Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO1754
2008-06-26 03:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - ZIMBABWE AND NORTH
how-toVZCZCXRO3377 PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #1754 1780311 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 260311Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5410 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8595 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0971 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 6833 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 9180 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2324 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4115 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2398 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0110 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0522 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 001754
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - ZIMBABWE AND NORTH
KOREA
UNCLAS TOKYO 001754
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - ZIMBABWE AND NORTH
KOREA
1. LEAD STORIES: Top items on Thursday morning included
the announcement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura
on Wednesday that more than 1,400 civil servants
received cash, beer coupons, and other forms of
inducements from taxi drivers when being driven home
late at night on taxpayer money and that about 150 of
them have been punished for malfeasance.
2. "U.S. Cannot Do Anything About Zimbabwe" A
Washington-based reporter for the conservative Sankei
wrote (6/26): "The Bush administration is openly
displaying its irritation with Zimbabwean President
Mugabe's plan to go ahead with Friday's presidential
run-off. However, the U.S. does not appear to have
effective tools beyond relying on a statement by the UN
Security Council.... Given its emphasis on
democratization and human rights, the Bush
administration may find the current situation in
Zimbabwe intolerable, as some 60 opposition supporters
were recently murdered by Mugabe followers. Still, as
there does not appear to be in the offing any
additional UN punitive measures or a unilateral
response by the U.S., only the tough rhetoric by the
U.S. administration stands out."
3. "Don't Let DPRK Get Away With Breaking Commitments"
In a front-page commentary, the conservative Sankei's
Tokyo correspondent Yuasa stated (6/26): "...One should
not betray an ally. If North Korea is removed from the
U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, DPRK leader
Kim Jong Il will think that speaking with a forked
tongue and breaking a commitment is not so bad.... Only
the President can make a policy turnaround. Japan
should lobby Congress to apply pressure on President
Bush. Prime Minister Fukuda should visit Washington to
press him. If these measures fail to bear fruit, why
not ask presidential candidates Sen. Obama and Sen.
McCain for help? It all depends on how serious the
prime minister is about stopping delisting. Otherwise,
the U.S.-Japan alliance could be placed at risk."
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - ZIMBABWE AND NORTH
KOREA
1. LEAD STORIES: Top items on Thursday morning included
the announcement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura
on Wednesday that more than 1,400 civil servants
received cash, beer coupons, and other forms of
inducements from taxi drivers when being driven home
late at night on taxpayer money and that about 150 of
them have been punished for malfeasance.
2. "U.S. Cannot Do Anything About Zimbabwe" A
Washington-based reporter for the conservative Sankei
wrote (6/26): "The Bush administration is openly
displaying its irritation with Zimbabwean President
Mugabe's plan to go ahead with Friday's presidential
run-off. However, the U.S. does not appear to have
effective tools beyond relying on a statement by the UN
Security Council.... Given its emphasis on
democratization and human rights, the Bush
administration may find the current situation in
Zimbabwe intolerable, as some 60 opposition supporters
were recently murdered by Mugabe followers. Still, as
there does not appear to be in the offing any
additional UN punitive measures or a unilateral
response by the U.S., only the tough rhetoric by the
U.S. administration stands out."
3. "Don't Let DPRK Get Away With Breaking Commitments"
In a front-page commentary, the conservative Sankei's
Tokyo correspondent Yuasa stated (6/26): "...One should
not betray an ally. If North Korea is removed from the
U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, DPRK leader
Kim Jong Il will think that speaking with a forked
tongue and breaking a commitment is not so bad.... Only
the President can make a policy turnaround. Japan
should lobby Congress to apply pressure on President
Bush. Prime Minister Fukuda should visit Washington to
press him. If these measures fail to bear fruit, why
not ask presidential candidates Sen. Obama and Sen.
McCain for help? It all depends on how serious the
prime minister is about stopping delisting. Otherwise,
the U.S.-Japan alliance could be placed at risk."
SCHIEFFER