Defense Agency admits SDF general threatened protesters

The Defense Agency on November 28 admitted that a Ground Self-Defense Force general had cast a slur on people who protested against Japan-U.S. joint exercises in Oita in western Japan.

GSDF General Matsukawa Masaaki on November 18 has angered the public when he said to the protesters that joint Japan-U.S. exercises are for deterring North Korean attacks; what's wrong with that?

At an Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on November 21, Defense Agency Director General Ishiba Shigeru tried to defend Matsukawa, saying that the general did not name a specific country.

But a Defense Agency investigation report said that the GSDF general in combat fatigues had approached the protesters in front of the gate of Hijudai Exercise Field in Oita Prefecture and demanded to know why they were protesting. It revealed that asked by protesters about the connection between the exercises and North Korea, Matsukawa said, "We are providing a deterrent against North Korea's abductions and unidentified ships."

At a board meeting of the Upper House committee, a JCP member said, "For an SDF official to approach a protest rally to press protesters to give a reason for their opposition to the exercises is unconstitutional. The DA director general must accept responsibility for such disparaging remarks."

At the same committee meeting, JCP member Yoshioka Yoshinori showed a photo of Matsukawa in combat fatigues approaching the protesters, ignoring his subordinates' moves to stop him. DA Director General Ishiba admitted that the general had responded wrongfully toward the protesters. (end)