Cablegate: Japan: 2007 Country Reports On Terrorism

VZCZCXRO7381
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #5649/01 3550646
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 210646Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0546
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 5136
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA PRIORITY 3840
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 7532
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 8801
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 5766
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 005649

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TO S/CT RHONDA SHORE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER
SUBJECT: JAPAN: 2007 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

REF: SECSTATE 146856

1. Japan continued to increase efforts to prevent terrorism
and there were no terrorist attacks in Japan in 2007.
Domestically, Japan bolstered its defenses against terrorism
by improving crisis management and first responder
capabilities and took steps to strengthen border security.
By December 2007, 98 percent of local governments had adopted
plans to better protect the public from terrorist attacks and
in March 2006 the Cabinet approved emergency contingency
plans for 47 prefectures. Japan held local drills simulating
terrorist attacks to boost response capabilities. In
January, Japan made it mandatory for both ship and air
carriers to provide manifest information prior to the arrival
of the conveyance.

2. In November, immigration officials began to collect and
electronically store finger prints and facial imagery from
foreigners under the revised Immigration and Refugee Control
Act. The Ministry of Justice Immigration Bureau continued
testing that began in 2004 on a biometric fingerprint and
facial recognition system at Narita and Kansai airports with
the aim of identifying people trying to enter Japan on fake
passports.

3. Japan used Official Development Assistance (ODA) grants to
expand counterterrorism capacity in Southeast Asia. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Economic Cooperation
Bureau increased funding for the annual Cooperation on
Counterterrorism and Security Enhancement grant aid program.
This FY 2007 US$ 65 million program included projects aimed
at bolstering piracy prevention, increasing maritime and port
security, and preventing weapons proliferation.

4. Japan made valuable contributions to building
counterterrorism capacity among Asian countries. In May,
Japan hosted a two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) conference
aimed at battling terrorism in Asia, Europe, and beyond.
Participants shared threat assessments and discussed ways to
increase CT capacity building. Japan provided assistance to
the G-8 Counterterrorism Action Group (CTAG) and maintained
momentum on improving port security via the G-8 adopted
Secure and Facilitated International Travel Initiative
(SAFTI). Japanese experts participated in G-8 bioterrorism
workshops on forensic epidemiology and decontamination. In
March, Japan invited 15 countries from Southeast Asia to a
seminar to promote accession and ratification of
international counterterrorism treaties. In September, Japan
hosted the ASEAN-Japan Counterterrorism Dialogue. In
October, Japan became a partner nation in the U.S. Global
Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.

5. Japan increased efforts to combat terrorist financing. On
April 1 the Japanese government promulgated a new anti-money
laundering law, the Law for Prevention of Transfer of
Criminal Proceeds, which expanded the scope of businesses and
professions under the previous law's jurisdiction, and moved
the financial intelligence unit from the Financial Regulatory
Agency to the National Police Agency (NPA) in accordance with
FATF recommendations. Furthermore, the Foreign Exchange and
Foreign Trade Law's January revision now requires Japanese
financial institutions to confirm the identity of customers
sending 100,000 yen ($900) or more overseas. The Financial
Services Agency announced a similar change for domestic
remittances; in an amendment to the Customer Identification
by Financial Institutions rule, financial institutions are
now required to identify the originators of wire transfers
over 100,000 yen.

6. In June, Japan implemented revised infectious disease
legislation aimed at tightening control of harmful pathogens
that could be used for terrorism. In July, the Japanese
government held a seminar on the prevention and crisis
management of bioterrorism to strengthen mechanisms to combat
CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) terrorism
in the Asia Pacific. Participants included ASEAN countries,
China, Korea, and the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for
Counterterrorism (SEARCCT). In August, Japan ratified the
International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of
Nuclear Terrorism. Japan was an active partner in the
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), and in October
hosted Pacific Shield 2007, a seven-nation PSI maritime
security drill to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction.

TOKYO 00005649 002 OF 002

7. Japan continued to reach beyond the region in its fight
against terrorism and its trilateral counterterrorism
cooperation with the United States and Australia remained
robust. In June, Japan participated in a counterterrorism
trilateral meeting in Australia to better synchronize
regional activities.

8. Japan Air Self-Defense Forces, based in Kuwait, continued
to provide airlift operations in support of Iraq during 2007.
In July, the Cabinet approved a one-year extension of the
deployment. In 2007, between January and October, the
Maritime Self-Defense Forces provided approximately 5.7
million gallons of fuel to U.S. and allied naval vessels
engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom but ended refueling
operations in the Indian Ocean in November. The Cabinet has
submitted legislation to the parliament that, if passed, will
authorize resumption of refueling efforts in 2008.

9. Bilaterally, Japan was a responsive partner in the fight
against terrorism. In January, Japan and the United States
initiated a pilot Immigration Advisory Program (IAP) at
Narita Airport to identify high risk travelers before they
board flights destined for the United States. The IAP pilot
has been extended until July 2008 and negotiations are
underway to convert the pilot IAP into a long-term program.

10. Japan and the United States continued to improve the
preparedness and interoperability of U.S. and Japanese armed
forces, and civilian entities, to respond to and sustain
operations during a CBRN attack. The bilateral CBRN Defense
Working Group (CDWG), established under the U.S.-Japan
Security Consultative Committee (SCC), held plenary meetings,
conducted seminars on decontamination and medical response
and engaged in table top exercises in the United States and
Japan throughout 2007. Representatives from the Ministry of
Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Self
Defense Forces, Cabinet Secretariat, the NPA, the Fire and
Disaster Management Agency, and the Nuclear Safety
Commission, among other government agencies, participate in
the CDWG.

11. The NPA and the Public Security Intelligence Agency
(PSIA) continued to monitor the activities of Aum Shinrikyo,
renamed Aleph. In May, Fumihiro Joyu, a former spokesman and
Aum leader, along with approximately 200 Aleph members, split
and formed a new organization called Hikari No Wa (Circle of
Light). PSIA and NPA continued to monitor both groups and
inspected their facilities in 2007. The Tokyo High Court, in
June, upheld the death sentence for Seiichi Endo for his
involvement in the Matsumoto and Tokyo sarin attacks. In
July, the Tokyo Court upheld the death sentence for former
senior Aum member Tomomasa Nakagawa for his role in 11
crimes, including the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack. In
August, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for
Masato Yokoyama for his involvement in the 1995 Tokyo subway
sarin gas attack; he is not eligible for future appeals. The
Supreme Court, in October, upheld the death sentence for Aum
Shinrikyo member Satoru Hashimoto, who carried out the 1994
sarin gas attack in Matsumoto. In November, the Supreme
Court upheld the death sentence for Satoru Hashimoto, for his
involvement in the 1994 Matsumoto attack.

12. In April, police arrested suspected former Japan Red Army
member Yu Kikumura upon reentry to Japan following
deportation from the United States; Kikumura was deported
from the United States after being released from U.S. prison
for serving time for transporting home made bombs. In May,
the Tokyo High Court upheld the life in prison sentence for
Haruo Wako, for his role the 1974 seizure of the French
Embassy in The Hague and for his role in seizing the U.S.
Embassy in Kuala Lumpur the following year. The Tokyo
District Court sentenced Jun Nishikawa to life in prison for
his role in the 1974 seizure of the French Embassy in The
Hague and the 1977 hijacking of a Japan Airlines plane.
DONOVAN

© Scoop Media