Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 17 March 2020
Worker at Japan care home sentenced to hang for mass killing

TOKYO (AP) — A Japa- any feelings of apology or
nese court on Monday regret, but I couldn't see
sentenced a former care any of that," he told report-
home employee to hang ers after the ruling. "The trial
for knifing to death 19 dis- ended without any con-
abled people and injuring vincing explanations of
two dozen others in the why the killings had to hap-
deadliest mass attack in pen."
post World War II Japan. Shinichiro Kumagaya, a
The Yokohama District pediatrician at the Univer-
Court convicted Satoshi sity of Tokyo who has ce-
Uematsu of the killings and rebral palsy, said the case
of injuring 24 other residents underscores the prejudice
and two caregivers at the against disabled people
Yamayuri-en residential that persists in Japan. "In
center in July 2016. order to eliminate violence
During the investigation against disabled people, it
and trial, Uematsu repeat- is important for the entire
edly said he had no regrets society to share in support-
and was trying to help the ing people with severe dis-
world by killing people he abilities," Kumagaya said in
thought were burdens. an interview with NHK. "But
Advocacy groups said the in our society, the respon-
suspect's views reflected a sibility is entirely pushed
persistent prejudice in Ja- onto their families and care
pan against people with homes, and I think this at-
disabilities. titude is the root cause of
The trial focused on his such violence."
mental state at the time Japan maintains the death
of the crime. Chief Judge In this July 26, 2016, file photo, journalists gather in front of Tsukui Yamayuri-en, a facility for the penalty despite growing in-
Kiyoshi Aonuma dismissed handicapped where a former care home employee killed disabled people, in Sagamihara, out- ternational criticism. A gov-
defense requests to acquit side Tokyo. ernment survey showed an
him because he was men- Associated Press overwhelming majority of
tally incompetent due to a the public supports execu-
marijuana overdose. in a pony tail and wearing matsu was mentally com- Uematsu, 30, told medi- tions. Japan and the U.S.
"The attacks were premedi- a dark suit, listened as the petent and should take cal staff and officials that are the only two countries
tated, and the defendant judge delivered the ruling, responsibility for his actions. he was influenced by the in the Group of Seven in-
was acting consistently to according to drawings by The killings mirrored a plot ideas of Nazi leader Adolf dustrialized nations that re-
achieve his goal," Aonuma an artist in the courtroom. described in a letter that Hitler, whose killings of dis- tain capital punishment.
said, according to NHK After the judge declared Uematsu had tried to give abled people were seen Executions are carried out
public television. an end to the session, Ue- to a parliamentary leader as intended to improve the in high secrecy in Japan,
"The crime, which took matsu raised his hand seek- months prior to the attack. perceived master race. where prisoners are not in-
the lives of 19 people, was ing permission to speak, but He quit his job at the Yama- Kazuya Ono, whose son formed of their fate until the
extremely heinous and was not allowed to do so. yuri-en facility after being Takashi was wounded but morning they are hanged.
caused damage that is in- Prosecutors said Uematsu's confronted about the let- survived, said he still doesn't Since 2007, Japan has be-
comparable to any other motive came from his bias- ter and was committed to understand why the killings gun releasing the names of
case," he was quoted by es and work experience at psychiatric care, but was occurred. those executed and some
Kyodo News as saying. the home and not from use released within two weeks, "I stared at him throughout details of their crimes, but
Uematsu, his long hair tied of marijuana. They said Ue- officials have said. the trial to see if he showed disclosures are still limited.q

4 rebels killed in clash in Indonesia's Papua region

TIMIKA, Indonesia (AP) be members of the West lice force killed four of the Sebby Sambom, a spokes- caused about 2,000 vil-
— Four Papuan indepen- Papua Liberation Army, the Papuan fighters, including man for the liberation lagers to flee for safety to
dence fighters were killed military wing of the Free a woman, in a battle with army, confirmed the po- neighboring Timika city.
in an ongoing clash be- Papua Organization. dozens of rebels armed with lice claim, adding that two The Grasberg mine's vast
tween security forces and Rebels in Papua have military-grade weapons as other fighters were injured gold and copper reserves
a rebel group near the been fighting a low-level well as axes and arrows in in the battle. have been exploited for
world's largest gold mine insurgency since the early Kali Bua village in Mimika Attacks by rebels near the decades by Freeport-
in Indonesia's easternmost 1960s, when Indonesia an- district near the mining Grasberg mine have spiked McMoRan, damaging the
Papua region, police and nexed the region, a former town of Tembagapura. in the past year. surrounding environment
rebels said Monday. Dutch colony. Papua was Kamal said security forces The mine, which is nearly while providing significant
The clashes, which began formally incorporated into seized three assault rifles, half owned by U.S.-based tax income for the Indone-
Feb. 29 near the Grasberg Indonesia in 1969 after a five arrows and an axe Freeport-McMoRan and is sian government.
copper and gold mine U.N.-sponsored ballot that during the clash. He said run by PT Freeport Indone- But indigenous Papuans
in Papua province, ear- was seen as a sham by the rifles were identified as sia, is seen by separatists as have benefited little and
lier killed two security per- many. police weapons that had a symbol of Indonesian rule are poorer, sicker and
sonnel and injured three Papua police spokesman been stolen by rebels when and has been a frequent more likely to die young
others. Police said the at- Ahmad Musthofa Kamal they attacked police posts target for rebels. than people elsewhere in
tackers are believed to said a joint military and po- in 2012 and 2014. The current shootout Indonesia.q