Iraq Hostage Crisis Keeping Japan on Edge

The armed group in Iraq that promised to release three Japanese hostages reversed its former words, saying, “We are executing one hostage within 24 hours.” Japanese society has fallen into great confusion as a result. The Japanese government seems unable to make heads or tails of the situation after the armed group insisted upon the withdrawal of Japanese self-defense forces from Iraq.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda indicated negotiations with the armed group were ongoing by saying, “I can’t explain the details” at a press conference on April 12.

But Secretary Fukuda took a step backward, saying, “We can’t be sure of what kind of situation the hostages are in,” contrary to his remarks the day before, saying, “The information we have received from Al-Jazeera reporting the imminent release of the hostages is reliable.”

In the meantime, “World Peace Now,” an NGO demanding withdrawal of Japanese self-defense forces from Iraq, said on April 12 that the statement of the group indicating the release of hostages was still effective, saying “We are making contact with the group in coalition with those supporting democracy.”

But the Japanese government reaffirmed its position that it would strengthen ties with the United States, United Kingdom, and other neighboring nations of Iraq for information-gathering purposes. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi requested U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney visiting Japan for the U.S. government’s cooperation in efforts to secure the release of the hostages. Cheney admired the decision not to withdraw Japanese self-defense forces and promised to make every possible effort.

The Defense Ministry is considering sending the Japanese media to neighboring countries in case security concerns become worse.

A ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito reaffirmed its stance to support the government, which has refused to withdraw Japanese forces from Iraq. But the leading opposition Democratic Party decided to call the government to account, indicating that Prime Minister Koizumi may not be making appropriate efforts to settle this situation. Regarding the withdrawal of self-defense forces, however, it decided not to insist upon an immediate withdrawal in order to avoid the stigma of submission to terrorist demands.

In the meantime, the “Mujahedeen Squadrons” that have claimed responsibility for the kidnapping have suggested a hostage release under the condition of “withdrawal of the self-defense forces within three days” through a statement sent to Al-Jazeera. However, this request is actually impossible to carry out. Among the Mideast experts, doubts over the scheme and its validity are rising.

Hun-Joo Cho hanscho@donga.com