Charity ends at home - Hostage personae non gratae

[Steve Bildermann]

It takes some doing to find a country whose citizens risk their lives thousands of miles from home, bringing hope to the wretched people of a war-ravaged land, only to be treated as personae non gratae on their return.
Last week, that country was Japan.

The Guardian

For the hostages, though, the happy ending turned sour almost overnight. No sooner had they tasted freedom than Liberal Democratic party figures and rightwing editorial writers were queuing up to label them reckless and irresponsible, even self-righteous, for ignoring warnings not to travel to Iraq.

Now that all five hostages are home, the media is turning its attention to the process that led to their release. While the intervention of the clerics association was instrumental, there is media speculation that a ransom was paid - a claim angrily denied by officials in Tokyo.

The Japanese website of the kidnapped Japanese Mr. Imai is http://www.nodu-hiroshima.org/

[Taro Toporific]

Ionly to be treated as personae non gratae on their return.

Hostages? Oh they don't exist: personae nusquam esse.

Japanese media self censors hostage coverage
ABC Online http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1087355.htm
PM - Wednesday, 14 April , 2004 18:24:11

....example of self-censorship. The dramatic video footage of the three Japanese hostages looking terrified while knives were put to their throats were seen across the world, but not in Japan. None of the major television networks have shown a frame, preferring to use much less dramatic footage of the hostages sitting relatively comfortably, chatting to their captors.

The broadcasters have given several reasons for their decision, but none make much sense. They argue the pictures are too distressing, but Japanese television often shows images that are a lot more gruesome.

They argue the footage might upset the hostages' families but, incredibly, the families are the ones demanding the scenes be aired.

At a recent press conference, the father of one of the captives held up a photo of the scene and yelled, "Why isn't this picture being put on television? I want them to show my son is in a terrible situation!" Another relative demanded the media show the truth. Another accused it of manipulating its reports.

The self-censorship has had an impact on public opinion and debate.

[Steve Bildermann]

The Japanese weeklies are now saying that some of those 'grisly' photos were actually 'staged' with the co-operation of the 'hostages'

Iraqi militants asked three Japanese nationals to pretend to be scared when videotaping them after kidnapping them earlier this month, Japanese police sources said Tuesday after interviewing the trio.

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=1&id=295843

[Taro Toporific]

The Japanese weeklies are now saying that some of those 'grisly' photos were actually 'staged' with the co-operation of the 'hostages'
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=1&id=295843

Now wouldn't it be k-cool if the 'hostages' got a cut of the 30 oku yen ransom!

[Taro Toporific]

The Japanese weeklies are now saying that some of those 'grisly' photos were actually 'staged' with the co-operation of the 'hostages' http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=1&id=295843

See
http://www.sankei.co.jp/news/morning/21iti001.htm


Via http://www.delabit.com/nekobaba/

[Caustic Saint]

I saw that on Nekobaba a little bit ago. I question its validity, just because it's so absurd.

That doesn't mean it might not be real, but in the age of PhotoShop, what is "real" anymore?"

[American Oyaji]

I doubt that is real (the slapboard or whatever its called)

Why would they use one of those with English on it?

[Caustic Saint]

I doubt that is real (the slapboard or whatever its called)

Why would they use one of those with English on it?

And the handwritten text next to "PROD" "DIRECTOR" & "CAMERA" is more blurred than the rest of it.

Not a bad try, though.

[Taro Toporific]

Not a bad try, though.

As far as the photo goes, it's a hoot.
As far as the "Truth" goes, it's never gonna be known.

[quote="J@pan Inc Magazine"]
J@pan Inc Magazine, newsleter
Issue No. 271 / Wednesday, April 21, 2004
TOKYO -- Michael E. Stanley
http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/

"Hostages?" The Tale of the Tape
As soon as Al Jazeera had aired video of the the three Japanese taken by
their kidnappers, I was asked by the Fuji TV News Center to look over the
tape. What the Japanese public saw again and again on their TV screens was only a small part of the original recording. NHK and the commercial
stations in Japan elected to avoid showing the more "shocking" and
"violent" parts of the tape
I saw the whole thing at least twenty times, rewinding, replaying, and
closely examining some of the details...there was no blood whatsoever, nor -- at least to my eyes -- any convincingly realistic "violence."
<snip>
The tape opens with shots of the three Japanese blindfolded and
squatting/half-sitting on the floor of a dingy building that looks to have
bullet scars on its walls and unglazed open rectangles for windows. The
sitting/squatting posture is odd -- there is a strangely relaxed posture
evident. They are not on their knees and they are holding their heads up
in a normal way]

[dingosatemybaby]

Not a bad try, though.

As far as the photo goes, it's a hoot.
As far as the "Truth" goes, it's never gonna be known.

J@pan Inc Magazine, newsleter
Issue No. 271 / Wednesday, April 21, 2004
TOKYO -- Michael E. Stanley
http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/

"Hostages?" The Tale of the Tape
As soon as Al Jazeera had aired video of the the three Japanese taken by
their kidnappers, I was asked by the Fuji TV News Center to look over the
tape. What the Japanese public saw again and again on their TV screens was only a small part of the original recording. NHK and the commercial
stations in Japan elected to avoid showing the more "shocking" and
"violent" parts of the tape
I saw the whole thing at least twenty times, rewinding, replaying, and
closely examining some of the details...there was no blood whatsoever, nor -- at least to my eyes -- any convincingly realistic "violence."
<snip>
The tape opens with shots of the three Japanese blindfolded and
squatting/half-sitting on the floor of a dingy building that looks to have
bullet scars on its walls and unglazed open rectangles for windows. The
sitting/squatting posture is odd -- there is a strangely relaxed posture
evident. They are not on their knees and they are holding their heads up
in a normal way]

You want the "Truth," kufr? Allah's got the truth:

Jews are evil, Hindus are snooty,
Christians stink worse than your father's socks.
Buddhists are stupid and their robes look fruity.
These people must be smashed with rocks.

Do not forget, when dispensing derision,
The Shinto and Taoist and Confucianist blocs.
There's so many goddamned Asian religions.
All of them must be smashed with rocks.

Then there's the women, who stall insurrection
With their lips and their curves and their frilly Jew frocks.
You can't wage jihad when you've got an erection.
These snakecharmers must be smashed with rocks.

Homos and breeders, negros and whitey,
Fatties and Flockharts and bookworms and jocks:
Praise Allah, or your heads we'll be goin' upside-y.
All of you fucking people must be smashed with rocks.

If loving this poem is wrong, then The Creator of Worlds (tm) doesn't want to be right! Allahu Ackbar!

[dingosatemybaby]

Not bad for idol-worshipping, polytheistic Japanese kufr! Allahu Akbar!

[Big Booger]

Not bad for idol-worshipping, polytheistic Japanese kufr! Allahu Akbar!

I'd beat that little fucker down hard if I caught his jackass wearing something like that near me. And as for his Hitler loving whore, I'd just kick her in the mouth or give her a nice curb check:

[DJEB]

I'd beat that little fucker down hard if I caught his jackass wearing something like that near me. And as for his Hitler loving whore, I'd just kick her in the mouth or give her a nice curb check:

You're quite big on hurting and killing, aren't you.

[dingosatemybaby]

I'd beat that little fucker down hard if I caught his jackass wearing something like that near me. And as for his Hitler loving whore, I'd just kick her in the mouth or give her a nice curb check:

You're quite big on hurting and killing, aren't you.

Killing is what the soldiers of Islam do best.
Allah ackbar!

[dingosatemybaby]

Not bad for idol-worshipping, polytheistic Japanese kufr! Allahu Akbar!

I'd beat that little fucker down hard if I caught his jackass wearing something like that near me. And as for his Hitler loving whore, I'd just kick her in the mouth or give her a nice curb check:

Big Booger, my hate-filled kufr...

Come give daddy a kiss!

[DJEB]

Killing is what the soldiers of Islam do best.
Allah ackbar!

Thanks for the lovely non sequitur.

[dingosatemybaby]

Killing is what the soldiers of Islam do best.
Allah ackbar!

Thanks for the lovely non sequitur.

Only an infidel would accuse Allah of non sequiturizing. Inshallah, the fires of hell await you!

[DJEB]

[dingosatemybaby]

LOL - Mysterious are the ways of Allah to the kufr! Fortunately, these obatarian kufr know Allah's will, even if you don't.
Allahu Ackbar!

[GuyJean]

Fortunately, these obatarian kufr know Allah's will, even if you don't.
Allahu Ackbar!

Fuck-twit in da hows! Rock on, meat-head..

GJ

[dingosatemybaby]

Fortunately, these obatarian kufr know Allah's will, even if you don't.
Allahu Ackbar!

Fuck-twit in da hows! Rock on, meat-head..

GJ

No kufr, A-double-shizzle is in the his-house, and you're throating his Creater-of-World's-sized his-hang. Now be sure to swallow, or Allah will administer a Kaaba-sized pimpslap upside your head, infidel. Allahu Ackbar!

[Steve Bildermann]

Hostage treatment as seen through the eys of Me-Fi readers

http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/32656

That's a little Japan-as-a-Kurosawa-movie, isn't it? I mean, is "dying with honor" still a big part of Japanese culture? I'm asking, I've never been there.

I hesitate to think of what the Japanese would do if they were every really pissed off. It would, no doubt, be memorable.

[DJEB]

Looks like we've got another "academic" (two posts up).

[Big Booger]

I see nothing wrong with the purging of protestors who protest behind a veil of security that they never had to pay for in the first place to be able to protest.

Killing is my business and business is good!

[dingosatemybaby]

[quote="&quot"]I see nothing wrong with the purging of protestors who protest behind a veil of security that they never had to pay for in the first place to be able to protest.
-snip-

I'm with the Booger on this one. Here's a posting from the NBR Japan-US Discussion Forum about the three hostages. It appears that Mihoko is a self-confessed former huffer:
-BEGIN QUOTE-

Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 14:53:00 -0700
From: "Fumiko Halloran"
Subject: NBR'S JAPAN FORUM (POL) Shukan Shincho on Japanese hostages
Body:
Dear Forum members:

Someone mentioned he couldn't get hold of a copy of
Shukan Shincho on Japaense hostages. I happen to have
a copy and this is the gist:

---Noriaki Imai, an 18 year old high school graduate,
was an activist who established an NGO "No!! to Small
Nuclear Arms, Sapporo Project." When he was a junior,
he went to Vietnam and got involved in the Agent
Orange issue. Having failed to get into Waseda, he had
decided to attend a college in UK. He was in charge of
public relations for an event "A Court to Judge War
Criminal Bush" that was organized by a group of
activists in Ebetsu City, Hokkaido. His mother is a
nurse and a registered Japan Communist Party member
and works at the JCP affiliated hospital in Ebetsu.
His father is an elementary school teacher. After the
kidnapping, the family immediately organized a
campaign to demand Jieitai withdrawal from Iraq.
Shincho quoted some family friends who said they felt
that Imai was a naive boy who was exploited by adult
activists. Imai met Takato in Japan and became anxious
to go to Iraq with her.

---Nahoko Takato comes from a wealthy family who
supports her life style, including her addiction to
thinner and marijana when she was in high school. Her
auto-biography, "How do you say I love you?" vividly
describes her reckless young days. After graduating
from college, she worked as an OL for a year, quit and
went to the US, influenced by a Japanese activist to
liberate black Americans. After returning to Japan,
she workd at her family's karaoke business, went to
India, Cambodia, Nepal as a volunteer and ended up in
Iraq.

---Soichiro Koriyama, former Jieitai soldier,
struggled to establish himself as a professional
photographer but with little luck. He worked as a
construction worker to save money to go to Iraq. He
had been to Pakistan, and this is the second attempt
to go to Iraq. He originally comes from Miyazaki Pref,
entered Jieitai and was a ranger. He got married and
has two kids but is divorced. He reportedly confided
to his friend, "I don't want to end my life like
this." His dream was to become a war correspondent.

---Immediately afer the first news reached the Prime
Minister's residence, the international terrorism
department of the Police Agency began to analyze
information and raised the possibility that kidnapping
was hoax for various reasons. Several military
analysts are also quoted saying the same. Shincho
quoted a senior LDP source that for every press
conference by the families, a Japan Communist Party
Youth League member was present, maneuvering the press
conference to give impression that every Japanese
demanded Jieitai's withdrawal. The same person had
orchestrated a campaign in February by high school
students to send letters and signatures to the PM
office to demand not to send Jieitai to Iraq.

---The hostage families' campaign to demand Jieitai
withdrawal, accusing the government and PM Koizumi
personally, infuriated Koizumi. Shincho quoted Koizumi
as saying "we are desperating trying to rescue the
hostages, yet their families' behavior is incredible.
For whom are we making this effort, these families are
thinking?" Even the Japanese journalists attending
the families' press conferences were taken aback when
the JCP affiliated activist groups were there,
collecting signatures to opposed Jieitai in Iraq. When
the reporters refused to sign the petition, the
activitsts reacted with angry words.

---Upon receiving the news that the hostages were
released, the three families announced a statement
through "Hokkaido Peace Net." The statement singled
out Al Jazeera and Iraq Muslim Ulama Association and
the like minded supporters in the world that they were
grateful for their efforts to release the hostages,
but never mentioned the efforts by the Japanese
government. The statement continued to demand
Jieitai's immediate withdrawal from Iraq and all the
military forces from Iraq. The families also demanded
that the portion of Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's
statement be deleted, including the words like "anger
by the Japanese public (toward kidnapping)" and "my
country's Self Defense Forces are in Iraq (to rebuild
Iraq)".

(there were several paragraphs about power struggle
between Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda and LDP
Secretary General Abe on the hostage issue, Ozawa
Ichiro's opposition to Jieitai in Iraq, and Asahi TV
anchorman's emotional interview of the hostage
families, but I shall skip them, and come to the last
paragraph)

---Since the three hostages were fully aware of danger
of going to Iraq, they should take responsibility on
their own behavior. Japanese tax payers' money has
been spent on dispatching government officials to
Iraq, who worked around the clock. Back in Tokyo,
Gaimusho and Boei-cho staff worked around the clock,
totalling 1,000 members with countless over time
hours. Total sum is expected to be in several hundred
million yen (su oku en). The Japanese government has
issued 13 warnings since last year on the danger,
therefore the government is not legally liable,
according to a laywer quoted. This lawyer said that
the government is responsible for protecting its
nationals, therefore, they should make every effort to
rescue them. However, protection of the nationals and
the government covering all the expenses are two
separate issues." According to quotes by experts on
mountain climbing accidents, "The cost for organizing
rescue teams and chartering helicopters are all
billed to the victims and their families. They are not
charged with the cost of the local police, but
recently, there is rising demand that the victims and
their families should even pay for that." The article
ends with Shincho saying that the families' behavior
is "suji ga toranai" by demanding the government to
rescue the hostages and at the same time undermining
the government, but refuse to admit that their
children went on their own will but they are not
accountable for the consequence.

Shukan Shincho is known for its hard investigative
reporting, often revealing skeltons in the closet of
those who are in spotlight. The weekly magazine is
often skeptical of motivation of those who make good
stories. Since major newspapers don't print stories
like this, many Japanese read both the newspapers and
weekly magazines to fill the gap in information.

The debate on the cost and who should pay for it
sounds like not about money but anger toward
ungrateful families who do not realize how much effort
has been invested in rescuing their children but quick
to capitalize on the incident to push for their own
political agenda.

-END QUOTE-

When you see signs like this one, which I've previously posted,


you've really got to marvel at the naivete of these folks. You're not going to whip up a lot of support with signs like these ("US dogs"? WTF? Why not "Great Satan"?), and with the obnoxiousness with which the hostages' families initially displayed; on the contrary, you're going to alienate a lot of folks, even those opposed to the war. No wonder there was a backlash.

[dingosatemybaby]

Sorry, the paint-thinner-shiffin' hostage babe is named Nahoko, not Mihoko. Oh well, like it fucking matters when it's a Japanese weekly.

[DJEB]

I see nothing wrong with the purging of protestors who protest behind a veil of security that they never had to pay for in the first place to be able to protest.

Nothing wrong?

Article 11 of the Constitution of Japan:
The people shall not be prevented from enjoying any of the fundamental human rights. These fundamental human rights guaranteed to the people by this Constitution shall be conferred upon the people of this and future generations as eternal and inviolate rights.

Article 13 of the Constitution of Japan:
All of the people shall be respected as individuals. Their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness shall, to the extent that it does not interfere with the public welfare, be the supreme consideration in legislation and in other governmental affairs.

Article 19 of the Constitution of Japan:
Freedom of thought and conscience shall not be violated.

Article 21 of the Constitution of Japan:
Freedom of assembly and association as well as speech, press and all other forms of expression are guaranteed. 2) No censorship shall be maintained, nor shall the secrecy of any means of communication be violated.

These are not totally unfamiliar ideas to the people of the United States:

Amendment I to the Constitution of the United States of America:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof]Amendment V to the Constitution of the United States of America:[/b]

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Nor are they totally unfamiliar ideas to most peoples of the planet:

Article 2 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights:

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights:

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights:

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights:

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.



You want to assault him and the woman next to him? Assault is illegal in Japan. Go for it. Enjoy your chobatsu.


I'll ignore for now that "protest[ing] behind a veil of security that [one] never had to pay for in the first place to be able to protest" is an arbitrary requirement that has no basis in law and cannot be lived up to by the majority of the planet. However, you are protesting their opposition to the war (perhaps for the language they used, but this is irrelevant) yet you never had to "pay" for their security. Under your system, you ought to kill yourself... There's a word for people that hold one standard for themselves and a lesser standard for themselves, but for the life of me, I can't remember what it is right now.


Dingobaby, do do share your hatred with all the world's religions, or just Islam?

[gomichild]

Perhaps a little off topic but you wouldn't believe the email I got today about this:

http://www.souzouzone.jp/blog/archives/008359.html

[DJEB]

Perhaps a little off topic but you wouldn't believe the email I got today about this:

http://www.souzouzone.jp/blog/archives/008359.html

Thanks.

How's this for really off topic (but on a similar vein as above)?:

One and two.

[Alcazar]

DJEB, your persistent anti-Israeli stance is pathetic. But I guess your best to achieve what passes for obsolete/Leftwing 'activism' today. Keep it up and you might be promoted to become local chief of your politburo, with extra cabbage access and an electric heater in 7 years time!



So what is today's ever-shrinking Left about? What is this walking, talking 'Accusation without an ideal?'. A very brief and woefully incomplete summary.

Roll out the tired old (new!) program:
1. Hate the United States at every step!
The most important contemporary Leftist standing order. COMPULSORY.

2.) Hate Israel (and sometimes Jews themselves) at every step!

This ties in closely with the Lefty hatred of 'globalisation' and their internal conspiracies surrounding the people who benefit from it. Hmmm, sounds like a certain man from Austria......

3.) Keep up the tattered facade that "Islam is the 'religion of peace'"
(errrrr, because it must be true if it says so on the lable!)

4.) Try to undermine and criticise every facet of Western people's way of life and culture!
The people have rejected the Left, so the Left will reject them!

5.) Under no circumstances ever actually mention the 'S' word: SOCIALISM

6.) Deny that the horrors of the USSR, China, Cuba, N-Korea, Romania or Vietnam were 'true Communism'.
(translation: Let's give it one more chance!)

7.) Try to re-interpret history to make the West and it's cultural predecessors appear negative at every step!
'What has Western Civ ever done for us?!'

8.) Try to re-interpret history in an attempt to elevate other now-dead cultures to a level of 'moral superiority' far above anything we could possibly achieve!

9.) Rage against modernity!
Eg the current 'outrage' du-jour is global trade, and more specifically, free trade agreements. Next decade, some other new 'windmills' will be found to charge at in earnest!

Rage against GM foods?
'That is like so 1998, puleese! Like, get your pro-palestinian terrorist fashion on NOW!'.

Bonus Content: Alcazar's Rightwing practical politics tip of the day:
Voters tend to like political ideas that actually make people feel good about themselves and who they are. They don't tend to stick with ideologies that perpetually criticise them without any chance of redemption or reprieve from abuse.