Freed Japanese hostages intend returning to Iraq
April 17, 2004 Edition 4
Tokyo - Three freed Japanese hostages were to leave Iraq today as the government in Tokyo breathed a sigh of relief.
But controversy brewed as two said they still wanted to work in the war-torn country.
The release of Noriaki Imai (18), freelance journalist Soichiro Koriyama (32) and aid worker Nahoko Takato (34) was a boon for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi who had faced his biggest political challenge to date after militants threatened to kill them unless he pulled troops out of Iraq.
But the fate of two other missing Japanese remained unclear and debate over Tokyo's military mission raged.
Koizumi, a staunch supporter of the United States in Iraq, vowed again to keep Japanese troops in Iraq, but admitted he faced a painful decision while the three hostages were in danger.
"We could not give in to the demands of the captors. But we had to rescue the three," he said.
"It was a difficult job."
TV news showed the trio looking tired but in good health in a meeting with a Muslim cleric who helped arrange their release. They were to fly to Dubai today and were likely to return to Japan at the weekend. But at least two intend to carry on their work in Iraq.
"I will continue," said a tearful Takato, when asked if she planned to keep on with her aid work. "They did some awful things, but I cannot bring myself to hate the Iraqi people."
Koriyama's comments also suggested he wanted to return.
"Taking photos is my job," he said in Baghdad.
The three had already come under criticism in some quarters for travelling to Iraq despite the obvious dangers.
Today Koizumi reacted angrily when asked about their desire to return."A great number of people in the government, forgetting food and sleep, worked for their rescue," a visibly irritated Koizumi said. "They should realise this."
US Secretary of State Colin Powell, however, said Japan should be proud it had people willing to take risks.
The hostages' release means Koizumi and his regime have avoided a worst-case scenario ahead of parliamentary by-elections later this month and a poll for the Upper House in July.
But there were no clues to the fate of two missing Japanese civilians, freelance journalist Jumpei Yasuda (30) and Nobutaka Watanabe (36), a former member of the Japanese military with ties to a civic group. The two were reported missing yesterday.
The Japanese public is deeply divided over whether its troops should be engaged in the reconstruction mission in Iraq, which is Tokyo's riskiest military venture since World War 2.
Some critics say the deployment violates Japan's pacifist constitution while others resent what they see as pressure from Washington to take part in the US-led coalition. - Reuters
