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Riot police raid Kyoto University after 3 activists arrested

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Suppression of free speech, but you don't see this type of action against the fascist right wing uyoku. Nope, they are protected by so called free speech; double standards. Control the media, then suppress any discontent in a massive show of force, Abe and his neo-cons are showing their true colors. BTW, why are the Tokyo Met Police involved in Kyoto?

56 ( +64 / -8 )

As always, if you're conservative and patriotic, you can get away with anything. If you're leftist and want justice, the government will smash you.

40 ( +46 / -7 )

First off, the TMP, are the defacto FBI in Japan, they are sent all over the country for large scale operations, that is why they were leading the charge, and because the first so called attack took place in a march in Ginza Tokyo. This article didn't give the information that the police sent an undercover police officer onto the campus to try and infiltrate the so called leftist sympathizers, but he was made quickly and students grabbed him. The students are protesting the Abe regime, from everything from the tax hike, to the change in the law regarding the military, to the restart of the nuclear reactors. It is good to see young people taking a stand. I hope they get more support and don't get buried by the press, which will most likely happen!

38 ( +39 / -1 )

Regret the jackboot crackdown on dissent but I'm happy to hear not all of Japanese young people are apathetic.

36 ( +37 / -1 )

Hey, Japan. You and China have a lot more in common than you think.

28 ( +37 / -8 )

But the movement gradually receded as Japan grew wealthier.

These type of lazy summary statements about history do a disservice to understanding. The article should have mentioned the many ways dissent was and continues to be crushed in Japan, including instances such as this one and at the labour rally, where riot police show a very heavy hand and then arrest anyone who stands up for their right to free expression.

The need of the neo-liberal state to react so violently against student activists worried about their future shows the delegitimacy of Abe's class warfare policies that are helping to widen the income and wealth gaps.

28 ( +32 / -4 )

Interesting. I search other news sources on this incident and every news source I found has the exact same article, word for word. Talk about controlling the media! Seems like one one person is reporting the news to every news source.

25 ( +27 / -2 )

As mentioned by Ostap Bender the disparity in the way the Police react to left and right protests and demonstrations is huge. The Right Wing seem to move around with impunity protesting noisily in their buses but any discernible dissent from the left is smashed like an annoying bug in summer.

25 ( +25 / -0 )

They needed scores of riot police to "prevent confusion"?

22 ( +26 / -4 )

The question is WHO instructed the riot police to raid the university? They didn't just get the idea on their own and I doubt JT will do any digging.

21 ( +22 / -1 )

As long as it's non-violence protest, these protest are necessary component of a healthy democracy when comparing dictatorships with democracies, the greatness of Japan is the right to protest for right. Sadly, this idea does not seem to resonate with those in the Japanese power structure, who have presided over a noticeable decline of freedom of expression in recent years.

16 ( +19 / -3 )

"Footage of Thursday’s raid showed no evidence of any violence, with Jiji Press reporting riot police were brought in to “prevent confusion”."

Yeah, and I have a unicorn to sell you.

11 ( +16 / -5 )

So, the economy is in trouble again and there is a rise in left wing protesters? Gee! What a surprise that is, NOT! It's also no surprise to see the fascist cops roll up in force to arrest three people.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

It is the right-wingers they need to go after. They are the frightening element of society.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Well I can't say I'm surprised, Kyoto University is known for radically leftist students. In my opinion that's a good thing. Kyoto University ensures its students are unique free thinkers not bound to the expectations of Japanese culture. It has a special place in my heart.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

riot police were brought in to “prevent confusion”

Apparently some people were labouring under the mistaken impression they had a right to free speech.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

Why does this article not mention what exactly this movement stands for?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Waste of tax payers' money.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

Interesting that the link that nigelboy posted above for the Wikipedia article on this group (革命的共産主義者同盟全国委員会) has no information in Japanese

There's at least 10,000 words in that linked Wikipedia article in Japanese. What are you looking at?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

For you Americans out there, these guys (Revolutionary Communis League - Chuukakuha) pipe bombed your embassy. The article seems to purposely frame this as the extreme right opressing liberalism and all the good it stands for.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

GW

I saw this in the news last night but couldn't figure out why the overly harsh response by the keystones.......

Really? They weren't overly heavy handed, they weren't pepper-spraying people, nor did they release the dogs or start firing tear gas. They went in prepared for the worst, and left.

As far as why... ever driven into Narita? There's a big security checkpoint, cops come on the bus and check ID. Beyond the fences there are riot squad trucks and other crowd control measures at the ready. Ever wonder about that?

They all exist because of the protests that this group was a big big part of from the 70s to the 90s. Face it, this group has a long history of being a hell of a lot more forward in their protests than the sign waving/slogan chanting common at western universities, or even the irritating sound trucks of the right wing here. Beyond the riots and general mayhem, they once took a truck-mounted flamethrower to the LDP headquarters. Their members have been involved in mortar attacks on US bases in Japan, something that's happened in the last couple of years. Bit of a different league, ne?

With that history in mind, if you were a cop, would you walk in there without a helmet and shield?

5 ( +9 / -4 )

When I saw it on the news, it was the first time I ever noticed riot police carrying powerful metal cutters/chain saws. What kind of confusion requires that kind of equipment?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

This raid at Kyoto University apparently comes in the wake of a TMP raid on Chukaku-ha's Tokyo headquarters a few days ago.

This blog provides some interesting background information on the raid and the incident of the undercover police officer being exposed on the Kyoto U campus: http://throwoutyourbooks.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/police-raid-chukaku-ha-headquarters-zenshinsha/

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@Fouxdefa

Kyoto University ensures its students are unique free thinkers not bound to the expectations of Japanese culture.

I guess that explains why hubby married a foreigner... (there were VERY FEW of us at that time !)

4 ( +5 / -1 )

@dbsaiya "BTW, why are the Tokyo Met Police involved in Kyoto?"

Kyoto Prefectural Police carried out the raid at the university, not the Metroplitan Police Department, which conducted the investigation into the Ginza demonstration earlier in the month.

Important detail missing from JT's report: the police are supposed to contact the university before entering campus but failed to notify university authorities prior to the raid.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Kakumaru-ha and Chukaku-ha are the far left terrorist groups. They have killed and injured many people .I hope these groups are expelled soon.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

BTW, why are the Tokyo Met Police involved in Kyoto?

Presumably because the relevant "obstruction" took place during a rally in Tokyo.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Wahou, you send anti-riot staff when nothing has happened. Censorship and absence of free speech are successes. Hourah !

3 ( +7 / -4 )

... wow, the J-cops truly have no idea, do they? Their actions are clearly illegal and there's a massive amount of case law from the 1970's to back this up.

Last time the cops tried invading campuses the academics decided they'd had enough and launched a constitutional challenge, under the somewhat ambiguous line in the Japanese constitution, "Academic freedom is guaranteed".

The academics were successful and the judges ordered the police off campuses and out of academic affairs in (for Japanese legal decisions) very strong language.

Now they're trying the same thing again? And these are the people who are supposed to UPHOLD the law?

3 ( +10 / -7 )

@ yosun

If I recall, the countries you speak of ran over their university students with tanks, OOH right that wasn't on university grounds so that makes it okay.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Joe Bigs - you bandy the word terrorist around like it's a plaque that sticks to all with whom you disagree.

Yeh - I know the groups history - but please save me the platitudes re how monsterous these individuals were/are.

A lot of monsters operating in this country never see the flash of a shield or the crash of a baton or the smash of a gun, even though there monstrous action go on daily.

Why was the policeman originally undercover on campus?

In the case of an unknown strange person filming on campus are students allowed to be suspicious of the said persons actions and detain the person until clarification is obtained?

What was the nature of the original "attack" on the police? What levels of violence were used and what injuries were sustained?

Because you have an opinion at variance with the govt in power does that necessitate the use of of the para-military in an obvious hyper overeaction. I'd say yes in China, Myanmar, N.K and elsewhere - but Japan? Better tell my daughter to not speak out as she may get her head crushed in by the Forces of Democracy.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Vincehwr

It annoys me how Japan seems to convince that they are embracing the freedom of speech yet it apparently doesn't. If it wants freedom of speech, embrace it all the way not half-hearted bullshit attempt.

Please explain how any of this is related to freedom of speech.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

browny1Nov. 14, 2014 - 06:47PM JST Joe Bigs - you bandy the word terrorist around like it's a plaque that sticks to all with whom you disagree. Yeh - I know the groups history - but please save me the platitudes re how monsterous these individuals were/are.

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Since you know this groups history of violence and acts of terror, but defend them so quickly then you must be a supporter. Am I right?

browny1Nov. 14, 2014 - 06:47PM JST A lot of monsters operating in this country never see the flash of a shield or the crash of a baton or the smash of a gun, even though there monstrous action go on daily.

By all means, please name a few of these monsters.

browny1Nov. 14, 2014 - 06:47PM JST Why was the policeman originally undercover on campus?

Chukaku Ha isn't a chess club or a tennis club. Chukaku Ha is a violent organization that has a long track record or breaking the law. If the police aren't investigating them then they aren't doing their job.

browny1Nov. 14, 2014 - 06:47PM JST In the case of an unknown strange person filming on campus are students allowed to be suspicious of the said persons actions and detain the person until clarification is obtained?

They knew he was a police officer and they kidnapped him.

browny1Nov. 14, 2014 - 06:47PM JST What was the nature of the original "attack" on the police? What levels of violence were used and what injuries were sustained?

If you had read one of the posts I made you would have seen what they did to subdue the officer. Then you would have read how they held the officer captive until the university stepped in and told them to release the officer. But to help you out I will provide the link again.

https://throwoutyourbooks.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/security-police-kyoto-university-campus-arrests-activists/

http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2141508149717446101

Again, they knew he was an officer and not a "suspicious person" or a "weirdo", but they still kidnapped him.

browny1Nov. 14, 2014 - 06:47PM JST Because you have an opinion at variance with the govt in power does that necessitate the use of of the para-military in an obvious hyper overeaction. I'd say yes in China, Myanmar, N.K and elsewhere - but Japan? Better tell my daughter to not speak out as she may get her head crushed in by the Forces of Democracy.

Ever heard of the Japan Red Army or Kansai Revolutionary Army? Well, those two happy go lucky groups are linked to Chukaku Ha.

Mennonite MaidenNov. 15, 2014 - 12:09AM JST Are you working with the cops to be so sure they weren't doing anything "illegal"? As far as I know, most of the cops are corrupt and filth just like the present govt. The good, decent ones can be counted with the fingers.

And if you were being attacked or robbed you'd scream for the police! And after they came to help you'd damn them.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

375sensei:

As mentioned by Ostap Bender the disparity in the way the Police react to left and right protests and demonstrations is huge. The Right Wing seem to move around with impunity protesting noisily in their buses but any discernible dissent from the left is smashed like an annoying bug in summer.

Three of them were involved in an assault on Tokyo cops back in October. Last week they caught an undercover cop on campus, tackled him and held him for three or four hours.

If you can point to any other group (regardless of wing) getting away with that kind of action in the last 60 years, please enlighten me.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

This is some seriously scary %$%#!

Just imagine whats going to happen after 12/10!

I saw this in the news last night but couldn't figure out why the overly harsh response by the keystones...........this morning I feel like I have woken in commie China or NKorea!

I have no problems with authorities monitoring what people are up to to an extent & within reason, but I just don't see what these students did deserve anywhere near this kind of assault by the authorities..........especially as many have mention right wing nut jobs are all over the place doing what they please WTF!!!!

2 ( +8 / -6 )

I may be wrong - but I always had the immpression that the police couldnot enter public universities grounds without permssion.

If so, was the original under-cover policeman there illegally and carrying out illegal actions by filming?

And, no matter which way you look at this, the masses of para-military that massed, was way over the top. Abenomics pays well.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Not sure why the fixation on left vs right and people crying how unfair this group is being treated... The headline shiuld read something like "3 members from group responsible for variety of violent protests (who btw happen to be leftist) arrested"

Without reading, sure, it looks like freedoms being violated..but these guys have a long list of things that they have done which are very criminal...wouldn't be surprised if this raid was the result of supsicion of some future attack they planned.

No. Not calling them terrorists, just extrmely vigilante and often criminal protesters.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I would like to answer some questions asked above.

One, the police went in fully protected by riot gear because they did not know what or if any weapons they'd be up against. If it gets a police person back home to their loved ones then I'm all for it. I do not want a police person to be taken from their families and their kids left without them. I fail to see why this is so hard to grasp. They didn't smash into the dorm with a tank or shoot grenades into the dorm, they simply went in protected in the gear.

Two, the Tokyo police are the FBI in Japan. When other police in Japan need assistance they call the Tokyo Met, which is also known as the NPA (National Police Agency). I have a friend who is a Lieutenant with the Aichi Police and this is the answer he gave me.

This group had assaulted police in Tokyo and are considered very dangerous. I say rightfully so they are considered dangerous. You do not assault anyone and when you do society has a right to label you a danger.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Waste of taxpayers' democracy.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

HGuy

I happen to live in Narita & have been going to the NRT for over 20yrs for work as I am in the freight biz so I am VERY well aware of the darth vader cops as I refer to them...................

Given that most of the NRT related nastiness ended a few decades ago its just become another waste of my taxes & amakudari haven, they could easily cut down on the vader cops & the rent a cops who glance at my license as I enter the main airport(twice yesterday!) & again the cargo warehouses etc,.... they need some but their numbers is off the charts absurd!

Just as absurd as the keystones in Kyoto I might add!

1 ( +5 / -4 )

This is a very political week. While most try to look ahead some rely on the ghosts of the past.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@yosun When Japan has months of students camping out in major cities, then you will have the right to say something.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I may be wrong

Enough said.

but I always had the immpression that the police couldnot enter public universities grounds without permssion.

...and it's MY understanding that there is no actual law against it and this it has just been a policy of the police not to enter the campuses unannounced.

If so, was the original under-cover policeman there illegally and carrying out illegal actions by filming?

As noted above, there's no actual law against the police being there, so nothing illegal was perpetrated by the undercover police.

And, no matter which way you look at this, the masses of para-military that massed, was way over the top. Abenomics pays well.

It's not "over the top" when the group had already kidnapped an undercover officer against his will. The police weren't sure just how many members of this group existed in the dorm, so it was better to go in expecting the worst rather than a single patrol car. The group has already exhibited a penchant for assaulting uniformed police officers, so the response was more than justified. Now, had they bashed in the dorm doors with battering rams and then detained everyone in the building I might have more sympathy for your statement, but that's not what happened.

A lot of monsters operating in this country never see the flash of a shield or the crash of a baton or the smash of a gun, even though there monstrous action go on daily.

So you're saying that because not ALL crimes are punished, the police are wrong for trying to arrest THIS group? EPIC FAIL.

Why was the policeman originally undercover on campus?

Just a ballpark guess, but I'd say that after the three assaulted the police and at least one was identified as being a Kyoto student, that the police felt they needed to get a handle on how many of these radicals were in Kyoto University. They had a couple of options; raid the campus with a full riot battalion, or send in an undercover cop to quietly assess the situation. I guess you'd have preferred it if they had initially chosen the riot battalion, huh?

In the case of an unknown strange person filming on campus are students allowed to be suspicious of the said persons actions and detain the person until clarification is obtained?

No they are not. Students - in fact ANY civilians - are not allowed to detain people for four hours REGARDLESS of the situation. It does not take four hours to contact police to report a suspicious person. This was a four-hour kidnapping. Nothing more, nothing less.

What was the nature of the original "attack" on the police? What levels of violence were used and what injuries were sustained?

Irrelevant to this story. You made a nice attempt at derailing the discussion, though!

Because you have an opinion at variance with the govt in power does that necessitate the use of of the para-military in an obvious hyper overeaction.

Having an opinion at variance with the government does not entail kidnapping. The people arrested on November 2nd were part of a LARGER group proclaiming "an opinion at variance with the govt in power", so if the government is as Draconian as you imply, ask yourself why only those three were arrested rather than the entire protest group? Obviously they were doing something different than merely having "an opinion at variance with the govt in power" - something that was actually illegal.

Better tell my daughter to not speak out as she may get her head crushed in by the Forces of Democracy.

Hmmm... I must have missed the part in the articles where either the arrested protesters or the students in the Kyoto dorm had their heads "crushed in". You seem privy to information not reported in the news. I assume the victims with the crushed-in skulls died on the spot? Please tell us more!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Any "fringe" group that promotes violence to promote a cause, whatever it might be, is a danger to society. Once upon a time the Red Army, al-Qaeda, Hamas, ISIS, etc, were all fringe groups as well and even a left-wing moron can see the damage they have done.

Police have every right to enter a public university or any other public place; a university is not a sanctuary for criminals.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I'm really glad that most of the comments here are critical of the police raid on the students dormitory. I have always thought the police are there maily to protect themselves and the interests of people they like, namely the right-wingers, and not to protect ordinary citizens like us. So always keep in mind that they won't do anything effective to protect you even when you need their protection until you've been injured or murdered, except maybe when you ask them for directions to some place. The crime rate in this country might be low but this not because the police are doing good work. This is mainly because most people here are basically law abiding citizens.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Notice how in this and other reporting, they actually don't reference specifically what this group was protesting.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Damn terrorists. Good job by the police to take control of these Chukakuha nuts.

People here don't get the joke but I can't stop laughing lol

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@ Bogi JT is English boards and there is hardly any Japanese participating. So, on sport board, Hardly any comments on Japanese game. Well, I participate on MLB as I live in USA but I don't know about Japanese teams or games except trade rumors. No comment participants and that must be reason. Many people have Japanwese tyoe sign on names but if you are Jaapanese and read their comments about Japan or Japanese language,you know they are not Japanese. Thus JT serve to English using comment writers,

0 ( +0 / -0 )

that's correct the police only intervened after violence was directed at them, unfortunayely they do not take the same approach against right wingers, although it has to be said right wingers avoid violence against police and direct it against civilisns, of which the police respond all too lightly. extreme left wingers though are increasingly turning up the violence... this is not good. Free speech is something right wingers are allowed to employ more freely than other groups also, which compounds the issue.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Why are the Tokyo Metropolitan Police operating in Kyoto?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

BTW, why are the Tokyo Met Police involved in Kyoto?

Probably because they didn't trust Kyoto police to "get the job done". Either way, riot police? That's the kind of response one normally sees in China

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Pandabelle, when I tried to access the page earlier it didn't load up. There was nothing but a title and a link to the French version. Now it seems OK. Happens sometimes for whatever reason. :)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm curious about what happened at the demonstration. During the G8 Summit here in Hokkaido I got a look a the rules for demonstrations. They're so ridiculously restrictive there's no possible way to follow them. Things like marching a certain number of centimeters from the curb and holding your arms in a certain way.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's also no surprise to see the fascist cops roll up in force to arrest three people.

When and where?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

All support for the student's ftp

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

it seems some people are encouraging police to enter university to arrest students who didnt commit crime, it's definitely best way to terminate democracy system! why dont you suggest HK police to do samething which could finish student protest in downtown over there right away! even during the time of 1989 China 6 4 or Vietnam war US student protest, the police didnt enter university to arrest students!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Yeh - I know the groups history - but please save me the platitudes re how monsterous these individuals were/are.

I really do question that. There is still one member on the wanted list for murder.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

So much for freedom of speech

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@HM7769NOV. 14, 2014 - 09:13AM JST It is the right-wingers they need to go after. They are the frightening element of society.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

You'd better report right wingers activity in Univ. Are you sure right wingers are attending Univ and influential to Univ students? Which Univ?

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Three are arrested it said. Then, the arrest earlier this month of three leftist activists, including at least one Kyoto University student. So one Kyoto U students and two more. Maybe other students are not ibterested??? Two others are instigators from Tokyo?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I can't believe what my eyes saw!

" Riot police raid Kyoto University "

Police should not appear in university not only in democratic countries! Police will not enter university even in HK or China!

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

So many supporters of the Japan Revolutionary Communist League

http://www.zenshin.org/english/index.htm

Showing your support of their freedom to sabotage, assasinate, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Communist_League,_National_Committee (Look under Activities)

Because communism has never, ever restricted freedom, anywhere, at any time in history. Am I right?

Now show your maturity and lack of knee-jerk behaviour control by reaching for that "thumbs down" link. Congratulations on making the world a better and safer place.

But the movement gradually receded as Japan grew wealthier.

Almost funny.

-3 ( +10 / -13 )

The police raided the dormitory in connection of an arrest made last month. The police don't raid other bad people so the police shouldn't raid these people then? Some of you claim the police have a double standard, but you then apply a a double standard yourself. So pretty much the police are dang if the do and dang if they don't especially with the folks on JT who use every single excuse in the book (getting old) to bash the police. Obamacare, well that's the Japanese police's fault too.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Riot police raid Kyoto University after 3 activists arrested

Leave it to AFP to leave out why the police did what they did. It always seems that when AFP reports something they forget the most crucial details.

Many people who don't do the research and leave it up to news sources to report what those news outlets want the people to read.

If one reads the story above one would think that the police were using heavy handed tactics against sweet little kids. But, these kids weren't sweet kids and they weren't peacefully expressing their political views. They are members of the Communist terror group Chukaku Ha and a few nights back kidnapped an plain clothed police officer on their campus.

Again, these weren't sweet kids peacefully expressing their political views. These kids were part of the radical Communist terror group Chukaku Ha. And, they were up to no good!

http://www.zenshin.org/english/nc_intro.htm

http://throwoutyourbooks.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/police-raid-chukaku-ha-headquarters-zenshinsha/

http://throwoutyourbooks.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/security-police-kyoto-university-campus-arrests-activists/

I expect to read some of the usual leftists who will try and claim that there is no Communist terrorist in Japan and that these kids were just happy go lucky students. Well, you may like to read up on what they have been up to before you try and cover them with a martyrs cloak. They were terrorist who committed acts of terrorism and they also kidnapped a police officer.

http://www.trackingterrorism.org/group/chukakuha

History lesson.....They also go by the name Revolutionary Communist League, National Committee and Japan Revolutionary Communist League.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/1998/06/04/national/chukaku-ha-leftists-admit-torching-buses-in-chiba/#.VGVteaNxmJA

http://www.terrorism.com/2014/04/23/rocket-attack-by-chukaku-ha/

http://www.jrcl.org/english/e-top.htm

https://throwoutyourbooks.wordpress.com/2014/08/10/kakukyodo-japan-revolutionary-communist-league/

This groups goal is a Communist controlled Japan and they will go to great lengths to achieve that goal.

They were terrorist who were arrested by the police, so BRAVO ZULU to the police for doing the right thing!

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

hokkaidoguyNOV. 14, 2014 - 07:07PM JST Please explain how any of this is related to freedom of speech.

They were the activists making statements possibly the controversial ones the right wing doesn't like to hear in a labor rally Just look at some already calling them terrorists and whatnot even though they haven't really killed anyone so far.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

My thanks to both Joe & Fad for explaining all the details.

My original post was simply to question the legality of the search and to state I thought the show of strength was way over the necessary force required to investigate.

But as you have both pointed out the extreme danger of the group and their threat to modern society (not 1970's) I will agree with you and accept that 120 paramilitary officers in full regalia was needed.

Also I will accept my failings to clearly understand the true intent and threat to our society of the evil communists with their agenda of civil disobedience (which will lead to anarchy, riots and revolution for sure) and now am aware of those concerns you both so pointedly described. Thank you.

And I wish you'd point all of this out to the decidely conservative Abe leaning Yomiuri shimbun, who while supporting the said actions of the "goodies" appear to question the nature, protocol manner and necessity of the raid. They need some enlightening too.

Thank you again from a now-I-feel-safe-reformed-commentator on Japan.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I am sorry but you seem to be seriously confused. The police did not go on campus to arrest three people. Those three people had already been arrested in Tokyo. The campus raid at the dormitory where two of the three resided was to look for evidence related to their suspected activities

. Educator60

Forget it. There are some posters who simply do not comprehend. This guy even stated that he saw the news concerning this. Must of had the sound off 'mute'

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Interesting that the link that nigelboy posted above for the Wikipedia article on this group (革命的共産主義者同盟全国委員会) has no information in Japanese but you can choose another language, French, and I'm sure that does a lot of Japanese people good. There are certain rules for revolutionaries regardless of political outlook and one of them is, Don't s!/t in your own nest. By attacking their escorts, they only brought unnecessary trouble on themselves, a sure sign of amateurs. I agree with many of the statements above that the uyoku is more worrisome right now and get away with murder. Thye need to be dealt with.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Footage of Thursday’s raid showed no evidence of any violence, with Jiji Press reporting riot police were brought in to “prevent confusion”.

No confusion -- simply a clear demonstration of what Japan truly thinks of individual rights. Three students caused such on over-reaction? Unbelievable. Amazing given this kind of thinking that Japan and China can't get along. I mean, really, are the LDP and the entrenched bureaucrats in Japan all that different from the communist party?

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

Important detail missing from JT's report: the police are supposed to contact the university before entering campus but failed to notify university authorities prior to the raid.

Don't know what the deal with universities is (they're not embassies, so what makes them special?)

Anyway, the students in question have already displayed violent behavior recently.Why give advance warning? Can the staff be trusted not to disclose information?

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

It annoys me how Japan seems to convince that they are embracing the freedom of speech yet it apparently doesn't. If it wants freedom of speech, embrace it all the way not half-hearted bullshit attempt.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

I am sorry but the keystones as typically usual are idiots............ I mean if all they wanted was to arrest three individuals surely they could have thought of a better time/place then to head into the University............duh!

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Japanese police approach the serious business of rooting out radicals with a grim determination that has led to some significant successes. They have all but eliminated the revolutionary action wing of the Red Army faction and suppressed several other of the more violent groups of the 1970's. But new radicals continue to emerge from the left, like the Chukaku-ha (Kyoto University), and from the ultra-right. Japanese radicals are probably better prepared to battle police than any other protesters in the world. (In the USA, the student revolt probably reached its high point in the spring of 1970 when National Guardsmen killed four students at Kent Stale University during a campus demonstration against the invasion of Cambodia.)

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

Why does this article not mention what exactly this movement stands for?

National Workers All Out Rally. This is for Labor Unions. They start out in Hibiya Park with their rally and then ends in a demonstration march with full escort from the riot police. What these Chukakuha members typically do is to join in on the march and cause trouble against those escort police. They did the EXACT same thing in Anti Nuke Rally.

They have their flyers, weekly publication, and symposiums so "freedom of speech" is not an issue. They get their radical message through by adding violence to their cause which in the past includes bombing and murder.

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

Left-wing "activists" and their closet supporters are always causing trouble, then when their unlawful activities are stopped they scream murder and "suppression of free speech." Let us hope that most people are smart enough not to condone the activities of those dregs of humanity.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

Leftist abide by a double standard. When they "protest" they actually instead attack, throw firebombs, loot and intimidate. If you try to prevent them they scream "free speech" or "humans rights". They want it to apply to them but not to others equally. Such protestors need to be raided, crushed and stopped from carrying their immature and dangerous actions.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

ever driven into Narita? There's a big security checkpoint, cops come on the bus and check ID.

they could easily cut down on the vader cops & the rent a cops who glance at my license as I enter the main airport(twice yesterday!) & again the cargo warehouses etc,.... they need some but their numbers is off the charts absurd!

The ones checking IDs and car boots are not police, they're security guards (=rentacops?). The blokes standing a way off watching and ready to move in if anything happens, are the police.

My SiL did a stint at Narita Airport as part of his training, and he said that apart from the time spent drilling (in full riot gear, out of public view) the cops had very little to do since the security guards were the ones stopping all the vehicles and checking IDs.

As for police on raids being decked out in full riot gear - if it stops my SiL getting his head smashed in, I'm all in favour. Over-the-top protection is not a bad thing. They're all somebody's son/brother/father/husband.

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

yosunNov. 14, 2014 - 01:29PM JST I can't believe what my eyes saw! " Riot police raid Kyoto University "

So, you would prefer that police didn't go after terrorists hiding out in Universities, got it.

yosunNov. 14, 2014 - 01:29PM JST Police should not appear in university not only in democratic countries! Police will not enter university even in HK or China!

Really, you're going to try and make a claim like this and use one of the greatest offenders of civil rights and liberties as your example?

Christopher GlenNov. 14, 2014 - 02:20PM JST BTW, why are the Tokyo Met Police involved in Kyoto? Probably because they didn't trust Kyoto police to "get the job done". Either way, riot police? That's the kind of response one normally sees in China

When you are dealing with violent radicals and terrorists you best be prepared for anything. The terrorists group that these darling belonged to is know to use violence and have weapons. So, I am glad that the police went in ready to defend themselves.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

any discernible dissent from the left is smashed like an annoying bug in summer.

If you're referring to the November 2nd demonstration, they were escorted by the same police force except the three decided to turn against the very officers who were escorting them. This is very typical of the violent history and nature of this particular group.

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9D%A9%E5%91%BD%E7%9A%84%E5%85%B1%E7%94%A3%E4%B8%BB%E7%BE%A9%E8%80%85%E5%90%8C%E7%9B%9F%E5%85%A8%E5%9B%BD%E5%A7%94%E5%93%A1%E4%BC%9A

-31 ( +6 / -37 )

Damn terrorists. Good job by the police to take control of these Chukakuha nuts.

-44 ( +11 / -55 )

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