Relief team to Mozambique was stopped by Suzuki

An emergency medical assistance team the Foreign Ministry was preparing to send to flood-hit Mozambique in March 2000 was dissolved when Suzuki Muneo told the ministry to be "prudent." This was revealed by Akahata of March 4.

Some of the team's members who were about to leave Narita Airport were ordered to cancel their flight, Akahata reported.

The relief team, organized by the Foreign Ministry in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on March 6 in response to a request from the government of Mozambique, was to leave Tokyo on March 7.

In an interview with Akahata, a Foreign Ministry official said that Suzuki, Liberal Democratic Party General Council chairman and the Parliamentarians' League of Friendship with Mozambique president at the time, was always angry when the ministry failed to ask for his approval before making such a decision.

In sending the relief team to Mozambique, the ministry did not report to Suzuki before it made the plan. Angered by this, he told the ministry to "be prudent." Upset by Suzuki's word, the ministry officials concerned discussed what to do with his "suggestion" and decided to dissolve the team. Later, following Suzuki's instructions, the ministry sent an advance team on March 9, and the main component of the team on March 16. (end)