February 21, 2007
The Ground Self-Defense Force 1st Division and the Saitama and Ibaraki prefectural police forces on February 20 carried out joint public security operation drills at the GSDF Asaka Garrison in Saitama Prefecture on the assumption that armed agents infiltrated into Japan.
A total of 400 personnel wearing bulletproof vests and armed with submachine guns and rifles took part in the drills.
Although the opening ceremony and troop transport drills were open to the press, drills involving the use of force such as inspections, encirclement, and suppression were not.
Japanese Communist Party Asaka City Assembly members Saito Hiromichi and Ishikawa Keiko watched the drills outside the fences of the garrison.
Saito said, “A local high school is holding a road race here. We cannot tolerate such dangerous military drills.”
A total of 400 personnel wearing bulletproof vests and armed with submachine guns and rifles took part in the drills.
Although the opening ceremony and troop transport drills were open to the press, drills involving the use of force such as inspections, encirclement, and suppression were not.
Japanese Communist Party Asaka City Assembly members Saito Hiromichi and Ishikawa Keiko watched the drills outside the fences of the garrison.
Saito said, “A local high school is holding a road race here. We cannot tolerate such dangerous military drills.”
