Japanese government bills hostages Y2.37 mil for costs

[Steve Bildermann]

The Japanese government wants three Japanese who were held hostage in Iraq to pay it a total of 2.37 million yen to cover airfare expenses it incurred after their release, a Foreign Ministry affiliate official said Monday.

Of the sum, about 1.98 million yen was for one-way tickets for the three from the United Arab Emirates to Japan, and return tickets for two relatives and a lawyer, the official at the International Hospitality and Conference Service Association said.

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=1&id=296512

In addition to these costs, the ministry is considering asking the three to pay part of the cost of chartering the plane they took from Baghdad to the UAE capital Dubai, ministry officials said.

Their relatives already paid medical and hotel costs for the three when they visited them in Dubai, they said.

No word on when the bill for the actual release will be coming.

[jez]

maybe this is in the same vein as train companies charging the families of those who commit suicide by jumping on the tracks. Of course,the difference is,that the ex-hostages were actually out to do some good for humanity.
Cultural differences are all very well,but in that case,Japan should go back into Sakoku,and shouldn't even have joined the war in that foreign country in the first place.

[mr. sparkle]

wow, that "hammered down the hardest" thang really is true. what a bunch of clowns.

[Neo-Rio]

Out of the frying pan and into the fire!

I bet the 3 kidnapped people are wishing that they were still held hostage in Iraq! What's worse? Being held hostage by three maniacs, or being held hostage by a whole f*cking country?

Geez, if you're supposed to love your enemies... who the hell are your friends?

[dingosatemybaby]

wow, that "hammered down the hardest" thang really is true. what a bunch of clowns.

Did you say hammered down hard? The dekoboko friends in Jiminto got nothin' on this guy:

[ChrisRT]

Am I like not liked here? ~%70 of my posts end up being deleted...

[Big Booger]

I think these hostages should pay on the one hand, but then it sets an example that may discourage volunteerism in Japan...

So I am mixed on this bag of nuts.

[Mulboyne]

Kyodo via Crisscross: Film looks at ostracization of freed Japanese hostage

The film "Bashing," loosely based on the true story of a Japanese woman who was treated as an outcast by her fellow Japanese after she was released as a hostage in Iraq, is hitting the screens in Japan and Europe. Director Masahiro Kobayashi says that bashing people who do not conform should be considered a universal problem and he hopes that the film will help others who have been shunned by their communities. The film depicts the pain of a woman who is bullied by people in a small Hokkaido city six months after she returns home from an unspecified Middle Eastern country, where had been taken hostage by a militant group while doing volunteer work...more...

[Jack]

That's the same for many countries when government rescue civilians. The US and Canada also quietly send the rescue bill several months after the fact. Charging the rescuee the cost is normal procedure not only in Japan but I believe in most countries. But of course since you guys need the opportunity to jump on any occasion to shit on Japan and its policies so go right on ahead. Just remember that Australia, Canada, US and maybe Britain do the same.

[GuyJean]

That's the same for many countries when government rescue civilians.

I don't doubt it.. but why not provide some links? FG minds want to know..

GJ

[Greji]

I don't doubt it.. but why not provide some links? FG minds want to know..

GJ

Good point. I haven't look this up yet, but I do recall there were an extremely large number of Japanese that were mad at the gal! It was pointed out that she defied the government order against travel to Iraq and was there illegally, volunteer, or otherwise. Also, this occurred at a time while Japanese people as a whole were still evaluating the necessity (or need) of taking part in any of the coallition activities and no one rally wanted to say anything, or make in stand on the record.

Also, from memory, I think she made what many considered, some very "un-Japanese statements" when she was released.

All this would make for her turn in the barrel upon return! Even the kid who was be-headed did have to face that kind of music (being dead helped in that regard).

Where it doesn't make much sense to we FGs, when the J-people say "meiwaku", they perfectly understand each others feelings and in this case, dislike for these people!