「政府は本気で動いて」　拉致解決求め集会―新潟

　北朝鮮による日本人拉致問題の早期全面解決を求める集会が１６日、新潟市で開かれ、約７１０人が参加した。横田めぐみさん＝拉致当時（１３）＝の母早紀江さん（８３）はビデオメッセージを寄せ、「めぐみちゃんたちは元気でいてくれていると信じている。政府は本気で動いていただきたい」と訴えた。
　早紀江さんは「１３歳の子どもが５５歳になるまで、まったく会うことができなくなるなんて考えたこともなかった」と年月の長さを強調。進展が見られない現状には「お互いの指導者が話をすれば何とかなることではないか。訳が分からない疑問を感じながら見詰めている」と心境を語った。
　集会に参加しためぐみさんの弟哲也さん（５１）は、入院中の父滋さん（８７）が「元気なうちに会いたいね」と話していたことを紹介。被害者が全員帰国するまで活動を続ける決意を示し、政府には「何が具体的な効果がある策なのかもっと考えてほしい」と求めた。（2019/11/16-18:21）

The 83-year-old mother of Megumi Yokota, one of Japanese abduction victims in North Korea, has sought serious action by the Japanese government for resolving the issue of abductees.
   "I believe that Megumi and other abduction victims remain in good shape. I want the government to act in earnest," Sakie Yokota said in a video message she sent to a meeting held in the city of Niigata, central Japan, to call for stepped-up efforts for fully resolving the abduction issue at an early date.
   The meeting was attended by about 710 people. Megumi was abducted to North Korea in 1977 at the age of 13. She was a junior high school student in Niigata at the time.
   "I had never imagined that I wouldn't be able to meet my daughter until she is 55 years old after I last met her when she was only 13," the mother said. "I think progress will be made if the leaders of the two countries hold talks," she said, commenting on the current stalemate in negotiations between Japan and North Korea.
   Tetsuya Yokota, 51, a brother of Megumi, said at the meeting that their 87-year-old father, Shigeru, who is now hospitalized, has told the son that he wants to see his daughter again while he remains fine.