NCJ Number
62158
Journal
Asian Survey Volume: 13 Dated: (MARCH 1973) Pages: 336-346
Date Published
1973
Length
11 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSION CONCERNS THE HISTORY AND FORTUNES OF THE JAPANESE 'NEW LEFT' RED ARMY, MADE NOTORIOUS BY ITS ASSOCIATION WITH THE 1972 LOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MASSACRE IN ISRAEL.
Abstract
THE ROOTS OF JAPAN'S UNITED RED ARMY (URA), FORMED WHEN THE RED ARMY FACTION WAS JOINED BY THE TOKYO-YOKOHAMA JOINT STRUGGLE AGAINST JAPAN-U.S. SECURITY TREATY IN 1971, CAN BE TRACED TO THE 1969 FORMATION OF THE RED ARMY FACTION (RAF) UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF A KYOTO UNIVERSITY STUDENT. THE RAF AROSE FROM THE FAILURES OF 'NEW LEFT' STUDENT MOVEMENTS TO GAIN ANY POLITICAL VICTORIES THROUGH COMPARATIVELY PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS. THE RAF REPORTEDLY COMPOSED LESS THAN 500 ADHERENTS AT ITS PEAK AND ADVOCATED THE TROTSKYIST NOTION OF SIMULTANEOUS WORLD REVOLUTION, COMBINED WITH THE TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MODEL OF ELITISM (THE RAF WOULD BE THE ELITE GROUP TO FOMENT AND GUIDE THE WORLD REVOLUTION). THIS ADVOCACY OF A WORLDWIDE LEFTIST REVOLUTION PROMPTED THE RAF TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION AND OTHER REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS IN AN EFFORT TO COORDINATE REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITIES IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD. THE LOD MASSACRE IN 1972 WAS A MANIFESTATION OF SUCH A STRATEGY. THE FORMATION OF THE URA IN 1971 WAS AN EFFORT TO UNITE JAPANESE 'NEW LEFT' MOVEMENTS COMMITTED TO ARMED REVOLUTION. WHILE SUPPORT OF THE URA WAS NEVER STRONG IN THE JAPANESE POPULACE, THE CITIZENRY WAS DECIDEDLY ALIENATED AND REPULSED BY THE URA IN MARCH OF 1972, WHEN IT WAS DISCLOSED THAT THE URA LEADERSHIP HAD BRUTALLY TORTURED AND MURDERED 14 OF ITS MEMBERS SUSPECTED OF TRIVIAL BREACHES OF THE URA CODE. A SUBSEQUENT SHOOT-OUT BETWEEN THE JAPANESE POLICE AND URA LEADERS LED TO THE DEATHS OF SOME AND THE ARRESTS OF OTHERS. PUBLIC DISSATISFACTION WITH URA SHOWS A GENERAL LACK OF IDENTIFICATION WITH VIOLENT REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITY AND SATISFACTION WITH THE NATIONAL LIFESTYLE. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)