Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Japanese military fires major who suggested coup Date: Fri, 13 Nov 92 15:11:15 EST Message-ID: \SE A;WORLD \SS (WS) \HD Japanese military fires major who suggested coup \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT TOKYO TOKYO (AP) - An army major who recommended the overthrow of the government to clean up political corruption was fired yesterday, the Defense Agency said. The dismissal of Maj. Shinsaku Yanai marked the first time an officer of the Self-Defense Forces has been fired because of a published article, the agency said. Maj. Yanai's recommendation of an overthrow "is never permissible under any circumstance and [is] extremely inappropriate," said Sohei Miyashita, director-general of the Defense Agency. He said the article raised concerns about the military. Pacifism has run deep in Japan since the country's defeat in World War II. The Self-Defense Forces, created in 1952 under the postwar constitution, have a limited role. Maj. Yanai made his comments in the Oct. 15 issue of Shukan Bunshun, a right-leaning newsmagazine with a circulation of 700,000. "It is no longer possible to correct injustice through elections in a legitimate way that is the basis of democracy," Maj. Yanai wrote. "A coup d'etat or revolution" is the only option. The day before the article appeared, Shin Kanemaru, Japan's most powerful political kingpin, resigned from parliament for accepting $4 million in illegal donations from a mob-linked trucking company. Maj. Yanai, a 45-year-old instructor in war history, said in the article that scandals have occurred repeatedly in Japanese politics and have left little hope of reform. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM