Reports Indicate Japanese Journalist Kidnapped In Syria
KABUL: (MEP) Jumpei Yasuda, a Japanese freelance journalist, was kidnapped in July as he was crossing the border into Syria and is still being held hostage by the group and has been threatened with execution, Media rights group Reporters Without Borders said.
Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said this week it had received information that an armed group holding journalist Yasuda Jumpei hostage had started a countdown for an unspecified ransom to be paid and had threatened to execute or sell him to another group if their demands were not met.
Japan said Thursday it was investigating the reported kidnapping of the journalist in Syria by an armed group, after two of its citizens were beheaded earlier this year.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga declined to directly confirm the report when asked about it at a regular media briefing, but stressed the government was obligated to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens.
“We are doing our best… and making full use of various intelligence networks,” he added, without elaborating.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Thursday It urged the Japanese government to do what was needed to save Yasuda.
Suga said the Japanese government knew of the case but was not aware of any fresh developments.
“Given the nature of the matter, I would like to refrain from commenting on details,” he told a regular news conference.
“The safety of our citizens is an important responsibility of the government, so we are making every effort and making full use of various information networks,” Suga said. The Islamic State militant group beheaded two Japanese nationals – a self-styled security consultant and a veteran war reporter – early this year. The gruesome executions captured the attention of Japan but the government said at the time it would not negotiate with the militants for their release.
