Angry marchers target students at Japanese schools
Social workers yesterday stormed two Japanese schools, demanding students be taught 'the truth' about Japan's military attacks on China and other Asian countries.
A torn Japanese military flag was painted and slogans reading 'end militarism' and 'maintain world peace' were posted outside the Hong Kong Japanese School's secondary section in North Point.
The group marched on to the primary section in Happy Valley and delivered pamphlets condemning Japan. Protesters tried to enter the schools to talk to the students but were stopped. Police were called.
A spokesman for the Ecumenical Grassroots Development Centre said they did not intend to frighten students, but to remind teachers to tell the truth.
But Akihiro Kaku, principal of the schools, said the protests were unreasonable and should be directed to the Japanese Consulate-General, adding securing the safety of the students was his top priority.
About 600,000 students from 500 primary and secondary schools observed one minute's silence before the start of their lessons.
The school bells of more than 40 schools in Macau rang at 9.18 am to mark the 65th anniversary of the Japanese invasion of China.
