Japanese UN envoy told to quit over 'shut up' video
Source: Agencies |
June 13, 2013, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JAPAN'S human rights envoy to the United Nations was yesterday facing calls to quit over a video which showed him shouting at fellow diplomats to "shut up."
YouTube footage of the incident at the UN torture committee in Geneva has provoked a storm of criticism on the Internet, with demands that ambassador Hideaki Ueda be recalled to Japan.
Blogging Japanese lawyer Shinichiro Koike, who said he was at the session, explained that a representative from Mauritius had criticized Japan's justice system, which does not allow lawyers to be present during interrogation.
Ueda, who appears to be not entirely at ease in English, then defends his country.
"Certainly Japan is not in the mid-age," he says on the video. "We are one of the most advanced country in this field."
Koike writes this comment provoked giggling, which cannot be heard on the video.
"Don't laugh! Why you are laughing? Shut up! Shut up!" the ambassador shouts.
"We are one of the most advanced country in this field. That is our proud. Of course, there are still shortages of course, shortcomings. Every country has shortages and shortcomings, but we are trying our best to improve our situation."
One Twitter user said: "We should replace such an incompetent old man who is only causing harm."
Minecraftor said: "It is a problem that tax money is being used to feed a diplomat who is audacious and arrogant, who is only feeding his ego, despite his impotence."
The Tokyo Shimbun newspaper labeled it a "queer incident" in its report, and noted it came after a series of gaffes by high-profile politicians that have upset other countries.
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto said last month wartime sex slavery served a "necessary" role keeping battle-stressed soldiers in line, setting off criticism from countries invaded by Japan in the 1930s and '40s as well as the US.
International groups say Japan's criminal justice system is weighted in favor of prosecutors and relies too heavily on confessions, many of which are extracted under duress.
YouTube footage of the incident at the UN torture committee in Geneva has provoked a storm of criticism on the Internet, with demands that ambassador Hideaki Ueda be recalled to Japan.
Blogging Japanese lawyer Shinichiro Koike, who said he was at the session, explained that a representative from Mauritius had criticized Japan's justice system, which does not allow lawyers to be present during interrogation.
Ueda, who appears to be not entirely at ease in English, then defends his country.
"Certainly Japan is not in the mid-age," he says on the video. "We are one of the most advanced country in this field."
Koike writes this comment provoked giggling, which cannot be heard on the video.
"Don't laugh! Why you are laughing? Shut up! Shut up!" the ambassador shouts.
"We are one of the most advanced country in this field. That is our proud. Of course, there are still shortages of course, shortcomings. Every country has shortages and shortcomings, but we are trying our best to improve our situation."
One Twitter user said: "We should replace such an incompetent old man who is only causing harm."
Minecraftor said: "It is a problem that tax money is being used to feed a diplomat who is audacious and arrogant, who is only feeding his ego, despite his impotence."
The Tokyo Shimbun newspaper labeled it a "queer incident" in its report, and noted it came after a series of gaffes by high-profile politicians that have upset other countries.
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto said last month wartime sex slavery served a "necessary" role keeping battle-stressed soldiers in line, setting off criticism from countries invaded by Japan in the 1930s and '40s as well as the US.
International groups say Japan's criminal justice system is weighted in favor of prosecutors and relies too heavily on confessions, many of which are extracted under duress.
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