Japan Press Weekly

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2015 January 28 - February 3 [WORLD]

Japanese journalists & civic groups denounce Islamic State’s terrorism

Following the extremist group Islamic State posting an online video showing the killing of Japanese journalist Goto Kenji on February 1, journalists’ unions and civil groups in Japan issued statements in protest against the despicable act.

The Japan Visual Journalist Association (JVJA), an organization consisting of photo and video journalists, stressed in its statement that Goto had reported facts always standing “on the side of the people suffering around the world”. While condemning the perpetrator, it called for “resolution through prudent, peaceful means”, noting that “revenge serves only to exacerbate hatred and conflict”.

Japan Federation of Newspaper Workers’ Unions (Shimbun Roren) Chair Arasaki Seigo said that he will follow Goto’s wishes by working harder to achieve world peace and democracy. He urged the Japanese government not to use this incident as a pretext for dispatching the Self-Defense Forces abroad and enhancing Japan’s military capability.

The Japan Asia Africa Latin America Solidarity Committee (Japan AALA) said in its statement that it opposes any act of terrorism by any person or organization for any reason. It demanded that the Abe administration not take advantage of this case to justify Japan’s exercise of the right to collective self-defense.

Other organizations releasing protest statements on this issue include Japan National Press Club, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, Amnesty International Japan, the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), the All-Japan Commerce and Industry Organization Association (Zenshoren), the New Japan Women’s Association (Shinfujin), and the Japan Congress of Journalists.

Past related article:
> Abe considers beefing up security laws using pretext of hostage situation in Syria [January 26, 2015]