TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Japanese government is racing against the clock to deal with a hostage crisis by Islamic extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stated his determination to rescue NHK reporter Kenji Goto, one of the two Japanese citizens taken hostage by the militant group.
The other captive, Yukawa Haruna, has reportedly been killed.
"We will use all means necessary to save him by working with other countries," Abe said in a meeting with politicians from the Liberal Democratic Party yesterday.
On Saturday a video was posted online showing an image of one hostage, Kenji Goto, holding a photo of what appears to be the corpse of his fellow captive Yukawa. An audio recording speaks over the image in English, saying that PM Abe is to blame for Yukawa's death. "You were given a deadline," the voice said, referring to ISIS' demand that Japan paid US$200 million by Friday last week to save the hostages.
The hostage crisis triggers a debate over Japan's global security posture as Abe's government prepares a legislation that would give it more freedom to use military force.
Mr. Abe hopes expanding the national security law will allow Japan's defense forces to engage in what they call "collective self-defense", and rescue of Japanese citizens abroad as well as aiding allies in regional conflicts areas threatening Japan's security.
REUTERS | CNN | ASAHI SHIMBUN | DPA | RANGGASARI
