Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO4665
2006-08-16 08:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
RUSSIAN VESSEL FIRES ON JAPANESE FISHING BOAT NEAR
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004665
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR JA RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN VESSEL FIRES ON JAPANESE FISHING BOAT NEAR
NORTHERN TERRITORIES
Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004665
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR JA RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN VESSEL FIRES ON JAPANESE FISHING BOAT NEAR
NORTHERN TERRITORIES
Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)
1. (C) On August 16, MOFA European Affairs Bureau, Russian
Division Deputy Director Kazuioshi Onishi confirmed media
reports that a Russian vessel had fired on a Japanese fishing
vessel in waters near Kaigara Island. MOFA has been able to
confirm that one crewmember on the fishing ship died, but
Japanese authorities do not yet know the cause of death, i.e.
whether by gunshot or other means. According to Onishi, FM
Aso will call in Russian EMBASSY Charge Mikhail Galuzin on
the evening of August 16 to request an explanation.
2. (C) Russian EMBASSY officials told European DG Harada that
the Japanese vessel had been traveling without lights and was
not flying a national flag, Onishi said. The Russian vessel
fired at least one warning shot after the fishing ship failed
to respond to a request to stop. Onishi repeated that, at
this point, Japanese authorities could not say whether the
fishing crewmember died as a result of subsequent shots that
were fired, or because of some other reason.
3. (U) Japanese media report that the Nemuro Japan coast
guard received notification about 7:40 a.m. (local) from the
Nemuro Fisheries Cooperative that a crab fishing boat
belonging to the cooperative, the No. 31 Kissin Maru, had
been shot at by a Russian coast guard vessel and captured.
The press is claiming that one fisherman has been killed
after being shot in the head. Yomiuri reports that the
Japanese vessel has been taken to Kunashiri Island, one of
the Northern Territory Islands controlled by Russia.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR JA RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN VESSEL FIRES ON JAPANESE FISHING BOAT NEAR
NORTHERN TERRITORIES
Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)
1. (C) On August 16, MOFA European Affairs Bureau, Russian
Division Deputy Director Kazuioshi Onishi confirmed media
reports that a Russian vessel had fired on a Japanese fishing
vessel in waters near Kaigara Island. MOFA has been able to
confirm that one crewmember on the fishing ship died, but
Japanese authorities do not yet know the cause of death, i.e.
whether by gunshot or other means. According to Onishi, FM
Aso will call in Russian EMBASSY Charge Mikhail Galuzin on
the evening of August 16 to request an explanation.
2. (C) Russian EMBASSY officials told European DG Harada that
the Japanese vessel had been traveling without lights and was
not flying a national flag, Onishi said. The Russian vessel
fired at least one warning shot after the fishing ship failed
to respond to a request to stop. Onishi repeated that, at
this point, Japanese authorities could not say whether the
fishing crewmember died as a result of subsequent shots that
were fired, or because of some other reason.
3. (U) Japanese media report that the Nemuro Japan coast
guard received notification about 7:40 a.m. (local) from the
Nemuro Fisheries Cooperative that a crab fishing boat
belonging to the cooperative, the No. 31 Kissin Maru, had
been shot at by a Russian coast guard vessel and captured.
The press is claiming that one fisherman has been killed
after being shot in the head. Yomiuri reports that the
Japanese vessel has been taken to Kunashiri Island, one of
the Northern Territory Islands controlled by Russia.
SCHIEFFER