SDF general threatens protesters

A commanding general of the Ground Self-Defense Force Western Army has interefered with a citizens' rally against on-going Japan-U.S. joint exercises by posing the question, "Why do they oppose the exercises?"

The abusive remarks were made on November 18 by Matsukawa Masaaki who was inspecting the exercises (Nov. 18-20) which took place at Hijudai and Jumonjihara exercises fields in Oita Prefecture in Kyushu.

Matsukawa said, "The joint exercises are held to maintain deterrence against North Korea; opposition rallies always receive media attention so that details of the exercises will be known by the enemy; knowing that, why do you oppose the exercises?"

Several hundred personnel from both the GSDF and the U.S. Marine Corps took part in the exercises with the aim of "jointly expelling potential enemy forces" by using helicopters, Air SDF fighters, and 155mm howitzers.

Citizens' groups strongly protested to the Defense Agency demanding that the general's remarks be withdrawn.

The Japanese Communist Party's Oita Prefectural assembly member on November 20 sent a letter of protest to the DA director general, which says, "The army general's remarks are absolutely unpardonable because it violates the constitutional right of freedom of expression. It also exposes the dangerous nature of the government's contingency bills."

It also demands that (1) the government punish the general severely; (2) any exercises with such a dangerous aim at the training sites be stopped; and (3) the contingency bills be retracted.

A local newspaper reported that what the general advocated was completely different from the agency's past explanation that the exercises are not aimed at Iraq and North Korea as potential targets. (end)