aware that the abductions issue is a "problem that must be resolved,” it will be a big step toward the resolution. Another answer is to wear a blue ribbon badge. When we purchase one, we are actually sending support money and expressing our intention to demand the return of the abductees.
It is the voice and action of each one of us that support the resolution of the abductions issue by North Korea. Isn't it time for each and every citizen to speak up, cooperate with other countries, and confront North Korea?