August 9, 2013
Mr. Juan E. Mendez
The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Dear Sir,
We have the honor to express our highest appreciation for the responsibilities of the UN Special
Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
We have been engaged in throwing light on covert and overt harassment for fifteen years in
Japan. When we established our private group, we initially had fourteen members, who were
victims. In the meantime, this number has grown to more than 320, with more than 1,200
persons being recognized as victims in our country. In November 2007 our group became a
Specified Nonprofit Organization.
As a result of our fifteen year survey, we have been able to provide evidence that covert and
overt harassment should be declared true modern-day torture. These types of torture used many
new technologies. For example, 24-hour tracking, mental and physical attack and manipulation,
transmission of voice and images to the brain, triggering of diseases, etc. These attacks and
manipulations continue day in, day out, by invisible means within normal social life. We have 17
recognized dead victims, half of them suicides. Many victims are faced with disaster and fatal
consequences. Most of the victims are unable to hold a job because they are incapacitated by the
loud voices acting on their brains, sleep disturbance, physical pain, etc.
Attached is a copy of the petition we submitted to President Obama in which we explained the
facts of both types of harassment. The petition was submitted on May 12, 2009. The number of
victims has risen from 500 to 1,200 in the course of four years. While we know that most people
in Japan have been affected by this problem in one way or another, we are aware that it is not
limited to Japan, but is an issue for people all over the world.
Sincerely yours,
TERUKATSU ISHIBASHI
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Technological Crime Victims Network
Specified Nonprofit Organization
Tozaikanbil-honkan, room21, 2-9-6 Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 102-0072, Japan （Phone & fax: 03-5212-4611）
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