The assassination of top political leaders and the assassination attempt in Japan, a peaceful nation, have become a growing concern. According to multiple sources including the BBC, a smoke bomb was fired over Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a political rally a few days ago. Police arrested a suspect. Also, many top political leaders including the running and former prime ministers were assassinated and attempted to be assassinated in Japan. Shinzo Abe — the former prime minister of Japan — was assassinated on 8 July 2022 when he was speaking at a political event outside Yamato-Saidaiji Station in Nara City, Nara Prefecture. Consequently, law enforcement in providing security to top political leaders has become questionable ed in the Asian country.
It is pertinently notable that senior diplomats from some of the most powerful democracies of the world arrive for the G-7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Japan, which prides on public safety and extremely tight gun controls. Even though the latest assassination attempt is less likely to affect the Group of Seven Summit 2023, which is going to be held in May in Hiroshima with the participation of Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and the European Union, because of Japan’s usual good security conditions and the tightening of its security after the latest bomb attack, Japan needs to put emphasis on its security measures to prevent the repeated assassination of prime ministers and assassination attempt, although they have somewhat reduced during the post-war period.
Clearly, amid a national outcry, police have tightened their protective measures following a subsequent investigation that found loopholes in the security of Abe, one of Japan’s most influential and divisive politicians. But since Japan has a long history of assassinations and assassination attempts including the assassination of Premier Takashi Hara in 1921 and Premier Tsuyoshi Inukai in 1932, there are many causes of political assassinations or assassination attempts. According to available sources, religious hatred driven by former Prime Minister Abe’s apparent links to a religious group was the cause behind his assassination. Among other causes, ultra-nationalism and personal grudge over the government’s decisions — along with relaxed security measures — are also responsible for repeated assassinations and assassination attempts in economically powerful Japan.
It is a difficult task to address all the causes of the killings of prime ministers and assassination attempts in Japan because the assassinators are mostly individually driven. But steps need to be taken to address the addressable causes including security loopholes. An investigation is going on over the attack of the smoke bomb. It is hopeful that the cause(s) will be identified. But the emphasis needs to be given to the improvement of security measures in Japan. It is also desired that the security situation at political rallies, where attacks have turned out to be easier, is improved in Japan. Measures are, therefore, needed to identify security loopholes and address them.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
