July 22
JAPAN:
Death wish: Portrait of an arsonist----From the ashes of the murderous Kyoto
Animation arson, troubling questions and frightening patterns emerge----Kyoto
police are piecing together the evidence behind Thursday’s deadly arson attack
that claimed 34 lives and injured dozens of others.
After the attack on Japan’s beloved Kyoto Animation studio, an arrest warrant
was issued for the man thought responsible, Shinji Aoba, 41, a resident of
Saitama Prefecture, on charges of arson and murder.
The suspect’s motives remain murky. Who is Aoba and why did he commit this
horrendous crime? What has emerged is that neither his neighbors nor the
authorities were surprised he was involved in an apparently senseless act of
violence.
Could, then, the tragedy have been averted? That is something the police, the
fire department, the company, the victims’ family members and wider society
will be asking in the days and weeks ahead.
A killer strikes
According to NHK, other Japanese media, the police and other sources, two days
before the attack, multiple sightings of Aoba were confirmed. On Monday last
week he was seen loitering around the parking lot of a convenience store 200
meters from the building.
Seemingly agitated, he was playing with his smartphone. He had two containers
with him – possibly, these were later filled with gasoline.
On Wednesday, a teenager spotted a man in a red T-shirt and blue jeans sleeping
on a park bench about 500 meters from the studio at 8 or 9pm. He had a cart
parked next to him. The description matches the clothing Aoba was wearing when
he was arrested after the attack.
On Thursday morning, Aoba bought gasoline from a nearby gas station and was
seen carrying the two 20-liter cans towards the studio on a cart. Allegedly, he
burst into the studio building screaming “Die!” as he doused the floors with
gasoline from a bucket.
He also is suspected of pouring the gasoline in front of all available exits
and entrances to the building. He then ignited the gasoline with a lighter –
setting fire to himself in the process. Although he escaped from the building
on bare, bloody feet, he was apprehended by police.
In the early stages of questioning, while still conscious, Aoba told police
that Kyoto Animation had “stolen his novel.” Revenge for alleged plagiarism
appears to have been his motive.
However, in media interviews, Kyoto Animation President Hideaki Hatta said he
had knowledge of Aoba, did not take outside submissions and did not believe
there was any merit to the claim.
Troubled child, troubled man
Over the weekend, a clearer picture began to emerge. According to an article in
Weekly Bunshun, he was a middle child, with an older brother and younger
sister. His parents were divorced and he lived with his father, in poverty.
In elementary school, he joined the judo club, but had few friends. He was
bullied in middle school and started to spend an increasing amount of time
alone at home – a so-called hikikomori, or “shut-in.” In Japan, Japan’s
hikikomori are increasingly mythologized as people who can turn into violent
criminals in a flash. Aoba may fuel this belief.
He attended high school at night, did odd-jobs, worked for the prefectural
government, delivered newspapers and worked at convenience stores. His father
passed away some time before 2005. In 2006, Aoba was allegedly brought in for
questioning by police for stealing underwear. Worse was to follow.
In June 2012, he robbed a convenience store, stealing 20,000 yen (US$185). He
was jailed and released in January 2016. He was subsequently placed in a
government welfare program for ex-convicts needing special assistance and lived
in a partially government-managed facility, but eventually moved into his own
apartment.
His neighbors found him alarming. A 27-year-old neighbor, who asked not to be
named, said Aoba accused him of making loud noises at night. Aoba grabbed the
neighbor by the collar and hair and threatened to kill him.
Local police confirmed that last August there was a complaint against Aoba for
playing loud music at night and police had to enter his apartment via the
balcony when he refused to open the door.
In the fire he allegedly set, Aoba was severely burned on his face, chest and
legs. He is now in a specialist burns unit in Osaka. Police are waiting for him
to recover before conducting a more in-depth interrogation.
There are questions about his mental state, but he appears to have been fully
capable of planning the attack and waiting for the opportune time.
Mass murderers’ minds
Were there warning signs that should have been heeded? Anonymous death threats
were made to the studio, via their website, up to one year before the attack,
but police had not identified the person making the threats.
It was not known if they came from Aoba.
In March 2013, a Ministry of Justice-affiliated institute published “Research
into Indiscriminate Cases of Mass Murder and Injury.” It limited the case study
to 52 incidents in which an individual, without a clear motive, seriously
injured or killed people they did not know.
Such incidents, like the attack on Kyoto Animation, are highly disturbing to
Japan, a society that generally considers itself safe from violent crime. The
study’s goal was to learn from, and perhaps prevent, similar attacks.
The study found 5 different categories of motive. A grudge against how the
individual was treated (42%); anger or envy towards a particular group or
entity (19%); a wish to escape society by being imprisoned (17%); a desire to
commit suicide or be killed (11.5%); and an interest or desire in murdering
other people (9.6%).
Side effects of drug abuse or hallucinations from mental illness were also
believed to play parts.
On present evidence, Aoba would appear to fit into the 1st and possibly 5th
categories.
The institute reached some conclusions. Recognizing that many mass murderers
had previously been institutionalized, it recommended better risk assessments
of violent subjects and comprehensive treatments, to continue after individuals
were released back into society.
Aoba was in a prison-release treatment program, but does not seem to have been
treated for homicidal tendencies.
Death wish
It’s hard to feel sympathy for the suspect, but with hindsight, patterns that
might lead him to commit a violent crime appeared visible in his life story.
The study noted the only other solution that might prevent mass murder was to
proactively deal with social misfits.
In June 2008, Tomohiro Kato, 25, killed seven people in Akihabara by driving
into a crowd. Kato said his crime was an act of revenge, venting his anger and
frustration at a society that shunned him.
And in July 2016, Satoshi Uematsu, a former nursing home worker, stabbed to
death 19 disabled residents of the home and injured 26 others before turning
himself into police. Some have grouped him into the hikikomori.
“In order to make [these] individuals not feel socially isolated, we need to
work with all facilities to address mental illness, and prevent suicidal
behavior, so that people feel they have ‘a chance in the world’ and a place
they feel at home,” the researchers wrote.
The study concluded that the flip side of untreated suicidal impulses in Japan
can also be homicide. This suggests the Kyoto Animation killer could have been
suicidal: after all, he almost died in the fire he allegedly lit.
A final irony overhangs his current treatment.
The unwritten rule of capital punishment in Japan is that any intentional act
that results in more than three deaths is punished with hanging. While
authorities are using every means possible to ensure Aoba recovers and survives
so he can be questioned and tried, after medical treatment and judicial
proceedings, he is almost certain to receive the death penalty.
(soruce: asiatimes.com)
PHILIPPINES:
Duterte asks Congress to restore death penalty for drugs, plunder
President Duterte renewed his appeal to Congress to restore the death penalty
to curb illegal drugs and corruption in government—2 things that his
administration has been fighting since the start of his term.
In his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte expressed disappointment
that 3 years have passed by and illegal drugs and corruption remain to be the
country’s problems.
“It has been 3 years since I took my oath of office and it pains me to say that
we have not learned our lesson. The illegal drug problem persists, corruption
continues and emasculates the courage we need to sustain our moral recovery
initiatives,” he said.
According to the President, the Marawi siege, which he said was funded by drug
money, is one of the reasons why he is advocating for the re-imposition of
capital punishment.
“During that Marawi siege, tons of shabu worth millions and millions of pesos,
drug money killed 175 and wounded 2,001 of my soldiers and policemen in that
5-month battle,” Duterte said.
“Let the reason why I advocate the imposition of the death penalty for crimes
related to illegal drugs,” he added.
Duterte recognized the help of the local communities in the drug war but said
it will not be enough to truly end the drug trade unless corruption is
eradicated as well.
“Our citizens have begun to do their part in the war against drugs, and through
the barangay formation of anti-drug councils, and actually surrendering bricks
of cocaine found floating in the sea into our islands,” he said.
“However, the drugs will not be crushed unless we continue to eliminate
corruption that allows the social monster to survive,” he added.
“I respectfully request congress to reinstate the death penalty for heinous
crimes related to drugs as well as plunder,” he continued.
The President said that while there is a long way to go before the government
puts an end to the illegal substance, he will not renege on his resolve to
fight the drug trade.
“I am aware there is still a long way to go in our fight against this social
menace,” he said.
“Believe me, I will end my term fighting,” he added.
President Duterte has been pushing for the restoration of capital punishment in
the country. However, the public has criticized the Congress after the House
Majority bloc decided to exclude plunder, rape, and treason from the list of
the crimes punishable with death.
The exclusion is reportedly to help them arrive at a compromise after some
lawmakers remained hesitant about voting in favor of House Bill No. 4727.
Earlier, Malacañang said that the re-imposition of capital punishment is an
important component in keeping a crime-free and drug-free Philippines.
“The re-imposition of death penalty is an important component in building a
trustworthy government that protects its citizens and youth from crime,
especially the kind perpetuated by illegal drug traffickers and violators,”
Malacañang had said.
Earlier, Duterte said that he would like to know the rationale why Congress
decided to exclude plunder and rape from the list of crimes punishable with the
death penalty under the said House Bill.
Duterte said that while he did not say he will not kill plunderers or corrupt
officials, he said that rape is still one of the most heinous crimes that
should merit the heaviest penalty.
******************
Senators expect sparks to fly as proposal to revive death penalty among first
to be tackled
This early, Senate leaders are already expecting tedious debates to be waged
over proposals to revive death penalty in the country.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday said that while he cannot assure
the passage of the proposed reimposition of capital punishment, the Upper
Chamber is expected to prioritize its discussion in the coming days.
The first regular session of 18th Congress formally opened on Monday morning,
July 22, ahead of President Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address
(SONA). Sotto earlier told the Manila Bulletin that he expects Duterte to
mention death penalty in his speech.
“Perhaps, it is a priority to debate on it. I would rather say that instead of
saying that it is a priority measure kasi it is one issue that is very
divisive. So we’d like to perhaps start [to] debate on it,” Sotto told
reporters in an interview before the Senate’s first session.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, for his part, said he sees
“exciting” debates on death penalty as more senators are now backing the
measure.
“I’m sure magkakaroon ng bakbakan (there will be a battle on) sa death penalty
issue because we have a lot of death penalty proponents so it’s going to be
very interesting and exciting 18th Congress,” Zubiri said.
? “But we always have the people’s hearts and minds first in the policies that
we will craft,” he assured.
At least five bills seeking to restore death penalty for various crimes have
been filed in Senate ahead of the opening of the 18th Congress.
Several senators who are allied with the President Duterte have already
expressed their backing for the measure.
Sotto said he was looking forward to “healthy debates” on the matter. But he
reiterated his belief that it stands a better chance of passage if imposed only
against high-level drug trafficking.
Aside from death penalty, Sotto said the Senate will continue other unfinished
business during the previous Congress.
? “More or less the amendments to the Human Security Act which eventually be
called the Anti-Terrorism Act is going to be a priority, and then the
amendments also to the Public Service Act and the Foreign Investments Act.
These were some of the bills that I know were left from the 17th Congress that
we wanted to prioritize, but for lack of time,” he said.
Zubiri added that the Palace “is asking us to pass a lot of tax reforms and
revenue measures.”
(source for both: Manila Bulletin)
VIETNAM:
Vietnam arrests transnational drug trafficking ring's leader
The Border guard forces of Vietnam's central Quang Binh province have detained
a Lao man, a transnational drug trafficking ring's leader, seizing over 24,000
pills of synthetic drug, Vietnam News Agency reported on Monday.
After more than 9 months of investigation, Vietnamese relevant agencies on
Sunday caught red-handed the 39-year-old man transporting the drug from Laos to
Vietnam.
According to the Vietnamese law, those convicted of smuggling over 600 grams of
heroin or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine are punishable by death. Making
or trading 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal drugs also faces
death penalty.
(source: xinhaunet.com)
IRAN:
Iran claims it's nabbed 17 CIA spies, sentenced some to death
Iran said Monday it has arrested 17 Iranian nationals allegedly recruited by
the Central Intelligence Agency to spy on the country's nuclear and military
sites, and that some have already been sentenced to death. The arrests took
place in the Iranian calendar year ending in March 2019 and those taken into
custody worked on "sensitive sites" in the country's military and nuclear
facilities, an Iranian intelligence official told a news conference in Tehran.
He didn't say how many of them got the death sentence or when the sentences
were handed down. Iranian state television published images Monday it said
showed the CIA officers who were in contact with the alleged spies, the Reuters
news agency reports.
The CIA and State Department didn't offer any immediate comment in response to
CBS News inquiries.
(source: CBS News)
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