SDF general's highhanded remarks protested

Local residents in Oita Prefecture held a rally to protest against a commanding general of the Ground Self-Defense Force Western Army who interfered with a citizens' rally against recent Japan-U.S. joint military exercises.

Matsukawa Masaaki, who was inspecting the Japan-U.S. joint exercises (Nov. 18-20) at Hijudai and Jumonjihara exercises fields in Oita Prefecture in Kyushu, made abusive remarks on November 18: "The exercises are assigned to maintain deterrence against North Korea; opposition rallies always attract media attention so that details of the exercises will be known by the enemy; so why do you oppose the exercises?"

A local network of Oita-Hijudai citizens opposing U.S. exercises held a rally on November 21 in front of the Hijudai exercise field gate.

One of the participants said, "We are angry to hear an SDF general slighting the right of the public to protest. We are opposed to the government policy of enacting the contingency bills in the current Diet session."

The participant sent protest notes to Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro and Defense Agency Director General Ishiba Shigeru demanding that the general be punished and retired.

Another Hijudai-based group that sponsored the rally and was reprimanded by the general, also sent a note in protest against the SDF.

In the parliament, Japanese Communist Party lawmakers Akamine Seiken and Koizumi Chikashi in both houses requested the government to fully inquire into the matter, and the chairpersons of related committees and the DA director general promised to do so. (end)