Conviction of Japanese Red Army founder

[Janus]

Source: BBC News

The woman who co-founded Japan's Red Army guerrilla group has been jailed for 20 years over a 1974 attack on the French embassy in The Hague.
A court in Tokyo convicted Fusako Shigenobu, 60, of kidnapping and attempted murder.
In the Hague attack, the ambassador and 10 other staff were taken hostage in a bid to free militants in France. Two Dutch police officers were wounded.
Shigenobu was arrested in Osaka in 2000, after about 25 years on the run.
Overthrow
The conviction of Fusako Shigenobu closes one of the last chapters on a period of radical left-wing activism in Japan.
It is a period of violence which must seem remote to younger Japanese living in the one of the world's safest and most stable societies, according to the BBC correspondent in Tokyo Jonathan Head.
But in the 1960s and 70s, militant groups were prominent in Japanese political life, and none were more extreme in their tactics than the Japanese Red Army.
Its stated goal was to overthrow the Japanese government and monarchy and help foment world revolution.
It was one of the first groups to be declared a terrorist organization by the United States.
The group is best known for its suspected involvement in a machine-gun attack on Lod Airport in Israel in 1972, in which more than 20 people died.
Shigenobu has expressed regret for the deaths but defended the attack, which was carried out in co-operation with the militant Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The group's last-known action was the car bombing of the US military club in Italy in 1988.
The Red Army's ability to function declined in the 1990s as its members - never more than 40 - were arrested or found themselves living in isolation in countries like Syria and North Korea.
Fusako Shigenobu returned to Japan six years ago, apparently frustrated with her life in Lebanon.

So, it seems that the Japanese Red Army movement is finally over. Please discuss the future of the leftist movement in Japan.

[LeftistJosh]

its a dark day for the japanese leftist movement thats for sure. Alot of people could be discouraged with this news.

[Janus]

Well, the Japanese Red Army was no longer active in Japan by the 1980's. Their last action was in 1988 so they have been pretty much been insignificant for a long time. This event kind of closes the chapter on them so to speak. Also, in their later years, the JRA was largely dependent on the Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine.

[BattleOfTheCowshed]

I'm not sure. It's definitely sad that she died. However, I don't think the Japanese Red Army Movement was really growing in strength or on the verge of some major breakthrough. It would be interesting to hear more about the state of the Japanese left in a broader sense. I know the country's mainstream politics are pretty right-wing, however, if I remember correctly, there is a long tradition of anti-war movements and leftism in Japan.

[JKP]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2006, 05:53 PM
its a dark day for the japanese leftist movement thats for sure. Alot of people could be discouraged with this news.
Do you even you know what the hell you're talking about?

[Janus]

It's definitely sad that she died.
Fusako Shigenobu is not dead, she was just convicted by a Japanese court.


However, I don't think the Japanese Red Army Movement was really growing in strength or on the verge of some major breakthrough.
Of course not, even in their zenith, they had about 40 members. Like I said, there activities had pretty much ended by the late 80's.


I know the country's mainstream politics are pretty right-wing
Of course, particularly in light of the issues surrounding race and nationality in Japan, a nation that is still very xenophobic.


there is a long tradition of anti-war movements and leftism in Japan.
I'm not sure either. Japan was strengthened by the US as a deterent against the communist movement. Japan's armed forces are restricted of course but they are also seen as disgraceful by the population due to the defeat in World War II.

[BattleOfTheCowshed]

It's definitely sad that she died.
Fusako Shigenobu is not dead, she was just convicted by a Japanese court.

My bad, I knew that, I have no idea why I wrote 'died', I wasn't clear-headed :-/...



I know the country's mainstream politics are pretty right-wing
Of course, particularly in light of the issues surrounding race and nationality in Japan, a nation that is still very xenophobic.

Economically too, I think Japan has more privatization and more of an emphasis on corporate allegiance than the US.



there is a long tradition of anti-war movements and leftism in Japan.
I'm not sure either. Japan was strengthened by the US as a deterent against the communist movement. Japan's armed forces are restricted of course but they are also seen as disgraceful by the population due to the defeat in World War II.

Japan was strengthened? Care to elaborate some more? I just always thought that the ruling class there was entrenched by American forces after the war.

[Janus]

Japan was strengthened? Care to elaborate some more? I just always thought that the ruling class there was entrenched by American forces after the war.
Economically strengthened that is. The military clique dominated Japan from the 30's to 40's. Their power was ended by the Americans after World War II and the divine emperor was also changed to that of a constitutional monarch.

[cormacobear]

That's sad. but keeping her from the reach of authorities for 25 years is an impressive feat in itself.

[Punk Rocker]

She was a fucking awesome freedom fighter against governments and corporations. I thought she was arrested a long time ago though.

[Janus]

I thought she was arrested a long time ago though.
She was arrested in November of 2000 after secretly returning to Japan from Lebanon. There is a long waiting period after an arrest before a trial takes place, particularly an important one.

Either way, the JRA was disbanded in 2001 so this sentence won't have any major impact.

[Punk Rocker]

Yeah she was an old woman anyway.

[RedStarOverChina]

I had always been an admirer of the Japanese Red Army---I didnt get the part where the hijacked the plane though.

But other than that they were awsome internationalist freedom fighters.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

This isn't a big loss IMO. Though she didn't go as far as renouncing the actions of the Japanese Red Army, but a few years ago Shigenobu said a that the days of armed revolution were over and it was time to take up the "peaceful route".

[Goatse]

I posted this before... but my post got wiped in that server change.

Why the hell are you all so sad? The Japanese Red Army opened up machine gun fire in a crowed airport... they're simply terrorists. In their eyes perhaps they are advancing the cause, but hijacking a plane and crashing it... another thing the righties have on us now. Good fucking job.

[Zero]

-.-

Fight with words untill your enemy runs out of metophysical bullets. Only once the violence has been instagated on their part do you take up arms in revenge. We are the stronger willed, and we are the ones who fight for the right cause. What good is it to the worker if all they see is a red scare for what it is propagated to be?

[bcbm]

Sekigun were definitely one of the more brutal red terror groups operating in the seventies, given the murder of 26 people in Lod airport and their tactics for dealing with those who "broke Sekigun discipline." I don't see much to mourn here, except that an old woman is being locked up for the rest of her life.

[Janus]

given the murder of 26 people in Lod airport
I agree. I don't see how indiscriminately killing 24 people would help the movement at all.


except that an old woman is being locked up for the rest of her life.
That depends on how long she lives. She won't get out until she's 80 years old.


but a few years ago Shigenobu said a that the days of armed revolution were over and it was time to take up the "peaceful route".
Yes, Shigenobu disbanded the JRA in 2001 from jail. She stated that the group would pursue its cause legally. However, the JRA was already insignificant at that point.