I arrived in Cairo shortly after Christmas of 1993. Most of the U.S. Embassy personnel were housed in an apartment complex in the residential area of Maadi, some twenty minute drive from the embassy. Although some people drove their personal vehicles to work daily, others took one of the several vans that the embassy provided as shuttle buses. This is a common practice in many of our diplomatic missions, and several months earlier, a shuttle van in Lahore, Pakistan had been ambushed by Muslim extremists and U.S. Consulate personnel riding in the van were killed and wounded. This particular incident was patterned after another similar incident that had taken place in Cairo a year earlier when a shuttle van on the way to the embassy from Maadi was ambushed. So, everyone was on the alert and instructed to never take the same route every morning, to alternate randomly your route to the embassy. Everyone was aware that an attack on Americans could take place anytime.
Most of the attacks seem to be directed at unsuspecting, innocent tourists! During my 2 1/2 year stay in Cairo, there were eight terrorist attacks on tourists in Egypt. That works out to roughly three a year or one every 3 1/2 months! I believe that people in America were not all that aware of the degree of violence in Egypt because the victims of these attacks for the most part were not Americans. But acts of terrorism took place in Egypt going back to the days of British occupation! In more recent history, the Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981 by a soldier while attending a parade ceremony. The soldier, it turned out, was a member of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a group that was led by Omar Abdel-Rahman, responsible for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. So, terrorist attacks were not confined to foreign tourists, they killed Egyptians as well.
Sometimes, it seems, the terrorists misidentified a particular tourist group and carried out an attack thinking they were attacking Israelis or Americans, their two most hated groups, when in fact they were killing people of other nationalities! At other times, they didn't care, as long as the victims were not Muslims, they were fair game.
In April of 1996 terrorists attacked a group of tourists that they believed were Israelis. They killed 18 and wounded a dozen others. It was a bloody massacre in Cairo in front of a popular tourist hotel, the Europa Hotel. The attack was carried out by four men armed with AK47s as they brazenly pulled up in front of the hotel in a VW mini van, got out and proceeded to gun down the tourists as they were boarding a bus that was parked in front. Two of the gunmen even chased some of the tourists into the hotel lobby and shot them there, on the lobby floor! The tourists were not Israelis! They were a mixture of Greek and Polish tourists, mostly Greek! Obviously, the information that the terrorists had was incorrect, but it didn't matter, since neither the Greeks nor the Poles were Muslim, so they were fair game!
There were a series of other smaller attacks, like four European businessmen that were gunned down in a Hotel Inter-Continental's (located across the street from the U.S. Embassy) dining room during breakfast. A gunman simply walked into the dining room, walked up to the table where the four men were eating breakfast, pulled out a pistol and shot them at point blank range. The terror group that carried out this murder simply explained that it was their way of cleansing Egypt of infidels! As I said, there were a total of eight reported terrorist attacks during the 2 1/2 year period that I was in Cairo. There were some that were never reported, or were reported simply as robberies gone bad!
The largest number of people killed in one attack took place in 1997, in Luxor, a popular tourist location, the famous Valley of the Kings. There, unsuspecting German tourists, 62 of them, were killed by a terrorist attack carried out like a military assault. The attack was conducted by members of Al-Ama'a al Islamiyya (The Islamic Group), the same group that assassinated Sadat and carried out the 1993 World Trade Center bombing!
Many people believe that Saudi Arabia is the center for terrorists, most certainly it seems to produce those who have money and finance terrorist groups. But Egypt does not take a back seat to anyone, not to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, or any other place known to produce terrorists and terrorist groups. Egypt has the world's oldest Islamic university, the Al-Azhar University, founded in 970 AD. It naturally attracts a lot of people genuinely interested in Islamic studies, and no doubt also attracts some extremists, since some terrorist leaders are products of that university! The Muslim Brotherhood, a political party in Egypt and recently having had a president and control of the country, is not something to be ignored. It is a by product of Al-Azhar University and is considered a terror group. Egyptians are found almost in all of the major and minor Islamic terror groups. Ayman Al-Zawahiri, the former second in command to Osama Bin Ladin, and now the head of Al Qaeda, is an Egyptian. There are Egyptians in leadership positions in various off shoots of Al Qaeda such as ISIS.
I don't wish to suggest or describe Egypt as a land of terrorists. But unfortunately, many terrorist groups do call Egypt their home and many terrorist acts have been taking place in that country. Once again, like in so many other countries, majority of Egyptians in general are wonderful, friendly people. Although most are Muslim and only a small percentage are Coptic Christians, the average Egyptian is not someone filled with hatred for foreigners or non-believers! The most popular and common expression that you will hear from an Egyptian when they meet a foreigner, are the words, "akhlan wa-sakhlan" ("welcome," or words to that effect!), spoken with a big, genuine smile.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Monday, November 24, 2014
Egypt - the Land of Antiquity
Anyone who has been to Egypt will agree that it is indeed a land of antiquity. Cairo, its capital may have the glitz and glitter of modernity with high rise buildings and fancy hotels, but underneath it all, just below the surface, it is an ancient land.
In Snap Shots, in one of the stories that was set in Egypt called "Ducks on the Nile," I make mention of the fact that I hunted ducks at a place called "Moses Mosque Village." This rather primitive village was located only a short hour's drive outside of Cairo. Most of the village still lacked electricity and running water, yet it dated back to the time of Moses, or so everyone said. According to local legend, Moses had passed through the village with the Israelites, on his way out of Egypt and had stopped to rest before continuing on the journey. The villagers, it is said, extended their hospitality to Moses and his people, giving them food and a place to rest. For their kindness, Moses is said to have blessed the village, and the villagers (many centuries later) built a mosque to commemorate the occasion. Despite Moses's blessing, the village didn't seem to have fared all that well through the centuries. It is poor, and for all practical purposes, probably no better off than it was when Moses blessed it!
There is another Moses Mosque village that is better known and located in the Judean Desert in Palestine. However, the one in Egypt is not all that well known and I, along with my friends stumbled upon it only because we were searching for a place to hunt ducks. Nabi Musa (Prophet Moses) is mentioned in the Koran and is identified as being of the tribe of Israelites. I mentioned this to some Egyptians, asking them why an Israelite was honored by Muslims, when according to everything that I have seen and heard in that part of the world, Muslims hated the Jews! The answer, or non-answer that I got was that "it was different back then." Which is true, I suppose, since Islam was yet to been born. At any rate, Nabi Musa (Prophet Moses) is considered an Egyptian by Egyptians, although he was an Israelite. It was a bit puzzling, just as there are many things that are puzzling in that part of the world. Interpretation or definition of victory is different in the Islamic world. It seems that the mind in that part of the world works differently, interprets events and results differently. Remember, Saddam Hussein declared victory after the first Gulf War, and to many Muslims, it was indeed an Iraqi victory, because we did not go into Bagdad and kill Saddam.
In Cairo, there is a large and elaborate "Air Victory Museum" which celebrates Egyptian victory over Israel in the air war during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. That is rather a puzzling bit of interpretation of events, because Israel had completely destroyed Egyptian Air Force during that conflict! Hosni Mubarak, the former President/Dictator of Egypt was the Egyptian Air Marshal at the time of the Yom Kippur War, so perhaps the museum was built to make Mubarak feel better, who knows? During the war that lasted from October 5 until October 25, 1973, the Arab allies which consisted mainly of Syria and Egypt but also included just about every Arab nation in one form or another, Israel suffered heavy casualties and defeats at the outset. However, Israel was able to regroup and after the first week had the upper hand despite the numerically superior Arab coalition, including unspecified number of Soviets, some 200 Cubans and 20 North Korean advisors and trainers. The Soviet Bloc supplied all of the armament, including some of the latest MIG 25s (which were flown by Soviets), although MIG 21s were the primary fighter planes. Ultimately, the conflict ended with the Arab coalition suffering heavier casualties than Israel and a humiliating defeat once again! Although, according to the Arab world, it is Israel that suffered defeat.
North Korea has one of the largest and fanciest looking embassy buildings in Cairo. Considering that North Korea has very few diplomatic ties outside of Russia and China, I was surprised to discover that they had such a large and fancy Chancery in Cairo. I believe Cuba is about the only other country outside of Russia and China that has a North Korean embassy. Yet, Egypt, one of America's supposed strongest allies in that part of the world, has a huge North Korean Embassy. It turned out that Mubarak had a soft spot for North Korea. It seems that Mubarak maintained an embassy in Pyongyang and the North Koreans were allowed to build a large embassy in Cairo. North Korea's favorable position in Egypt dated back to the Yom Kippur War.
The North Koreans were training the Egyptians to use equipment which they sold, including the MIG 21 fighter planes. During the Yom Kippur War, Israel had destroyed most of the Egyptian Air Force by the end of the first week. By the second week the Israelis were masters of the skies, with Israeli F4s flying all over the place and getting nearer to Cairo. When Israeli F4s made the first raid into Cairo, it is said that the Egyptian pilots did not take to the air to fight because they were not prepared. Some say that they simply refused to go up and die, which is what would have happened. The North Korean instructors were infuriated and two of them jumped into the MIG 21s and took to the air. The North Koreans were promptly shot down and one was killed. Mubarak never forgot that. He built a huge monument in their honor. Mubarak also allowed the North Koreans to increase their presence in Egypt, saying that they were always welcome in Egypt.
Egypt, a true land of antiquity, with sometimes very different and puzzling mind set.
In Snap Shots, in one of the stories that was set in Egypt called "Ducks on the Nile," I make mention of the fact that I hunted ducks at a place called "Moses Mosque Village." This rather primitive village was located only a short hour's drive outside of Cairo. Most of the village still lacked electricity and running water, yet it dated back to the time of Moses, or so everyone said. According to local legend, Moses had passed through the village with the Israelites, on his way out of Egypt and had stopped to rest before continuing on the journey. The villagers, it is said, extended their hospitality to Moses and his people, giving them food and a place to rest. For their kindness, Moses is said to have blessed the village, and the villagers (many centuries later) built a mosque to commemorate the occasion. Despite Moses's blessing, the village didn't seem to have fared all that well through the centuries. It is poor, and for all practical purposes, probably no better off than it was when Moses blessed it!
There is another Moses Mosque village that is better known and located in the Judean Desert in Palestine. However, the one in Egypt is not all that well known and I, along with my friends stumbled upon it only because we were searching for a place to hunt ducks. Nabi Musa (Prophet Moses) is mentioned in the Koran and is identified as being of the tribe of Israelites. I mentioned this to some Egyptians, asking them why an Israelite was honored by Muslims, when according to everything that I have seen and heard in that part of the world, Muslims hated the Jews! The answer, or non-answer that I got was that "it was different back then." Which is true, I suppose, since Islam was yet to been born. At any rate, Nabi Musa (Prophet Moses) is considered an Egyptian by Egyptians, although he was an Israelite. It was a bit puzzling, just as there are many things that are puzzling in that part of the world. Interpretation or definition of victory is different in the Islamic world. It seems that the mind in that part of the world works differently, interprets events and results differently. Remember, Saddam Hussein declared victory after the first Gulf War, and to many Muslims, it was indeed an Iraqi victory, because we did not go into Bagdad and kill Saddam.
In Cairo, there is a large and elaborate "Air Victory Museum" which celebrates Egyptian victory over Israel in the air war during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. That is rather a puzzling bit of interpretation of events, because Israel had completely destroyed Egyptian Air Force during that conflict! Hosni Mubarak, the former President/Dictator of Egypt was the Egyptian Air Marshal at the time of the Yom Kippur War, so perhaps the museum was built to make Mubarak feel better, who knows? During the war that lasted from October 5 until October 25, 1973, the Arab allies which consisted mainly of Syria and Egypt but also included just about every Arab nation in one form or another, Israel suffered heavy casualties and defeats at the outset. However, Israel was able to regroup and after the first week had the upper hand despite the numerically superior Arab coalition, including unspecified number of Soviets, some 200 Cubans and 20 North Korean advisors and trainers. The Soviet Bloc supplied all of the armament, including some of the latest MIG 25s (which were flown by Soviets), although MIG 21s were the primary fighter planes. Ultimately, the conflict ended with the Arab coalition suffering heavier casualties than Israel and a humiliating defeat once again! Although, according to the Arab world, it is Israel that suffered defeat.
North Korea has one of the largest and fanciest looking embassy buildings in Cairo. Considering that North Korea has very few diplomatic ties outside of Russia and China, I was surprised to discover that they had such a large and fancy Chancery in Cairo. I believe Cuba is about the only other country outside of Russia and China that has a North Korean embassy. Yet, Egypt, one of America's supposed strongest allies in that part of the world, has a huge North Korean Embassy. It turned out that Mubarak had a soft spot for North Korea. It seems that Mubarak maintained an embassy in Pyongyang and the North Koreans were allowed to build a large embassy in Cairo. North Korea's favorable position in Egypt dated back to the Yom Kippur War.
The North Koreans were training the Egyptians to use equipment which they sold, including the MIG 21 fighter planes. During the Yom Kippur War, Israel had destroyed most of the Egyptian Air Force by the end of the first week. By the second week the Israelis were masters of the skies, with Israeli F4s flying all over the place and getting nearer to Cairo. When Israeli F4s made the first raid into Cairo, it is said that the Egyptian pilots did not take to the air to fight because they were not prepared. Some say that they simply refused to go up and die, which is what would have happened. The North Korean instructors were infuriated and two of them jumped into the MIG 21s and took to the air. The North Koreans were promptly shot down and one was killed. Mubarak never forgot that. He built a huge monument in their honor. Mubarak also allowed the North Koreans to increase their presence in Egypt, saying that they were always welcome in Egypt.
Egypt, a true land of antiquity, with sometimes very different and puzzling mind set.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Ecuadorian Presidents and Generals - are they for real? - Part 2
The largest Ecuadorian city, both in size and population is Guayaquil, located on the Pacific Coast and with a population of about two and a half million. The second largest city is the nation's capital, Quito, located high in the Andes with a population of a little over half a million. The third largest Ecuadorian city (by population) is not in Ecuador, it is in North America, in the United States! New York is the third largest Ecuadorian city with an Ecuadorian population that is only slightly smaller than Quito at around half a million! The country of Ecuador's entire population is only around 15 million souls, and around ten percent of its population lives outside of the country, legally or illegally. The largest concentration of Ecuadorians are found in the U.S. and Spain, about a half a million each of legal residents and another quarter of a million each of illegal residents.
In the U.S., the largest concentration of Ecuadorians is found in New York, followed by Los Angeles and Miami. After that, Ecuadorians are found just about everywhere else! Obviously, Ecuadorians in general are very fond of the United States. Yet, as I have mentioned in the previous blogs, their politicians seem to hate the United States with a passion! It isn't so much jealousy that seems to be at the root of their ill will against the U.S. It is quite understandable when a smaller, weaker and poorer country has ill feelings against a bigger and richer country. But the almost venomous ill will displayed by some Ecuadorian politicians seems to go beyond that! Fortunately, Ecuadorians and Latin Americans in general do not feel the same way as some of their politicians!
Rafael Correa has been the President of Ecuador since 2007. He is a member and founder of the Alianza Pais Party, a leftist party composed of several other leftist parties that he united into one large group. Correa describes himself as a "humanist," a Christian Leftist (whatever that means), and a proponent of 21st Century Socialism. He is closely allied with Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, and Iran! He was a close friend and an admirer of Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Oh, and Correa is a U.S. trained Economist. He received a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois.
One of the first things that Correa did when he came into office as President of Ecuador was to announce that Ecuador's three billion dollar international debt was illegitimate and that Ecuador would not pay it! Amazingly, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) did nothing, and Correa got away with it! Ultimately Ecuador's international debt holders agreed to a much smaller repayment! What a bunch of wimps! But then again, short of declaring war on Ecuador, what could they do? It was equivalent to someone announcing that their mortgage and car loan and credit card balance were illegitimate and that they would no longer pay! Do you think that the U.S. banks would go along with that? I might rethink my financial situation and take a page from Correa!
In 2009 when our 10 year lease expired on our base at Eloy Alfaro Airport in Manta, a base that we needed for counter narcotics operations, Correa refused to renew the lease. He responded to U.S. queries by stating that he would grant a lease renewal if the U.S. would give a base to Ecuador in Miami! A ridiculous proposal that was nothing but Correa tweaking the nose of Uncle Sam. At the same time, Correa expelled our Military Assistance Group to Ecuador. The MilGroup, as it is called, was very much involved in the counter narcotics efforts, so their expulsion lessened our effort in that area.
Quite frankly, it was puzzling why he chose not to renew the lease on the base at Manta. The U.S. presence brought much needed revenue to the area, house rentals and general shopping by the military and their families was a boon to Manta, not to mention the annual lease money that the Ecuadorian government received. When the U.S. moved out, Manta felt the economic pinch immediately! More than likely, it was to show his "buddies," Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and his Iranian, Cuban, Bolivian buddies that he could tweak the Yankee nose just as they did from time to time, even at the expense of the people in Manta.
There is, of course, another theory. Colombia accused Correa of being complicit with the leftist guerrilla group FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). Colombian forces raided a camp across their border in Ecuador which was used as a sanctuary by FARC. They killed one of the FARC leaders and captured a number of documents which they say clearly implicates Correa with FARC. FARC is known to be involved in narcotics trade. Correa, of course, vehemently denied ties with FARC and threatened to go to war with Colombia. Of course FARC was tied to Hugo Chavez, and Correa was a great admirer of Chavez. When Chavez compared George W. Bush to the devil, Correa said it was "unfair to the devil!"
A seemingly imbalanced, volatile, and at time down right puzzling individual, Correa somehow manages to maintain the support of the Ecuadorian people. Like Abdala Bucaram before him, he manages to survive outlandish statements and unreasonable actions. Correa's father was convicted of cocaine smuggling in 1970. This is a very sore point with him and any journalist who dares to bring up this topic usually receives the full blast of his wrath. He has shut down newspapers and television stations without batting an eye. It is puzzling why he hates the U.S. so much, especially since he went to graduate school in America. Perhaps something personal, unpleasant happened to him when he was here, who knows?
Despite the hatred displayed by Ecuadorian politicians for the United States, most of them would gladly come and live here! As I mentioned elsewhere, they all go to Miami to do their shopping! It is truly puzzling why they have such dislike for the U.S., yet do not hesitate to come to Miami for shopping or for medical treatment! On the other hand, the people of Ecuador in general are warm and friendly, and genuinely like America, why else over a half a million of them would live in the U.S.! I am quite fond of the country of Ecuador and its people, but its politicians have always been a puzzle to me.
In the U.S., the largest concentration of Ecuadorians is found in New York, followed by Los Angeles and Miami. After that, Ecuadorians are found just about everywhere else! Obviously, Ecuadorians in general are very fond of the United States. Yet, as I have mentioned in the previous blogs, their politicians seem to hate the United States with a passion! It isn't so much jealousy that seems to be at the root of their ill will against the U.S. It is quite understandable when a smaller, weaker and poorer country has ill feelings against a bigger and richer country. But the almost venomous ill will displayed by some Ecuadorian politicians seems to go beyond that! Fortunately, Ecuadorians and Latin Americans in general do not feel the same way as some of their politicians!
Rafael Correa has been the President of Ecuador since 2007. He is a member and founder of the Alianza Pais Party, a leftist party composed of several other leftist parties that he united into one large group. Correa describes himself as a "humanist," a Christian Leftist (whatever that means), and a proponent of 21st Century Socialism. He is closely allied with Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, and Iran! He was a close friend and an admirer of Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Oh, and Correa is a U.S. trained Economist. He received a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois.
One of the first things that Correa did when he came into office as President of Ecuador was to announce that Ecuador's three billion dollar international debt was illegitimate and that Ecuador would not pay it! Amazingly, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) did nothing, and Correa got away with it! Ultimately Ecuador's international debt holders agreed to a much smaller repayment! What a bunch of wimps! But then again, short of declaring war on Ecuador, what could they do? It was equivalent to someone announcing that their mortgage and car loan and credit card balance were illegitimate and that they would no longer pay! Do you think that the U.S. banks would go along with that? I might rethink my financial situation and take a page from Correa!
In 2009 when our 10 year lease expired on our base at Eloy Alfaro Airport in Manta, a base that we needed for counter narcotics operations, Correa refused to renew the lease. He responded to U.S. queries by stating that he would grant a lease renewal if the U.S. would give a base to Ecuador in Miami! A ridiculous proposal that was nothing but Correa tweaking the nose of Uncle Sam. At the same time, Correa expelled our Military Assistance Group to Ecuador. The MilGroup, as it is called, was very much involved in the counter narcotics efforts, so their expulsion lessened our effort in that area.
Quite frankly, it was puzzling why he chose not to renew the lease on the base at Manta. The U.S. presence brought much needed revenue to the area, house rentals and general shopping by the military and their families was a boon to Manta, not to mention the annual lease money that the Ecuadorian government received. When the U.S. moved out, Manta felt the economic pinch immediately! More than likely, it was to show his "buddies," Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and his Iranian, Cuban, Bolivian buddies that he could tweak the Yankee nose just as they did from time to time, even at the expense of the people in Manta.
There is, of course, another theory. Colombia accused Correa of being complicit with the leftist guerrilla group FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). Colombian forces raided a camp across their border in Ecuador which was used as a sanctuary by FARC. They killed one of the FARC leaders and captured a number of documents which they say clearly implicates Correa with FARC. FARC is known to be involved in narcotics trade. Correa, of course, vehemently denied ties with FARC and threatened to go to war with Colombia. Of course FARC was tied to Hugo Chavez, and Correa was a great admirer of Chavez. When Chavez compared George W. Bush to the devil, Correa said it was "unfair to the devil!"
A seemingly imbalanced, volatile, and at time down right puzzling individual, Correa somehow manages to maintain the support of the Ecuadorian people. Like Abdala Bucaram before him, he manages to survive outlandish statements and unreasonable actions. Correa's father was convicted of cocaine smuggling in 1970. This is a very sore point with him and any journalist who dares to bring up this topic usually receives the full blast of his wrath. He has shut down newspapers and television stations without batting an eye. It is puzzling why he hates the U.S. so much, especially since he went to graduate school in America. Perhaps something personal, unpleasant happened to him when he was here, who knows?
Despite the hatred displayed by Ecuadorian politicians for the United States, most of them would gladly come and live here! As I mentioned elsewhere, they all go to Miami to do their shopping! It is truly puzzling why they have such dislike for the U.S., yet do not hesitate to come to Miami for shopping or for medical treatment! On the other hand, the people of Ecuador in general are warm and friendly, and genuinely like America, why else over a half a million of them would live in the U.S.! I am quite fond of the country of Ecuador and its people, but its politicians have always been a puzzle to me.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Ecuadorian Presidents and Generals - are they for real?
In Snap Shots, in the story "Manabí in the New Century," I referred to "Alfaro Vive" leftist group as having been founded by an individual by that name. I stand corrected, the book had already gone to print before I caught that error. Yes, it was a Cuban trained Marxist-Leninist group, but it was not founded by an individual by that name, but rather it was named after the early 20th Century Ecuadorian President Eloy Alfaro, who was somewhat of a socialist reformer. The leftist guerrilla group, "Alfaro Vive, Carajo!" (Alfaro Lives, Damn it!") caused some problems in the early to mid 1980s. However, it was President Leon Febres-Cordero who took a hard stand against the guerrilla movement and in a series of military operations managed to reduce it to a point where it was no longer a relevant opposition group.
In the same story, I also mentioned Ecuadorian Air Force General Frank Vargas, and his rebellion that led to his arrest and imprisonment. As I mentioned in the story, he did not spend jail time per se, he was held under "house arrest" at the Officer's Club where he started the revolt and later transferred to another location, but not to a real prison!
Frank Vargas was unhappy with the policies of the Minister of Defense, and his rebellion was aimed at ousting the Minister of Defense. He was not an admirer of the President Leon Febres-Cordero either, so his revolt was no doubt two pronged. What he did would be equivalent to having the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force rebel against the Secretary of Defense and the President!
Vargas had a large following of misguided FAE (Fuerza Aerea de Ecuador, Ecuadorian Air Force) officers who obviously admired his lack of respect and loyalty for his boss. Discipline was not one of the strong points of that group. When they announced their rebellion, TV cameras flocked to the scene and they were all over the national TV. Although most were dressed in their uniforms, quite a few sported T-shirts (no doubt purchased in Miami) with gory graphics and the words in English, "Death Before Dishonor," as they paraded before TV cameras carrying sub-machineguns and other assortment of arms. Watching the so-called rebellion unfold, it was comical, to say the least. It was like watching a bunch of Junior High students protesting the quality of food in their school cafeteria. When interviewed by the press, Vargas announced that they would all fight "to the last drop of blood, to the last bullet," there would be no giving up!
Leon obviously knew his man. Without any negotiating, he simply sent in the army, which was loyal to him, and within hours, had the so-called rebellion squashed. No shots were fired, no one fought to the last drop of blood or the last bullet. The FAE officers with "Death Before Dishonor" T-shirts gave up without firing a shot when they saw the army troops advancing on them. Vargas disappeared, but was located hiding not far away from the Officer's Club which was his headquarters during the ill conceived coup d'état attempt. He gave up meekly, no bravado this time. All of the so-called rebels were arrested and hauled off. Vargas was kept under arrest at the Officer's Club for a period. Ecuadorian Congress, who liked Vargas, refused to allow his imprisonment. So, Leon had Vargas moved to another location, still under "house arrest." This took place in 1986.
In 1987, while Vargas was still under house arrest, a group of FAE officers kidnapped the President Leon Febres-Cordero and demanded the release and unconditional pardon of their beloved leader, General Frank Vargas. Ecuadorian Congress quickly agreed to the terms, but Leon refused at first. But finally he conceded and signed the release and pardon of Frank Vargas. Vargas was not only pardoned, but reinstated in the Ecuadorian Air Force! The FAE officers who kidnapped Leon were also given a blanket pardon! Can you imagine U.S. Air Force officers kidnapping the U.S. President and demanding the release of their imprisoned Commanding General? Such an improbable, wild scenario would only be possible in a Hollywood movie! There is such a thing known as discipline in the U.S. military, something that is obviously alien to the vocabulary of those followers of Frank Vargas!
Leon finished his term in 1988 and left the presidency. He was, perhaps, the last "normal," non-socialist president of Ecuador in the last 30 years! Rodrigo Borja, a leftist was elected into office, beginning a series of leftist and "wild" presidents, such as Abdala Bucaram.
In 1989, when U.S. invaded Panama, Frank Vargas resurfaced again. He wanted to raise a "Volunteer Battalion" to fight the "Yankees," as he put it. He was no lover of the U.S., although like other U.S. haters in Ecuador, he loved to visit and shop in Miami, and no doubt would have gladly lived in the U.S. if it was possible. Perhaps he too purchased a T-shirt that had "Death Before Dishonor" emblazoned on it, just didn't have time to put it on before he was arrested! However, despite his vitriolic anti U.S. speeches and TV appearances, there were no takers for Vargas's "Volunteer Battalion," I don't believe he got a single "volunteer" for his effort.
Later, during Ecuador's brief war with Peru, Frank Vargas again made news. However, this time he was accused of cowardly act, of refusing to defend Ecuadorian skies against the enemy. Don't know what his excuse was, but apparently he disobeyed the orders of the Minister of Defense. However, he was not removed from office or demoted in disgrace. Things aren't done that way in Ecuador.
In the next blog I will discuss the current President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, possibly the biggest U.S. hater of them all. By the way, he has a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois.
In the same story, I also mentioned Ecuadorian Air Force General Frank Vargas, and his rebellion that led to his arrest and imprisonment. As I mentioned in the story, he did not spend jail time per se, he was held under "house arrest" at the Officer's Club where he started the revolt and later transferred to another location, but not to a real prison!
Frank Vargas was unhappy with the policies of the Minister of Defense, and his rebellion was aimed at ousting the Minister of Defense. He was not an admirer of the President Leon Febres-Cordero either, so his revolt was no doubt two pronged. What he did would be equivalent to having the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force rebel against the Secretary of Defense and the President!
Vargas had a large following of misguided FAE (Fuerza Aerea de Ecuador, Ecuadorian Air Force) officers who obviously admired his lack of respect and loyalty for his boss. Discipline was not one of the strong points of that group. When they announced their rebellion, TV cameras flocked to the scene and they were all over the national TV. Although most were dressed in their uniforms, quite a few sported T-shirts (no doubt purchased in Miami) with gory graphics and the words in English, "Death Before Dishonor," as they paraded before TV cameras carrying sub-machineguns and other assortment of arms. Watching the so-called rebellion unfold, it was comical, to say the least. It was like watching a bunch of Junior High students protesting the quality of food in their school cafeteria. When interviewed by the press, Vargas announced that they would all fight "to the last drop of blood, to the last bullet," there would be no giving up!
Leon obviously knew his man. Without any negotiating, he simply sent in the army, which was loyal to him, and within hours, had the so-called rebellion squashed. No shots were fired, no one fought to the last drop of blood or the last bullet. The FAE officers with "Death Before Dishonor" T-shirts gave up without firing a shot when they saw the army troops advancing on them. Vargas disappeared, but was located hiding not far away from the Officer's Club which was his headquarters during the ill conceived coup d'état attempt. He gave up meekly, no bravado this time. All of the so-called rebels were arrested and hauled off. Vargas was kept under arrest at the Officer's Club for a period. Ecuadorian Congress, who liked Vargas, refused to allow his imprisonment. So, Leon had Vargas moved to another location, still under "house arrest." This took place in 1986.
In 1987, while Vargas was still under house arrest, a group of FAE officers kidnapped the President Leon Febres-Cordero and demanded the release and unconditional pardon of their beloved leader, General Frank Vargas. Ecuadorian Congress quickly agreed to the terms, but Leon refused at first. But finally he conceded and signed the release and pardon of Frank Vargas. Vargas was not only pardoned, but reinstated in the Ecuadorian Air Force! The FAE officers who kidnapped Leon were also given a blanket pardon! Can you imagine U.S. Air Force officers kidnapping the U.S. President and demanding the release of their imprisoned Commanding General? Such an improbable, wild scenario would only be possible in a Hollywood movie! There is such a thing known as discipline in the U.S. military, something that is obviously alien to the vocabulary of those followers of Frank Vargas!
Leon finished his term in 1988 and left the presidency. He was, perhaps, the last "normal," non-socialist president of Ecuador in the last 30 years! Rodrigo Borja, a leftist was elected into office, beginning a series of leftist and "wild" presidents, such as Abdala Bucaram.
In 1989, when U.S. invaded Panama, Frank Vargas resurfaced again. He wanted to raise a "Volunteer Battalion" to fight the "Yankees," as he put it. He was no lover of the U.S., although like other U.S. haters in Ecuador, he loved to visit and shop in Miami, and no doubt would have gladly lived in the U.S. if it was possible. Perhaps he too purchased a T-shirt that had "Death Before Dishonor" emblazoned on it, just didn't have time to put it on before he was arrested! However, despite his vitriolic anti U.S. speeches and TV appearances, there were no takers for Vargas's "Volunteer Battalion," I don't believe he got a single "volunteer" for his effort.
Later, during Ecuador's brief war with Peru, Frank Vargas again made news. However, this time he was accused of cowardly act, of refusing to defend Ecuadorian skies against the enemy. Don't know what his excuse was, but apparently he disobeyed the orders of the Minister of Defense. However, he was not removed from office or demoted in disgrace. Things aren't done that way in Ecuador.
In the next blog I will discuss the current President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, possibly the biggest U.S. hater of them all. By the way, he has a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Ecuador's Love/Hate Relations with U.S.
The country of Ecuador is small, only about the size of Arizona (actually a bit smaller) with a population of 15 million or so. It is located on the Pacific coast of South America, squeezed in between its larger neighbors of Colombia in the north and east, and Peru in the South. It is best known for Galapagos Islands, which brings tourists from all over the world annually.
Despite its small size, it has diverse climate regions, everything from alpine to tropical rain forests, savannas, and deserts. Its population is primarily composed of mestizo, with Indians in the Amazonian jungles and high Andes. In the northern part, especially around the port city of Esmeraldas, there is a significant African population as well. In towns, like in its largest city of Guayaquil, there is a cosmopolitan mixture of European, and small Chinese as well as Middle Eastern population. However, all of these different ethnic groups are generally at least second generation, and for all practical purposes, completely Hispanic in speech, manner, and thought. Ecuadorians are wonderful people, warm and friendly. Their politicians, on the other-hand, are something else!
Ecuador is a country where the United States had established its first diplomatic mission in South America. A United States Consulate was opened in the small seaport of Bahia de Caraquez in 1823. The consulate was moved to Guayaquil after a few years. The first U.S. Consul to Ecuador remained in that country after his service, married an Ecuadorian woman, and eventually died there of yellow fever. So, we have had a long standing relationship with the country of Ecuador.
In Snap Shots, there are seven stories set in Ecuador, ranging in time from about 1984 to present. The last story, called "Manabí in the New Century" discusses some of the current problems with Ecuador and some of the political problems that Ecuador has had in the past.
For the most part, our bilateral relations with Ecuador had been good, but lately, since about the late 1980s, it seems the relationship had deteriorated considerably. Back in the mid 1980s, when Leon Febres-Cordero was elected president in 1984, our relations with Ecuador were at its best. Leon was U.S. educated (attended high school and college in the U.S.), received an engineering degree from Stevens College in New Jersey. He was pro-American and had very friendly relations with George H.W. Bush. Bush (as a vice-President) even came out to Ecuador for Leon's inauguration in 1984. In short, he was pro American. However, it seems he was the only one in the Ecuadorian government who was pro-American, of which he was constantly accused by his opponents. The Ecuadorian Congress had a mural painted on the wall depicting various historical events and figures, one of which is a menacing looking "Darth Vader-like" figure with the letters "CIA" on the front of the helmet. The U.S. government protested, but to no avail. The Ecuadorian Congress refused to have the figure removed from the mural, and even Leon couldn't do anything about it. The artist, Oswaldo Guayasamin, incidentally, loves to spend time in Miami.
During the time of Leon Febres-Cordero's presidency in Ecuador, the Mayor of Guayaquil was a somewhat whacky and controversial figure by the name of Abdala Bucaram. Bucaram family originally came from Lebanon and his name "Abdala" was simply a Hispanic version of Islamic name of Abdullah. He was physically a big man, stood well over six feet and sported a "Hitler-like" tight little moustache. He often stated that his favorite book was Hitler's Mein Kampf!
When I arrived in Guayaquil for my first tour in 1984, as a matter of routine, I went around and made courtesy calls on various offices in Guayaquil with whom I knew I would be having a lot of contact. I paid a call on the Mayor of Guayaquil, who was Abdala Bucaram at that time.
Abdala had been elected into office rather under suspicious and controversial circumstances. He supposedly won the mayoral elections by a landslide, but there were all sorts of accusations of fraud. He primarily won the election through the support of poor people, those living in neighborhoods that were made up of shanties, neighborhoods such as El Guasmo and Mapasinge. These neighborhoods were illegally constructed by poor people who could not afford regular housing. Electricity, water, and other services were simply "pirated" by tapping into existing nearby electrical lines and water pipes. They even tapped into cable TV! Abdala was, in short, a champion of the poor, sort of.
When I was escorted into his office and seated in front of his large desk, after the usual greetings and handshakes, Bucaram proceeded to tell me what was wrong with the U.S. He was of course a member of the leftist Roldosist Party (PRE). He said that he was for the people, and that he was going to clean up Guayaquil of corruption by any means necessary. Then he reached down under his desk and produced a UZI sub-machinegun which he slammed on his desk and announced, "soy un hombre de accion!" ("I am a man of action!") I guess he was trying to impress me. But aside from startling me with the slamming of the UZI on his desk, which incidentally caused his bodyguards to storm into the room with drawn guns, he did not impress me. He struck me as being somewhat of a windbag and a buffoon who was trying to show how tough he was.
There were many things, incredible things that Abdala pulled during his short tenure as Mayor of Guayaquil. More recently, when the Mayor of Toronto admitted to sniffing coke and doing other un-mayor-like things, I thought of Abdala and his antics. The Canadian appeared like a choir boy in comparison!
Abdala was a Mayor of Guayaquil for only a year, from 1984 to 1985. He was accused of embezzling several millions from the city coffers and also of "insulting" the Ecuadorian Army, apparently an offense much more serious than embezzlement! Anyway, Abdala fled Guayaquil and sought refuge in Panama.
But the saga of the Bucaram family was not over yet, not by a long shot. With the mayor's office vacant, a special election was held and Abdala's sister, Elsa, was elected! Again, like Abdala, she swept into the Mayor's office thanks to the votes of the disaffected, the poor from El Guasmo and Mapasinge! In some ways, Elsa was even worse than her brother, if that was possible! Like her brother, Elsa was a big woman, not exactly cover girl material, more like Abdala in drag! About a year into her time as Mayor of Guayaquil, she decided to demonstrate what a champion of people she was, how she cared for the poor. Much like her brother, she was always trying to pull stunts that would draw attention and never passed up an opportunity. However, this time she went a bit over!
Elsa announced that on a particular day, she was going to distribute free cans of tuna to poor people who came to the square in front of the mayor's office. Ecuador is a major producer of canned tuna, so it was not difficult for her to get several cases into her office. Then on the said day, she appeared on the second floor balcony of her office and proceeded to toss cans of tuna at the people gathered below! You can imagine the chaos it created. Aside from people jostling each other to try to catch a can of tuna, some people got hit on the head with cans that were being thrown by Elsa and her assistants. Ambulances had to be called for injured and the whole event became a disaster. The press immediately jumped on Elsa and criticized her for the stupid stunt that she pulled. Elsa, like her brother, didn't much care for criticism.
A few days later, when criticism became a bit too much for her, she appeared before the national TV and attacked her critics, saying that they did not understand her, that she was doing everything for "her people." She then pulled a stunt that not only surprised but shocked the TV audience. She announced, "I have nothing to hide, I have a pure heart!" With that she ripped open her blouse and said, "I can bare my chest and show that I have nothing to hide!" Yes, her brother Abdala pulled a lot stunts, but Elsa was not going to take a back seat!
But the story of Abdala was not over yet! Abdala returned to Ecuador for the 1996 Presidential Elections. Apparently everything was forgiven and he could return to run for office. Actually he had returned and ran for office in 1988 as well as 1992, but lost each time. Ecuadorian law allows even wanted individuals to run for office without being arrested! At any rate, during his election campaign he went around with a pair of attractive girls and dressed as Elvis, sang "Jail House Rock," his favorite song! Aside from Hitler and Mein Kampf, Elvis and "Jail House Rock" were his other favorites. If anything, Abdala was a man of varied interests and talents! Anyway, he won the Presidential election in 1996 and became Ecuador's President. However, his presidency lasted less than a year, actually only 7 months, before he was impeached and dismissed from the presidency for incompetency and fraud.
Abdala once again left Ecuador for Panama. This time, hopefully, for good.
Despite its small size, it has diverse climate regions, everything from alpine to tropical rain forests, savannas, and deserts. Its population is primarily composed of mestizo, with Indians in the Amazonian jungles and high Andes. In the northern part, especially around the port city of Esmeraldas, there is a significant African population as well. In towns, like in its largest city of Guayaquil, there is a cosmopolitan mixture of European, and small Chinese as well as Middle Eastern population. However, all of these different ethnic groups are generally at least second generation, and for all practical purposes, completely Hispanic in speech, manner, and thought. Ecuadorians are wonderful people, warm and friendly. Their politicians, on the other-hand, are something else!
Ecuador is a country where the United States had established its first diplomatic mission in South America. A United States Consulate was opened in the small seaport of Bahia de Caraquez in 1823. The consulate was moved to Guayaquil after a few years. The first U.S. Consul to Ecuador remained in that country after his service, married an Ecuadorian woman, and eventually died there of yellow fever. So, we have had a long standing relationship with the country of Ecuador.
In Snap Shots, there are seven stories set in Ecuador, ranging in time from about 1984 to present. The last story, called "Manabí in the New Century" discusses some of the current problems with Ecuador and some of the political problems that Ecuador has had in the past.
For the most part, our bilateral relations with Ecuador had been good, but lately, since about the late 1980s, it seems the relationship had deteriorated considerably. Back in the mid 1980s, when Leon Febres-Cordero was elected president in 1984, our relations with Ecuador were at its best. Leon was U.S. educated (attended high school and college in the U.S.), received an engineering degree from Stevens College in New Jersey. He was pro-American and had very friendly relations with George H.W. Bush. Bush (as a vice-President) even came out to Ecuador for Leon's inauguration in 1984. In short, he was pro American. However, it seems he was the only one in the Ecuadorian government who was pro-American, of which he was constantly accused by his opponents. The Ecuadorian Congress had a mural painted on the wall depicting various historical events and figures, one of which is a menacing looking "Darth Vader-like" figure with the letters "CIA" on the front of the helmet. The U.S. government protested, but to no avail. The Ecuadorian Congress refused to have the figure removed from the mural, and even Leon couldn't do anything about it. The artist, Oswaldo Guayasamin, incidentally, loves to spend time in Miami.
During the time of Leon Febres-Cordero's presidency in Ecuador, the Mayor of Guayaquil was a somewhat whacky and controversial figure by the name of Abdala Bucaram. Bucaram family originally came from Lebanon and his name "Abdala" was simply a Hispanic version of Islamic name of Abdullah. He was physically a big man, stood well over six feet and sported a "Hitler-like" tight little moustache. He often stated that his favorite book was Hitler's Mein Kampf!
When I arrived in Guayaquil for my first tour in 1984, as a matter of routine, I went around and made courtesy calls on various offices in Guayaquil with whom I knew I would be having a lot of contact. I paid a call on the Mayor of Guayaquil, who was Abdala Bucaram at that time.
Abdala had been elected into office rather under suspicious and controversial circumstances. He supposedly won the mayoral elections by a landslide, but there were all sorts of accusations of fraud. He primarily won the election through the support of poor people, those living in neighborhoods that were made up of shanties, neighborhoods such as El Guasmo and Mapasinge. These neighborhoods were illegally constructed by poor people who could not afford regular housing. Electricity, water, and other services were simply "pirated" by tapping into existing nearby electrical lines and water pipes. They even tapped into cable TV! Abdala was, in short, a champion of the poor, sort of.
When I was escorted into his office and seated in front of his large desk, after the usual greetings and handshakes, Bucaram proceeded to tell me what was wrong with the U.S. He was of course a member of the leftist Roldosist Party (PRE). He said that he was for the people, and that he was going to clean up Guayaquil of corruption by any means necessary. Then he reached down under his desk and produced a UZI sub-machinegun which he slammed on his desk and announced, "soy un hombre de accion!" ("I am a man of action!") I guess he was trying to impress me. But aside from startling me with the slamming of the UZI on his desk, which incidentally caused his bodyguards to storm into the room with drawn guns, he did not impress me. He struck me as being somewhat of a windbag and a buffoon who was trying to show how tough he was.
There were many things, incredible things that Abdala pulled during his short tenure as Mayor of Guayaquil. More recently, when the Mayor of Toronto admitted to sniffing coke and doing other un-mayor-like things, I thought of Abdala and his antics. The Canadian appeared like a choir boy in comparison!
Abdala was a Mayor of Guayaquil for only a year, from 1984 to 1985. He was accused of embezzling several millions from the city coffers and also of "insulting" the Ecuadorian Army, apparently an offense much more serious than embezzlement! Anyway, Abdala fled Guayaquil and sought refuge in Panama.
But the saga of the Bucaram family was not over yet, not by a long shot. With the mayor's office vacant, a special election was held and Abdala's sister, Elsa, was elected! Again, like Abdala, she swept into the Mayor's office thanks to the votes of the disaffected, the poor from El Guasmo and Mapasinge! In some ways, Elsa was even worse than her brother, if that was possible! Like her brother, Elsa was a big woman, not exactly cover girl material, more like Abdala in drag! About a year into her time as Mayor of Guayaquil, she decided to demonstrate what a champion of people she was, how she cared for the poor. Much like her brother, she was always trying to pull stunts that would draw attention and never passed up an opportunity. However, this time she went a bit over!
Elsa announced that on a particular day, she was going to distribute free cans of tuna to poor people who came to the square in front of the mayor's office. Ecuador is a major producer of canned tuna, so it was not difficult for her to get several cases into her office. Then on the said day, she appeared on the second floor balcony of her office and proceeded to toss cans of tuna at the people gathered below! You can imagine the chaos it created. Aside from people jostling each other to try to catch a can of tuna, some people got hit on the head with cans that were being thrown by Elsa and her assistants. Ambulances had to be called for injured and the whole event became a disaster. The press immediately jumped on Elsa and criticized her for the stupid stunt that she pulled. Elsa, like her brother, didn't much care for criticism.
A few days later, when criticism became a bit too much for her, she appeared before the national TV and attacked her critics, saying that they did not understand her, that she was doing everything for "her people." She then pulled a stunt that not only surprised but shocked the TV audience. She announced, "I have nothing to hide, I have a pure heart!" With that she ripped open her blouse and said, "I can bare my chest and show that I have nothing to hide!" Yes, her brother Abdala pulled a lot stunts, but Elsa was not going to take a back seat!
But the story of Abdala was not over yet! Abdala returned to Ecuador for the 1996 Presidential Elections. Apparently everything was forgiven and he could return to run for office. Actually he had returned and ran for office in 1988 as well as 1992, but lost each time. Ecuadorian law allows even wanted individuals to run for office without being arrested! At any rate, during his election campaign he went around with a pair of attractive girls and dressed as Elvis, sang "Jail House Rock," his favorite song! Aside from Hitler and Mein Kampf, Elvis and "Jail House Rock" were his other favorites. If anything, Abdala was a man of varied interests and talents! Anyway, he won the Presidential election in 1996 and became Ecuador's President. However, his presidency lasted less than a year, actually only 7 months, before he was impeached and dismissed from the presidency for incompetency and fraud.
Abdala once again left Ecuador for Panama. This time, hopefully, for good.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
The Birth of New Age Korea - Part 2
The residence of the President of the Republic of Korea is called the "Blue House." Actually, it is called "The House with a Blue Roof" because of the beautiful blue tiles that it has on its roof. However, as early as during Rhee Syngman era in the 1950s, it was popularly referred to as the "Blue House" so the name stuck.
It was at the "Blue House" during a private dinner party that was held with some government officials, including the Director of KCIA, that the President Park Chung Hee was assassinated on October 26, 1979. The Director of KCIA, a life long friend of Park's shot him from across the table, hitting him in the chest and head. Park was killed instantly, and in the process some of his body guards were killed as well. It was, a "mafia-like" assassination scenario at a presidential residence! Park Chung Hee's oldest daughter, Park Geun Hye was asleep in another part of the house. Except for servants, there were no other family members in the "Blue House." Park's other children, another daughter and son were married and living with their families outside of the presidential compound. His oldest daughter Geun Hye was unmarried and had taken over the role of the first lady since the death of her mother five years earlier in 1974. Her mother was shot by an assassin who was trying to kill her father. Her mother essentially got in the way of the assassin's bullet meant for her father.
So, the Park family was not new to violence, and now only four short years after her mother's death, Geun Hye was awakened to the sounds of gun fire. This time it was her father who was killed by the assassin, who happened to be his Director of KCIA and a childhood friend to boot!
Park Geun Hye was born in Taegu, South Korea during the Korean War, in 1952. In 1953 her father moved the family to Seoul where she grew up, attending elementary school and Sacred Heart Girl's Middle and High School. After high school she attended Sogang University and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. She continued her studies, went to France and enrolled in Grenoble University. However, her studies at Grenoble were cut short when her mother was killed in the assassination attempt on her father. She returned to Seoul and assumed the role of the First Lady, hosting state dinners and attending various functions that were normally her late mother's responsibility. In this way, she became very attuned to the political scene in Korea.
Shortly after the assassination of her father, Geun Hye entered politics by joining the Grand National Party, a conservative political party that her father had belonged to and quickly rose within the party ranks. She became the Chairman of the party and got a nick-name as "the Queen of Elections" because of her knack for getting elected into the National Assembly (Congress). However, she felt that the party was behind times and losing ground with the public.
Park Geun Hye was elected to the National Assembly for 4 terms, from 1998 until 2012. In 2011 the Grand National Party changed its name to Saenuri Party, the New Frontier Party. The old GNP was much like the ultra conservative wing of our GOP and many of its members felt that it was too conservative for the times and needed a change, so, the party reorganized and became Saenuri Party, the New Frontier Party. Concurrently, with the change in party name and its platform, she ran for the Presidency in the 2012 election. She had previously run and lost by a narrow margin in the 2007 elections, the only election that she ever lost! But this time she was not to be denied. She won by a large margin and was inaugurated in February of 2013 as the 11th President of the Republic of Korea.
Park Geun Hye became the first woman President of the Republic of Korea, although she is not the first Korean woman leader. That title belongs to Queen Myong Song or Queen Min as she is popularly called, who was assassinated by the Japanese in 1895, on the same grounds where the "Blue House" stands today! Actually, there was another queen, Queen Sondok who ruled the ancient Silla from 632 to 647 AD. But in more recent times, it was Queen Myong Song that is best known.
The "Blue House" as well as several other official buildings stand on the old Gyongbok Palace grounds that was originally built in 1395 at the start of the Chosun Dynasty. It had been burned to the ground by the Japanese during the Imjin Wars of 1592-1598, rebuilt painstakingly in the following couple of centuries, but again destroyed by the Japanese in 1911! However, Koreans have been rebuilding the 62 acre grounds since that time. Today the "Blue House" presidential residence as well as other administrative buildings stand on the original, beautiful grounds.
Upon taking office, Park Geun Hye immediately launched into various reforms within the government. She began to change laws and regulations that she felt were cumbersome and outdated, holding back progress. She has aggressively worked at the reunification of the two Koreas, and in fact, made more progress in the short time than any of her predecessors. On the economic front, in little over a year that she has been in the office, she managed to sign a free trade agreement with Australia and Canada, as well as other favorable trade deals with China, Russia, and the United States!
Some of the remarkable things that she managed to accomplish was to change the Korean Nationality Law. Prior to the changes, the Korean Nationality Law was very much like the Japanese and Chinese Nationality Laws, laws based on ancient practice of recording everything in family registers and using them as official records. Although the family registers are still maintained in Korea, there are now other avenues for securing Korean nationality. Naturalization requirements have changed considerably, making it easier for foreigners to naturalize in Korea. Business laws have changed as well, making foreign investments easier and more attractive to outsiders. South Korea has experienced a boom in foreign investments and foreign residents as well! It is easier for foreigners to get employment and to receive residency. Like all Asian countries, Korea is a country that is of homogeneous society. However, that is beginning to change. Park Geun Hye has stressed the fact that Korea cannot continue to be the "Hermit Kingdom," that it has to "internationalize," become more accepting of other cultures and people. Otherwise, she warns, the country will not survive in the new world order!
The list goes on and on. She has made remarkable changes. Not all of the changes that she made are popular with everyone. Some old time hard liners are displeased with the changes. She has systematically destroyed "old boy networks" within the government and now has launched into doing the same in the private sector. Three of the most important domestic policy agendas that she tackled immediately was sexual violence, domestic violence, and help for old and needy. Korean laws have become much stricter in regard to sexual and domestic violence, and enforcement of these new laws have become top priority. They say that her new policies have made a great impact already! Her popularity with the public is around 65%, highest of any previous South Korean President.
However, there are still those who say, "like father, like daughter," and don't trust her. There are those who think she is like her father, a strong arm ruler, a dictator interested only in gaining power.
Their mistrust and suspicions are misplaced. If she wanted to be a dictator, she would have shown her hand earlier. Instead, she seems genuinely interested only in improving South Korea's economic and political situation, and domestically improve living conditions for all citizens.
South Korea's economy is booming. For a country that is only the size of the state of Kentucky with a population of roughly 50 million, it is remarkable what it is producing and is capable of doing. Park Geun Hye is the right person to lead such a country, a country that is a world leader in ship building, and running neck and neck with Japan in electronics and automobile manufacturing. She has picked up what her father started during Vietnam War, and is moving Korea even further. It is indeed the New Age in Korea, and thanks to her leadership, it will advance even more.
It was at the "Blue House" during a private dinner party that was held with some government officials, including the Director of KCIA, that the President Park Chung Hee was assassinated on October 26, 1979. The Director of KCIA, a life long friend of Park's shot him from across the table, hitting him in the chest and head. Park was killed instantly, and in the process some of his body guards were killed as well. It was, a "mafia-like" assassination scenario at a presidential residence! Park Chung Hee's oldest daughter, Park Geun Hye was asleep in another part of the house. Except for servants, there were no other family members in the "Blue House." Park's other children, another daughter and son were married and living with their families outside of the presidential compound. His oldest daughter Geun Hye was unmarried and had taken over the role of the first lady since the death of her mother five years earlier in 1974. Her mother was shot by an assassin who was trying to kill her father. Her mother essentially got in the way of the assassin's bullet meant for her father.
So, the Park family was not new to violence, and now only four short years after her mother's death, Geun Hye was awakened to the sounds of gun fire. This time it was her father who was killed by the assassin, who happened to be his Director of KCIA and a childhood friend to boot!
Park Geun Hye was born in Taegu, South Korea during the Korean War, in 1952. In 1953 her father moved the family to Seoul where she grew up, attending elementary school and Sacred Heart Girl's Middle and High School. After high school she attended Sogang University and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. She continued her studies, went to France and enrolled in Grenoble University. However, her studies at Grenoble were cut short when her mother was killed in the assassination attempt on her father. She returned to Seoul and assumed the role of the First Lady, hosting state dinners and attending various functions that were normally her late mother's responsibility. In this way, she became very attuned to the political scene in Korea.
Shortly after the assassination of her father, Geun Hye entered politics by joining the Grand National Party, a conservative political party that her father had belonged to and quickly rose within the party ranks. She became the Chairman of the party and got a nick-name as "the Queen of Elections" because of her knack for getting elected into the National Assembly (Congress). However, she felt that the party was behind times and losing ground with the public.
Park Geun Hye was elected to the National Assembly for 4 terms, from 1998 until 2012. In 2011 the Grand National Party changed its name to Saenuri Party, the New Frontier Party. The old GNP was much like the ultra conservative wing of our GOP and many of its members felt that it was too conservative for the times and needed a change, so, the party reorganized and became Saenuri Party, the New Frontier Party. Concurrently, with the change in party name and its platform, she ran for the Presidency in the 2012 election. She had previously run and lost by a narrow margin in the 2007 elections, the only election that she ever lost! But this time she was not to be denied. She won by a large margin and was inaugurated in February of 2013 as the 11th President of the Republic of Korea.
Park Geun Hye became the first woman President of the Republic of Korea, although she is not the first Korean woman leader. That title belongs to Queen Myong Song or Queen Min as she is popularly called, who was assassinated by the Japanese in 1895, on the same grounds where the "Blue House" stands today! Actually, there was another queen, Queen Sondok who ruled the ancient Silla from 632 to 647 AD. But in more recent times, it was Queen Myong Song that is best known.
The "Blue House" as well as several other official buildings stand on the old Gyongbok Palace grounds that was originally built in 1395 at the start of the Chosun Dynasty. It had been burned to the ground by the Japanese during the Imjin Wars of 1592-1598, rebuilt painstakingly in the following couple of centuries, but again destroyed by the Japanese in 1911! However, Koreans have been rebuilding the 62 acre grounds since that time. Today the "Blue House" presidential residence as well as other administrative buildings stand on the original, beautiful grounds.
Upon taking office, Park Geun Hye immediately launched into various reforms within the government. She began to change laws and regulations that she felt were cumbersome and outdated, holding back progress. She has aggressively worked at the reunification of the two Koreas, and in fact, made more progress in the short time than any of her predecessors. On the economic front, in little over a year that she has been in the office, she managed to sign a free trade agreement with Australia and Canada, as well as other favorable trade deals with China, Russia, and the United States!
Some of the remarkable things that she managed to accomplish was to change the Korean Nationality Law. Prior to the changes, the Korean Nationality Law was very much like the Japanese and Chinese Nationality Laws, laws based on ancient practice of recording everything in family registers and using them as official records. Although the family registers are still maintained in Korea, there are now other avenues for securing Korean nationality. Naturalization requirements have changed considerably, making it easier for foreigners to naturalize in Korea. Business laws have changed as well, making foreign investments easier and more attractive to outsiders. South Korea has experienced a boom in foreign investments and foreign residents as well! It is easier for foreigners to get employment and to receive residency. Like all Asian countries, Korea is a country that is of homogeneous society. However, that is beginning to change. Park Geun Hye has stressed the fact that Korea cannot continue to be the "Hermit Kingdom," that it has to "internationalize," become more accepting of other cultures and people. Otherwise, she warns, the country will not survive in the new world order!
The list goes on and on. She has made remarkable changes. Not all of the changes that she made are popular with everyone. Some old time hard liners are displeased with the changes. She has systematically destroyed "old boy networks" within the government and now has launched into doing the same in the private sector. Three of the most important domestic policy agendas that she tackled immediately was sexual violence, domestic violence, and help for old and needy. Korean laws have become much stricter in regard to sexual and domestic violence, and enforcement of these new laws have become top priority. They say that her new policies have made a great impact already! Her popularity with the public is around 65%, highest of any previous South Korean President.
However, there are still those who say, "like father, like daughter," and don't trust her. There are those who think she is like her father, a strong arm ruler, a dictator interested only in gaining power.
Their mistrust and suspicions are misplaced. If she wanted to be a dictator, she would have shown her hand earlier. Instead, she seems genuinely interested only in improving South Korea's economic and political situation, and domestically improve living conditions for all citizens.
South Korea's economy is booming. For a country that is only the size of the state of Kentucky with a population of roughly 50 million, it is remarkable what it is producing and is capable of doing. Park Geun Hye is the right person to lead such a country, a country that is a world leader in ship building, and running neck and neck with Japan in electronics and automobile manufacturing. She has picked up what her father started during Vietnam War, and is moving Korea even further. It is indeed the New Age in Korea, and thanks to her leadership, it will advance even more.
Monday, November 10, 2014
The Birth of New Age Korea
As countries go, Korea, both the communist north and the democratic south are fairly young. They have been in existence only since 1947, a period of about 67 years. But as a culture, Korea is an ancient country, second oldest in northeast Asia. Korea can lay claim to its early foundation going back more than 3000 years.
Although the north and the south began at the same time, it is the south, the Republic of Korea, that has far surpassed the north as well as many other countries in the world, when it comes to economic and technological development. This is largely due to South Korea's third president Park Chung Hee. Actually he was the second president, the interim president after the coup d'état, President Yun lasted only from 1961 when Rhee was overthrown until Park was elected in 1963.
The first president Rhee Syng Man (1947-1961), was embroiled in a devastating war that took place from 1950 to 1953. The war set back both Koreas several decades in development due to devastation that both sides suffered. Aside from the problem of war, Rhee was a dictator, and despite his American education (he had a Ph.D in Political Science from Princeton University), or, as some say, because of it, he was more preoccupied with maintaining his power than economic development. It wasn't until he was overthrown and Park took over, that South Korea began to experience some improvement. Park was a dictator as well, and ultimately assassinated. But despite all his faults and blame that he received, it was he who put South Korea on the track for what some call a miraculous economic recovery.
Park Chung Hee was born in 1917 during Japanese rule. He studied at Kyongbuk University and received a degree to become a teacher. But he wasn't satisfied with being a teacher, so he applied for a Registered Alias, tsushomei, and became Tagaki Masao and entered the Changchun Military Academy of the famous Kwantung Army in Manchuria. He graduated at the top of his class in 1942. His Japanese superiors were so impressed with him that they sent him to Japan for further studies at the Imperial Japanese Army Academy from which he graduated in 1944, third in his class! He was assigned to Kwantung Army as a Lieutenant and he saw some action in China before the war ended. After the war he was repatriated to south Korea, his original home. In South Korea he joined the newly formed South Korean Constabulary Army under U.S. Military Government, and received a commission as a Captain. When South Korea became a nation in 1947, he simply transitioned into the new South Korean Army. A few years later he was promoted to Major when the war broke out in 1950. He distinguished himself during the war and rose rapidly in rank, becoming a Brigadier General at the end of the war in 1953. Ultimately he became the Chief of Staff, a four star general in 1963. Shortly after that, he became the president of South Korea (1963-1979). He narrowly defeated the incumbent (interim) President Yun in the election.
Park was a dictator and he ran the country like a general, but he also put South Korea on the right path for economic recovery. Korea was poor, decades behind Japan. The war had really taken its toll and it was hard to come up with a plan for economic growth. Unlike Japan, which didn't have to spend but a fraction of its GNP for its defense, South Korea had to maintain a strong military, for the north was and still is a constant threat. To maintain a strong military, just about all of the country's resources had to be used for the military, there just wasn't any possibility for economic growth in such a small, resource poor country under such circumstances.
Then the war in Vietnam began to escalate and President Johnson tried to form a coalition of sorts. He managed to get Australia to send troops, even Philippines sent an engineering battalion. But the largest contingent was sent by South Korea. The Republic of Korea sent two Army Infantry Divisions, a Marine Corps Brigade, as well as a Special Forces Battalion. Before South Korea pulled out its troops several years later, a third Army Infantry Division was sent as well as an additional Marine Corps Brigade. In short South Korea had a substantial combat unit presence and these units saw a lot of action.
The price for South Korea's very unpopular (at home) participation in Vietnam was that Korea supplied all of combat uniforms and boots that were worn by Vietnamese and other allied troops. Additionally, ammunition for 5.56mm (M-16 round) was made in Korea. Before the war's end, all of small arms ammunition that was used by Vietnamese, as well as some that was used by the U.S. troops, was made in Korea! In addition to uniforms, boots, and ammunition, Koreans began to supply all other pieces of equipment like web gear, ammo pouches, etc.
It was an immediate shot in the arm for Korean economy and the birth of the so-called "Han River Miracle." Even before the Vietnam war ended, many of the Korean manufacturers of war goods began to transition to civilian goods. Uniform makers started to make civilian clothes and boots manufacturers started making sneakers. In the mid 1970s popular sneaker brands began to appear with labels that said "Made in Republic of Korea." Casual wear and sportswear also started to show up that were made in Korea.
Park Chung Hee was a dictator, of that there is no doubt. He did some terrible things during his time as the President of the Republic of Korea. His KCIA, the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, gained tremendous power, ultimately also bringing about his death! He made arrests and imprisoned anyone who opposed him politically. In short, he was a typical dictator, not quite as bad as his counterpart in the north, not quite as ruthless. At least Park maintained a façade of a democratic leader, and he was interested in getting South Korea on its feet economically. But otherwise, he was just a dictator. He was hated and feared by some, while others said that Korea needed a strong leader and that he at least put the country on the right path for recovery.
Park surrounded himself with a so-called "Hamkyong-do Mafia," a group of generals who were originally from the northern province of Hamkyong-do. They were a tight group and rarely let any outsiders into their inner circle. It was, therefore, somewhat unusual that Park was part of that group, for Park was from a southern province of Kyongbuk-do. Everyone just assumed that because he was a military man, a general, he became part of that group. As it turned out, they really did not trust him all that much. But, ultimately, it was the head of KCIA, Kim Jae Kyu, a lifelong friend, who assassinated him at a dinner party, shot him from across the table! Kim was from the same province as Park and graduated from the same university as a teacher as well! He was a Lieutenant General in the Army before Park appointed him to be the Chief of KCIA.
Park Chung Hee's legacy lives on. His daughter Park Geun Hye is now the president of South Korea, and she has done remarkable things in the short time she has been in the office. In the next blog, I will discuss Park Geun Hye, Republic of Korea's woman president, the first female national leader in northeast Asia since the Dowager Empress of China during the Ching Dynasty. But unlike the Dowager Empress, Park Geun Hye was elected by the people!
Although the north and the south began at the same time, it is the south, the Republic of Korea, that has far surpassed the north as well as many other countries in the world, when it comes to economic and technological development. This is largely due to South Korea's third president Park Chung Hee. Actually he was the second president, the interim president after the coup d'état, President Yun lasted only from 1961 when Rhee was overthrown until Park was elected in 1963.
The first president Rhee Syng Man (1947-1961), was embroiled in a devastating war that took place from 1950 to 1953. The war set back both Koreas several decades in development due to devastation that both sides suffered. Aside from the problem of war, Rhee was a dictator, and despite his American education (he had a Ph.D in Political Science from Princeton University), or, as some say, because of it, he was more preoccupied with maintaining his power than economic development. It wasn't until he was overthrown and Park took over, that South Korea began to experience some improvement. Park was a dictator as well, and ultimately assassinated. But despite all his faults and blame that he received, it was he who put South Korea on the track for what some call a miraculous economic recovery.
Park Chung Hee was born in 1917 during Japanese rule. He studied at Kyongbuk University and received a degree to become a teacher. But he wasn't satisfied with being a teacher, so he applied for a Registered Alias, tsushomei, and became Tagaki Masao and entered the Changchun Military Academy of the famous Kwantung Army in Manchuria. He graduated at the top of his class in 1942. His Japanese superiors were so impressed with him that they sent him to Japan for further studies at the Imperial Japanese Army Academy from which he graduated in 1944, third in his class! He was assigned to Kwantung Army as a Lieutenant and he saw some action in China before the war ended. After the war he was repatriated to south Korea, his original home. In South Korea he joined the newly formed South Korean Constabulary Army under U.S. Military Government, and received a commission as a Captain. When South Korea became a nation in 1947, he simply transitioned into the new South Korean Army. A few years later he was promoted to Major when the war broke out in 1950. He distinguished himself during the war and rose rapidly in rank, becoming a Brigadier General at the end of the war in 1953. Ultimately he became the Chief of Staff, a four star general in 1963. Shortly after that, he became the president of South Korea (1963-1979). He narrowly defeated the incumbent (interim) President Yun in the election.
Park was a dictator and he ran the country like a general, but he also put South Korea on the right path for economic recovery. Korea was poor, decades behind Japan. The war had really taken its toll and it was hard to come up with a plan for economic growth. Unlike Japan, which didn't have to spend but a fraction of its GNP for its defense, South Korea had to maintain a strong military, for the north was and still is a constant threat. To maintain a strong military, just about all of the country's resources had to be used for the military, there just wasn't any possibility for economic growth in such a small, resource poor country under such circumstances.
Then the war in Vietnam began to escalate and President Johnson tried to form a coalition of sorts. He managed to get Australia to send troops, even Philippines sent an engineering battalion. But the largest contingent was sent by South Korea. The Republic of Korea sent two Army Infantry Divisions, a Marine Corps Brigade, as well as a Special Forces Battalion. Before South Korea pulled out its troops several years later, a third Army Infantry Division was sent as well as an additional Marine Corps Brigade. In short South Korea had a substantial combat unit presence and these units saw a lot of action.
The price for South Korea's very unpopular (at home) participation in Vietnam was that Korea supplied all of combat uniforms and boots that were worn by Vietnamese and other allied troops. Additionally, ammunition for 5.56mm (M-16 round) was made in Korea. Before the war's end, all of small arms ammunition that was used by Vietnamese, as well as some that was used by the U.S. troops, was made in Korea! In addition to uniforms, boots, and ammunition, Koreans began to supply all other pieces of equipment like web gear, ammo pouches, etc.
It was an immediate shot in the arm for Korean economy and the birth of the so-called "Han River Miracle." Even before the Vietnam war ended, many of the Korean manufacturers of war goods began to transition to civilian goods. Uniform makers started to make civilian clothes and boots manufacturers started making sneakers. In the mid 1970s popular sneaker brands began to appear with labels that said "Made in Republic of Korea." Casual wear and sportswear also started to show up that were made in Korea.
Park Chung Hee was a dictator, of that there is no doubt. He did some terrible things during his time as the President of the Republic of Korea. His KCIA, the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, gained tremendous power, ultimately also bringing about his death! He made arrests and imprisoned anyone who opposed him politically. In short, he was a typical dictator, not quite as bad as his counterpart in the north, not quite as ruthless. At least Park maintained a façade of a democratic leader, and he was interested in getting South Korea on its feet economically. But otherwise, he was just a dictator. He was hated and feared by some, while others said that Korea needed a strong leader and that he at least put the country on the right path for recovery.
Park surrounded himself with a so-called "Hamkyong-do Mafia," a group of generals who were originally from the northern province of Hamkyong-do. They were a tight group and rarely let any outsiders into their inner circle. It was, therefore, somewhat unusual that Park was part of that group, for Park was from a southern province of Kyongbuk-do. Everyone just assumed that because he was a military man, a general, he became part of that group. As it turned out, they really did not trust him all that much. But, ultimately, it was the head of KCIA, Kim Jae Kyu, a lifelong friend, who assassinated him at a dinner party, shot him from across the table! Kim was from the same province as Park and graduated from the same university as a teacher as well! He was a Lieutenant General in the Army before Park appointed him to be the Chief of KCIA.
Park Chung Hee's legacy lives on. His daughter Park Geun Hye is now the president of South Korea, and she has done remarkable things in the short time she has been in the office. In the next blog, I will discuss Park Geun Hye, Republic of Korea's woman president, the first female national leader in northeast Asia since the Dowager Empress of China during the Ching Dynasty. But unlike the Dowager Empress, Park Geun Hye was elected by the people!
Friday, November 7, 2014
Okinawa
For those who have been on Okinawa, perhaps you may have noticed that the people of Okinawa were different from those of main islands of Japan. The Japanese islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku are populated by a homogeneous group of people who refer to themselves as Yamato people. Of course the original inhabitants of these islands, the indigenous people, were Ainu. However, the Ainu were pushed out even before the island nation was known as Japan, limiting their territory to parts of Hokkaido. Although Okinawa is considered a Japanese prefecture, therefore, a part of Japan, and its inhabitants Japanese, this has only been the case in more recent times.
The island chain of Ryukyus, of which Okinawa is the largest, has had a long and illustrious history of its own, before Japanese take over. Initially, the tiny island group was separated by several kingdoms, but the kingdom on Okinawa, the largest island, eventually conquered the rest. Early Chinese traders landed on Okinawan shores and developed a thriving trading relationship dating back a thousand years or so. In time, China developed a tributary relationship with the kingdom of Ryukyus, with its king in his palace in Shuri Castle on the largest island of Okinawa. The Chinese did not "rule" the islands, but it was understood that the Ryukyu King and his court was subject to the Chinese Emperor. The Chinese introduced many things to the Ryukyus: silk, glass making, paper making, etc., just to name a few. The Ryukyus became a thriving small, independent kingdom.
Around 1395 AD, the Chosun Dynasty in Korea established contact with the Ryukyus. The Chosun Dynasty was known as the "hermit kingdom" for it refused to have any relations with other foreign countries. Its experience with the outside world was always negative. The Manchus in the north were always a pain, and Japan was constantly invading, devastating the country, so there were no ties with that island nation. Korea (Chosun Dynasty) only maintained relations with China, and now the Ryukyus became the second country with which it had relations. A diplomatic mission was sent to the Ryukyus and the Chosun Dynasty developed a very active trading relationship. Korean lacquer-ware, as well as porcelain was introduced by the Chosuen Dynasty. The famous Okinawan Benbo lacquer-ware is a direct descendant of those early Okinawans who learned the art of lacquer-making from Chosun Dynasty masters.
The Okinawan native language is distinct and has nothing in common with Japanese language. Naturally, it was influenced by Chinese because of the long relationship that the small island chain had with China. When Chosun Dynasty established ties with the Ryukyus, naturally some artisans from Korea remained on the island of Okinawa. Some were there to teach the various arts and techniques of making things, but others simply settled on the island to live. Korean language has had an impact on the Okinawan or Ryukyuan language. There are many examples and some words were modified in their pronunciation and usage, but one word that has remained the same is the word for what or who. In Okinawan dialect, nuga means what or who. Sometimes the word is lengthened by saying nundiga. But basically it is nuga. In Korean, nuga means who!
The thriving trading relationship between Korea and Okinawa lasted for many years, centuries. China didn't object to it because China traded with Korea as well. However, with the appearance of the first Japanese raiders of the Satsuma Clan, Okinawa began to experience different influences. The Chinese and the Japanese preferred not to have a direct physical confrontation, so whenever the Chinese arrived, the Japanese would leave or go into hiding. When Japanese arrived, the Chinese also stayed away. However, during all this time, Okinawa was still considered to be under the Chinese sphere of influence.
At the conclusion of the first Sino-Japanese War and the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895, China relinquished all claim on the Ryukyu Islands. However, even prior to the treaty, in 1879, Emperor Meiji announced the annexation of the Ryukyus and making the islands a Japanese prefecture. The king of Ryukyus was forcibly moved from Shuri to Tokyo, and Okinawa no longer had a king or was an independent kingdom.
At the conclusion of World War Two, Okinawa was under U.S.administration until reversion took place in 1972. However, despite the U.S. administration, for a brief period of about 27 years, Okinawa and its people enjoyed some degree of independence, at least from the standpoint of identity. They were identified as Okinawans, not Japanese. When talks of reversion became more common in the late 1960s, there were many Okinawans who were dismayed at the prospect. These were usually those of older generation, who remembered how they were treated as second class citizens. The younger generation welcomed the reversion. Prior to the reversion, in the 1950s and 60s, if you asked an Okinawan who they were, you would invariably get a reply that they were Okinawan, never Japanese!
Today, some 40 years after the reversion, there is still talk in some circles of secession from Japan. Many are not happy with the current situation. The main Japanese islands are still referred to as naichi (homeland), thereby leaving out Okinawa from "real" Japan! The people from Okinawa and the Japanese from naichi refer to mainland Japanese as people of Yamato. Okinawans themselves, especially those who still speak the native dialect, refer to themselves in Okinawan language as ochinaanchu (people of Okinawa). To see this marked distinction between people from Okinawa and naichi, all you have to do is read some of the current literature that is coming out of Okinawa. Short stories written by contemporary Okinawan writers invariably tackle the subject of the difference between Okinawans and the Japanese. Older writers often discuss discrimination experienced by Okinawans, and the younger writers too, seem to want to stress that they are not accepted by Yamato people! Whether that is true or not, it does appear frequently today in Okinawan literature. One thing is for sure, ethnically and culturally, people from Okinawa are distinct and have few similarities with those from naichi.
The island chain of Ryukyus, of which Okinawa is the largest, has had a long and illustrious history of its own, before Japanese take over. Initially, the tiny island group was separated by several kingdoms, but the kingdom on Okinawa, the largest island, eventually conquered the rest. Early Chinese traders landed on Okinawan shores and developed a thriving trading relationship dating back a thousand years or so. In time, China developed a tributary relationship with the kingdom of Ryukyus, with its king in his palace in Shuri Castle on the largest island of Okinawa. The Chinese did not "rule" the islands, but it was understood that the Ryukyu King and his court was subject to the Chinese Emperor. The Chinese introduced many things to the Ryukyus: silk, glass making, paper making, etc., just to name a few. The Ryukyus became a thriving small, independent kingdom.
Around 1395 AD, the Chosun Dynasty in Korea established contact with the Ryukyus. The Chosun Dynasty was known as the "hermit kingdom" for it refused to have any relations with other foreign countries. Its experience with the outside world was always negative. The Manchus in the north were always a pain, and Japan was constantly invading, devastating the country, so there were no ties with that island nation. Korea (Chosun Dynasty) only maintained relations with China, and now the Ryukyus became the second country with which it had relations. A diplomatic mission was sent to the Ryukyus and the Chosun Dynasty developed a very active trading relationship. Korean lacquer-ware, as well as porcelain was introduced by the Chosuen Dynasty. The famous Okinawan Benbo lacquer-ware is a direct descendant of those early Okinawans who learned the art of lacquer-making from Chosun Dynasty masters.
The Okinawan native language is distinct and has nothing in common with Japanese language. Naturally, it was influenced by Chinese because of the long relationship that the small island chain had with China. When Chosun Dynasty established ties with the Ryukyus, naturally some artisans from Korea remained on the island of Okinawa. Some were there to teach the various arts and techniques of making things, but others simply settled on the island to live. Korean language has had an impact on the Okinawan or Ryukyuan language. There are many examples and some words were modified in their pronunciation and usage, but one word that has remained the same is the word for what or who. In Okinawan dialect, nuga means what or who. Sometimes the word is lengthened by saying nundiga. But basically it is nuga. In Korean, nuga means who!
The thriving trading relationship between Korea and Okinawa lasted for many years, centuries. China didn't object to it because China traded with Korea as well. However, with the appearance of the first Japanese raiders of the Satsuma Clan, Okinawa began to experience different influences. The Chinese and the Japanese preferred not to have a direct physical confrontation, so whenever the Chinese arrived, the Japanese would leave or go into hiding. When Japanese arrived, the Chinese also stayed away. However, during all this time, Okinawa was still considered to be under the Chinese sphere of influence.
At the conclusion of the first Sino-Japanese War and the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895, China relinquished all claim on the Ryukyu Islands. However, even prior to the treaty, in 1879, Emperor Meiji announced the annexation of the Ryukyus and making the islands a Japanese prefecture. The king of Ryukyus was forcibly moved from Shuri to Tokyo, and Okinawa no longer had a king or was an independent kingdom.
At the conclusion of World War Two, Okinawa was under U.S.administration until reversion took place in 1972. However, despite the U.S. administration, for a brief period of about 27 years, Okinawa and its people enjoyed some degree of independence, at least from the standpoint of identity. They were identified as Okinawans, not Japanese. When talks of reversion became more common in the late 1960s, there were many Okinawans who were dismayed at the prospect. These were usually those of older generation, who remembered how they were treated as second class citizens. The younger generation welcomed the reversion. Prior to the reversion, in the 1950s and 60s, if you asked an Okinawan who they were, you would invariably get a reply that they were Okinawan, never Japanese!
Today, some 40 years after the reversion, there is still talk in some circles of secession from Japan. Many are not happy with the current situation. The main Japanese islands are still referred to as naichi (homeland), thereby leaving out Okinawa from "real" Japan! The people from Okinawa and the Japanese from naichi refer to mainland Japanese as people of Yamato. Okinawans themselves, especially those who still speak the native dialect, refer to themselves in Okinawan language as ochinaanchu (people of Okinawa). To see this marked distinction between people from Okinawa and naichi, all you have to do is read some of the current literature that is coming out of Okinawa. Short stories written by contemporary Okinawan writers invariably tackle the subject of the difference between Okinawans and the Japanese. Older writers often discuss discrimination experienced by Okinawans, and the younger writers too, seem to want to stress that they are not accepted by Yamato people! Whether that is true or not, it does appear frequently today in Okinawan literature. One thing is for sure, ethnically and culturally, people from Okinawa are distinct and have few similarities with those from naichi.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Stories of Japan - Part 3
In The Manchurian Tales there is a story ( Chapter 28 "Modya") which is about orphaned uhl mao zeh (Russian-Korean) brothers who were "unofficially" adopted by a Japanese officer and taken to Japan and put in school. The older brother, Lyova, didn't like school so he took off. The younger studied, survived the bombings of the war, and emerged at the end of the war as a "Japanese." The devastation of the war had destroyed many official records, so it was easy enough for him to claim that he was a Japanese whose entire family had perished in the bombing. That was not unusual. To solidify his claim he bribed a "witness," a known and respected teacher, who was willing to swear in court that he knew the family well and that they were Japanese. By this means, an ethnic Korean was able to establish a new identity in Japan and live as a Japanese for the rest of his life.
The situation described in The Manchurian Tales, although not common, did take place in some cases in the aftermath of the confusion and chaos that followed the war's end. One might ask why anyone would go to such great lengths to change their identity. It would appear on the surface that one could just change their name or simply remain who they were and succeed in life. However, Japan before World War Two and shortly after, was not the same country that it is today. The Japanese people were also different in how they interacted or accepted outsiders.
Japanese culture was a "closed" culture, a closed society. They did not want any foreign contact or influence. It was only because of the technological superiority of the west, namely U.S. Navy ships that bombarded the Japanese shores that forced Japan to open its doors. But there was always mistrust of foreigners. Japan was and still is a homogeneous society, despite changing times.
Japan's imperialistic ambitions in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries brought about the annexation and colonization of Formosa (Taiwan), Korea, and Sakhalin Island. Earlier, Japan had seized control of the Ryukyu Islands chain (Okinawa). Once those regions became colonies of Japan (in case of Okinawa, a Japanese prefecture), naturally, the Okinawans, Taiwanese, Koreans, and inhabitants of Sakhalin Islands became Japanese subjects. When Manchuria became Manchukuo in 1931, the people of Manchuria became subjects of Japan as well (sort of) because Manchuria was a Japanese colony!
Many of these people were brought to Japan as forced laborers. At one time there were almost a million Koreans in Japan! Naturally, all of these ethnic minorities, as well as Japan's own indigenous Ainu, were discriminated against. Keep in mind that Japan already had its own "untouchable" class, the underclass known as burakumin (hamlet people). These underclass Japanese were/are very strongly discriminated against, even to this day. They are, for most, completely indistinguishable from other Japanese! Yet, they were not, and in some cases still not, treated as equals. At least they are Japanese and have true Japanese names, so they could hide their true background, as many did and still do.
Such was not the case with non-Japanese like the Koreans. To hide their identity, many adopted Japanese names. The process of changing the name was called tsushomei (registered alias), and any Japanese could recognize right away that although the name sounded Japanese, it was in fact a foreign name, a registered alias, not a true Japanese name. This was a unique and very Japanese system that existed in Japan. The names that were "assigned" as registered alias were written with kanji (Chinese characters) that were not normally used for Japanese names. Therefore, although the name may have sounded Japanese, it was not. The way it was written made the difference! So, even if you changed your name, you were still recognized as a Korean or Chinese. In case of Okinawans, there are names such as Higa, Kinjo, Gushiken, etc., for example, that are Okinawan, not Japanese. Other Okinawan names were "Japanized" by making them sound like Japanese, but could be easily identified as non-Japanese.
When the war ended, the Japanese Empire was no more, and all those people who were living in Japan, all those people from colonies were no longer "Japanese." They had to revert to their original nationality. With Taiwanese it wasn't that much of a problem, they were all classified as Nationalist Chinese, since Nationalist China had to leave mainland and establish in Taiwan. But with Koreans it became a problem since there were now two Koreas, north and south! Okinawans and the Ainu fared better. The Ainu had to be classified as Japanese because, after all, they were the original inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago! As for Okinawa, despite the fact that it was under U.S. administration, there were plans to return Okinawa to Japan in the future, so its inhabitants retained Japanese citizenship.
Even before World War Two, all alien residents in Japan had to regularly register and be finger printed according to the Alien Registration Ordinance, Gaikokujin Toroku-Rei. In short, Chinese and Korean residents of Japan, even those who were born in Japan and known as Zainichi, had to go through this process, since regardless of their birthplace, they were considered alien! Japan, unlike most other nations, does not bestow its citizenship on an individual born in that country. Japanese citizenship is passed on from parents to children. So, unless at least one parent is a Japanese, the child cannot receive Japanese citizenship even when born in Japan! Because of that law, there are Koreans and Chinese in particular who are third or fourth generation Japanese born who hold Korean and Chinese citizenship, not Japanese.
The Japanese born aliens, the Zainichi, had complained bitterly through the years about their unfair treatment, having to be finger printed, etc. They were Japanese born, could not even speak Chinese or Korean, or whatever their supposed language! Finally, in the 1990s, a Special Permanent Resident status, Tokubetsu Eijusha, was created for the Zainichi, and they no longer have to be finger printed and abide by certain, draconian rules and regulations that only applied to all aliens.
Japan is changing, of course. It is no longer the same Japan as it was even 30 years ago! The Japanese people have changed as well, have become much more tolerant to different ways and thinking. The Japanese have been "globalized" so-to-speak, they are no longer as they were described in The Manchurian Tales. The change started to take place almost immediately following the end of the war. By the 1950s there were a number of Koreans who had succeeded in the entertainment and sports world and did not try to hide their identity. The founder and owner/president of Lotte, the giant chewing gum/candy maker in Japan is Korean and never took a Japanese name. He retained his Korean name even during the period when it was very difficult to function in Japan as a Korean!
By the 1960s, two of the greatest Japanese sports figures were not "pure" Japanese! Taiho, who died recently, was arguably the greatest Sumo wrestler of the post war era. He was half Russian. Japan's greatest baseball slugger of all times, Sadaharu Oh is half Chinese. Both Taiho and Oh had Japanese citizenship because their mothers were Japanese. Today, Yu Darvish who pitches for the Texas Rangers is half Iranian. He too is considered Japanese because his mother is Japanese. Despite their "foreign" fathers, Taiho, Oh, and Darvish are/were completely accepted. This has gone on to a point that today there are many people of non-Japanese background who are successful in Japan. This hasn't been restricted to the entertainment or sports world, it is in every arena. Time has changed Japan and Japanese thinking considerably. Perhaps some years down the road Japan will change its nationality law to allow those born in Japan to acquire Japanese citizenship. Who knows, only time will tell.
The situation described in The Manchurian Tales, although not common, did take place in some cases in the aftermath of the confusion and chaos that followed the war's end. One might ask why anyone would go to such great lengths to change their identity. It would appear on the surface that one could just change their name or simply remain who they were and succeed in life. However, Japan before World War Two and shortly after, was not the same country that it is today. The Japanese people were also different in how they interacted or accepted outsiders.
Japanese culture was a "closed" culture, a closed society. They did not want any foreign contact or influence. It was only because of the technological superiority of the west, namely U.S. Navy ships that bombarded the Japanese shores that forced Japan to open its doors. But there was always mistrust of foreigners. Japan was and still is a homogeneous society, despite changing times.
Japan's imperialistic ambitions in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries brought about the annexation and colonization of Formosa (Taiwan), Korea, and Sakhalin Island. Earlier, Japan had seized control of the Ryukyu Islands chain (Okinawa). Once those regions became colonies of Japan (in case of Okinawa, a Japanese prefecture), naturally, the Okinawans, Taiwanese, Koreans, and inhabitants of Sakhalin Islands became Japanese subjects. When Manchuria became Manchukuo in 1931, the people of Manchuria became subjects of Japan as well (sort of) because Manchuria was a Japanese colony!
Many of these people were brought to Japan as forced laborers. At one time there were almost a million Koreans in Japan! Naturally, all of these ethnic minorities, as well as Japan's own indigenous Ainu, were discriminated against. Keep in mind that Japan already had its own "untouchable" class, the underclass known as burakumin (hamlet people). These underclass Japanese were/are very strongly discriminated against, even to this day. They are, for most, completely indistinguishable from other Japanese! Yet, they were not, and in some cases still not, treated as equals. At least they are Japanese and have true Japanese names, so they could hide their true background, as many did and still do.
Such was not the case with non-Japanese like the Koreans. To hide their identity, many adopted Japanese names. The process of changing the name was called tsushomei (registered alias), and any Japanese could recognize right away that although the name sounded Japanese, it was in fact a foreign name, a registered alias, not a true Japanese name. This was a unique and very Japanese system that existed in Japan. The names that were "assigned" as registered alias were written with kanji (Chinese characters) that were not normally used for Japanese names. Therefore, although the name may have sounded Japanese, it was not. The way it was written made the difference! So, even if you changed your name, you were still recognized as a Korean or Chinese. In case of Okinawans, there are names such as Higa, Kinjo, Gushiken, etc., for example, that are Okinawan, not Japanese. Other Okinawan names were "Japanized" by making them sound like Japanese, but could be easily identified as non-Japanese.
When the war ended, the Japanese Empire was no more, and all those people who were living in Japan, all those people from colonies were no longer "Japanese." They had to revert to their original nationality. With Taiwanese it wasn't that much of a problem, they were all classified as Nationalist Chinese, since Nationalist China had to leave mainland and establish in Taiwan. But with Koreans it became a problem since there were now two Koreas, north and south! Okinawans and the Ainu fared better. The Ainu had to be classified as Japanese because, after all, they were the original inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago! As for Okinawa, despite the fact that it was under U.S. administration, there were plans to return Okinawa to Japan in the future, so its inhabitants retained Japanese citizenship.
Even before World War Two, all alien residents in Japan had to regularly register and be finger printed according to the Alien Registration Ordinance, Gaikokujin Toroku-Rei. In short, Chinese and Korean residents of Japan, even those who were born in Japan and known as Zainichi, had to go through this process, since regardless of their birthplace, they were considered alien! Japan, unlike most other nations, does not bestow its citizenship on an individual born in that country. Japanese citizenship is passed on from parents to children. So, unless at least one parent is a Japanese, the child cannot receive Japanese citizenship even when born in Japan! Because of that law, there are Koreans and Chinese in particular who are third or fourth generation Japanese born who hold Korean and Chinese citizenship, not Japanese.
The Japanese born aliens, the Zainichi, had complained bitterly through the years about their unfair treatment, having to be finger printed, etc. They were Japanese born, could not even speak Chinese or Korean, or whatever their supposed language! Finally, in the 1990s, a Special Permanent Resident status, Tokubetsu Eijusha, was created for the Zainichi, and they no longer have to be finger printed and abide by certain, draconian rules and regulations that only applied to all aliens.
Japan is changing, of course. It is no longer the same Japan as it was even 30 years ago! The Japanese people have changed as well, have become much more tolerant to different ways and thinking. The Japanese have been "globalized" so-to-speak, they are no longer as they were described in The Manchurian Tales. The change started to take place almost immediately following the end of the war. By the 1950s there were a number of Koreans who had succeeded in the entertainment and sports world and did not try to hide their identity. The founder and owner/president of Lotte, the giant chewing gum/candy maker in Japan is Korean and never took a Japanese name. He retained his Korean name even during the period when it was very difficult to function in Japan as a Korean!
By the 1960s, two of the greatest Japanese sports figures were not "pure" Japanese! Taiho, who died recently, was arguably the greatest Sumo wrestler of the post war era. He was half Russian. Japan's greatest baseball slugger of all times, Sadaharu Oh is half Chinese. Both Taiho and Oh had Japanese citizenship because their mothers were Japanese. Today, Yu Darvish who pitches for the Texas Rangers is half Iranian. He too is considered Japanese because his mother is Japanese. Despite their "foreign" fathers, Taiho, Oh, and Darvish are/were completely accepted. This has gone on to a point that today there are many people of non-Japanese background who are successful in Japan. This hasn't been restricted to the entertainment or sports world, it is in every arena. Time has changed Japan and Japanese thinking considerably. Perhaps some years down the road Japan will change its nationality law to allow those born in Japan to acquire Japanese citizenship. Who knows, only time will tell.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Stories of Japan - Part 2
About 4 months before the end of my tour in Tokyo, a highly controversial incident took place that shook the very foundation of the U.S.- Japanese bilateral relations. More than likely, most people in America as well as Japan didn't realize just how critical the situation was, before it was defused by our Ambassador Mike Mansfield.
On April 9, 1981, a U.S. nuclear submarine USS George Washington (SSBN -598) accidentally rammed a Japanese fishing vessel, Nissho Maru off the coast of Kagoshima, about 23 miles off the Japanese coast. Such accidents, collisions between naval and civilian vessels, although not common, do occur from time to time. What made this collision different is that the U.S. vessel, after ramming and sinking the Japanese fishing vessel, made no attempt to rescue the survivors of the fishing boat. There was also a U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion Marine Patrol Aircraft circling over the area at the time and both the aircraft and the submarine failed to report the incident right away, like for 24 hours!
A little background is needed to understand the situation. Japan has a anti-nuclear constitution and does not allow nuclear weapons or ships carrying nuclear weapons in its waters and most certainly not on its soil. The U.S.- Japan Status of Forces Agreement which allows U.S. to have bases in Japan clearly outlines this anti-nuclear policy. According to the Status of Forces Agreement, U.S. will not transport or bring any nuclear ships or weapons into Japan or Japanese waters. This includes nuclear submarines.
The Japanese are absolutely paranoid about nuclear weapons, you can't really blame them after what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki! Japan is the only nation in the world to have suffered a nuclear attack! The building of nuclear plants for electrical power in Japan was and still is a highly controversial subject and cause for heated debates among political parties, especially now after what happened at Fukushima Plant during the great earthquake and tsunami. So, the idea of a nuclear submarine, possibly carrying nuclear weapons, in Japanese waters is truly cause for alarm for most Japanese.
What made this incident on April 9, 1981 even worse was that not only was it a nuclear submarine. but it failed to attempt to rescue any of the survivors, and the U.S. did not inform Japan of what happened until two days after the fact! Two Japanese fishermen perished while 13 survivors were rescued by a passing Japanese fishing vessel. The captain of the USS George Washington initially insisted that they were not aware that they had struck a Japanese fishing vessel. However, the aircraft above surely spotted the mishap and reported it to the submarine, with which it was in constant contact. Besides, the Nissho Maru was a 2,390 ton vessel, hardly a boat so small that a collision would be unnoticeable. There was something not quite right with the story coming out of the U.S. side.
This was during the cold war, and in those waters around Japan, U.S. submarines were constantly playing underwater tag with Soviet submarines. The USS George Washington was on a classified mission, following a Soviet submarine, no doubt. Was it because of the classified nature of the mission that the captain ignored the International Maritime Law and failed to rescue the survivors of the fishing vessel? It just wasn't clear exactly what happened.
On April 10, the day after the incident, the Embassy in Tokyo was suddenly bombarded with calls from various Japanese press who wanted to know what the American Embassy was going to do about this latest occurrence. Of course, the Embassy was completely in the dark! A call was placed to Yokosuka's U.S. Naval Headquarters in Japan, and the Navy initially stonewalled the Embassy, saying that they didn't know anything. However, after a while, they admitted that there was an "incident" involving a nuclear submarine southwest of Sasebo, that a U.S. Navy submarine had struck a Japanese fishing vessel and that the surviving crew members of the Japanese fishing vessel were rescued by another Japanese fishing vessel. The Embassy immediately sent a message to Washington and gave as much details as possible about the incident and asked for Washington's guidance for U.S. response to Japanese government. In the meantime, Ambassador Mike Mansfield received a query from the Japanese government asking for an explanation of what had happened.
No doubt Yokosuka was awaiting a response from Pentagon on how to respond to the Japanese, just as the Embassy was awaiting State Department's instructions on how to respond. I was working in PolMil (Polictical/Military Affairs) at the time, so I was right in the midst of it! The Japanese press, newspapers and TV were in an uproar by now and U.S. was making no response! Ambassador Mansfield asked to be briefed as thoroughly as possible with whatever information we had, then without wasting any time, he announced that he was going to personally go to the fishing village from where all of the fishermen of Nissho Maru hailed. He asked that the protocol office prepare special Japanese red envelops into which brand new, crisp yen notes were placed. The amount was not great, only a couple of hundred dollars worth of yen each, but it was the custom and the gesture that was so important, not the amount. There was an envelop for each family. Then, without waiting for word from Washington, Ambassador Mansfield set out for the unfortunate fishing village on the second day. The Japanese were somewhat taken off guard by Ambassador Mansfield's action, they didn't expect such quick reaction, they were more accustomed to Washington's speed of doing things!
Upon arrival at the fishing village, Ambassador Mansfield first went directly to the homes of the fishermen who perished. There, before the deceased fishermen's parents, he bowed deeply, deeper than their bow (this is very important, for it shows humbleness and sincerity), and offered the red envelops as a token of most sincere condolences. Then he proceeded to go to each house of the survivors and repeat the act of deep bowing and offering condolences. He was also dressed properly in a dark blue suit, the color that the Japanese refer to as "sincere blue." All of this may not sound like much to a non-Japanese, especially a Westerner. In fact it may seem trivial. But it was an extremely important act and gesture, especially coming from a person of his high position and age, Mike Mansfield was in his late 70s at the time!
It may have caught the Japanese government and public by surprise, but it also immediately defused any serious problems that may have been brewing. The videos of his public apology (bowing and offering envelops of condolences) were shown all over Japanese TV and still photos were on the front pages of every newspaper. America was forgiven! America was forgiven because their Ambassador truly and sincerely regretted the incident and offered his most sincere apology in a manner that they understood! It was amazing! Something that could have been a major international problem was gone almost in an instance!
There is an element of Japanese cultural psyche that is very unique, an element that believes that if you are sincere in your regret for the wrongful act, then you can be forgiven. In this way, those who break the law but show genuine regret for their actions, even if it was a heinous act, are forgiven. Being a Japan scholar and admirer of Japanese history and culture, Mansfield was well aware of this very unique Japanese trait. So he immediately set about doing what he did, knowing that it was the only way to calm the situation, bring things back to normal. He was right, of course.
In the meantime, there was still no response from Washington. But the Japanese took Ambassador Mansfield's actions as that of the U.S. government and did not even seek further apology or words from the U.S. government! Mike Mansfield was very popular with the Japanese and highly respected.
Ambassador Mansfield was able to get away with it. Any other Ambassador would have been chastised by Washington, perhaps even removed, if such a unilateral act was taken without Washington's prior approval. But Mansfield was a very senior Ambassador and a retired Senate Majority leader. I doubt if he even cared that Washington might get upset at his action. He just felt that he had to do the right thing, as quickly as possible. Having spent a long time in Washington, he knew only too well how slowly those bureaucratic wheels turned!
Of course none of this was mentioned in our press! The way history records that episode is that two days after the incident, the U.S. government officially apologized to the Japanese government and everything was smoothed out! No such thing! It took more than two days to get Washington's response, by then Ambassador Mansfield had defused everything!
Mike Mansfield knew Japan. He knew its customs, its history, and its psyche! He very strongly believed that the U.S. - Japan relations were the most important bilateral relations that the U.S. had in the world. That was his mantra during his time as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, our longest serving Ambassador to Japan, from 1977 to 1988.
On April 9, 1981, a U.S. nuclear submarine USS George Washington (SSBN -598) accidentally rammed a Japanese fishing vessel, Nissho Maru off the coast of Kagoshima, about 23 miles off the Japanese coast. Such accidents, collisions between naval and civilian vessels, although not common, do occur from time to time. What made this collision different is that the U.S. vessel, after ramming and sinking the Japanese fishing vessel, made no attempt to rescue the survivors of the fishing boat. There was also a U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion Marine Patrol Aircraft circling over the area at the time and both the aircraft and the submarine failed to report the incident right away, like for 24 hours!
A little background is needed to understand the situation. Japan has a anti-nuclear constitution and does not allow nuclear weapons or ships carrying nuclear weapons in its waters and most certainly not on its soil. The U.S.- Japan Status of Forces Agreement which allows U.S. to have bases in Japan clearly outlines this anti-nuclear policy. According to the Status of Forces Agreement, U.S. will not transport or bring any nuclear ships or weapons into Japan or Japanese waters. This includes nuclear submarines.
The Japanese are absolutely paranoid about nuclear weapons, you can't really blame them after what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki! Japan is the only nation in the world to have suffered a nuclear attack! The building of nuclear plants for electrical power in Japan was and still is a highly controversial subject and cause for heated debates among political parties, especially now after what happened at Fukushima Plant during the great earthquake and tsunami. So, the idea of a nuclear submarine, possibly carrying nuclear weapons, in Japanese waters is truly cause for alarm for most Japanese.
What made this incident on April 9, 1981 even worse was that not only was it a nuclear submarine. but it failed to attempt to rescue any of the survivors, and the U.S. did not inform Japan of what happened until two days after the fact! Two Japanese fishermen perished while 13 survivors were rescued by a passing Japanese fishing vessel. The captain of the USS George Washington initially insisted that they were not aware that they had struck a Japanese fishing vessel. However, the aircraft above surely spotted the mishap and reported it to the submarine, with which it was in constant contact. Besides, the Nissho Maru was a 2,390 ton vessel, hardly a boat so small that a collision would be unnoticeable. There was something not quite right with the story coming out of the U.S. side.
This was during the cold war, and in those waters around Japan, U.S. submarines were constantly playing underwater tag with Soviet submarines. The USS George Washington was on a classified mission, following a Soviet submarine, no doubt. Was it because of the classified nature of the mission that the captain ignored the International Maritime Law and failed to rescue the survivors of the fishing vessel? It just wasn't clear exactly what happened.
On April 10, the day after the incident, the Embassy in Tokyo was suddenly bombarded with calls from various Japanese press who wanted to know what the American Embassy was going to do about this latest occurrence. Of course, the Embassy was completely in the dark! A call was placed to Yokosuka's U.S. Naval Headquarters in Japan, and the Navy initially stonewalled the Embassy, saying that they didn't know anything. However, after a while, they admitted that there was an "incident" involving a nuclear submarine southwest of Sasebo, that a U.S. Navy submarine had struck a Japanese fishing vessel and that the surviving crew members of the Japanese fishing vessel were rescued by another Japanese fishing vessel. The Embassy immediately sent a message to Washington and gave as much details as possible about the incident and asked for Washington's guidance for U.S. response to Japanese government. In the meantime, Ambassador Mike Mansfield received a query from the Japanese government asking for an explanation of what had happened.
No doubt Yokosuka was awaiting a response from Pentagon on how to respond to the Japanese, just as the Embassy was awaiting State Department's instructions on how to respond. I was working in PolMil (Polictical/Military Affairs) at the time, so I was right in the midst of it! The Japanese press, newspapers and TV were in an uproar by now and U.S. was making no response! Ambassador Mansfield asked to be briefed as thoroughly as possible with whatever information we had, then without wasting any time, he announced that he was going to personally go to the fishing village from where all of the fishermen of Nissho Maru hailed. He asked that the protocol office prepare special Japanese red envelops into which brand new, crisp yen notes were placed. The amount was not great, only a couple of hundred dollars worth of yen each, but it was the custom and the gesture that was so important, not the amount. There was an envelop for each family. Then, without waiting for word from Washington, Ambassador Mansfield set out for the unfortunate fishing village on the second day. The Japanese were somewhat taken off guard by Ambassador Mansfield's action, they didn't expect such quick reaction, they were more accustomed to Washington's speed of doing things!
Upon arrival at the fishing village, Ambassador Mansfield first went directly to the homes of the fishermen who perished. There, before the deceased fishermen's parents, he bowed deeply, deeper than their bow (this is very important, for it shows humbleness and sincerity), and offered the red envelops as a token of most sincere condolences. Then he proceeded to go to each house of the survivors and repeat the act of deep bowing and offering condolences. He was also dressed properly in a dark blue suit, the color that the Japanese refer to as "sincere blue." All of this may not sound like much to a non-Japanese, especially a Westerner. In fact it may seem trivial. But it was an extremely important act and gesture, especially coming from a person of his high position and age, Mike Mansfield was in his late 70s at the time!
It may have caught the Japanese government and public by surprise, but it also immediately defused any serious problems that may have been brewing. The videos of his public apology (bowing and offering envelops of condolences) were shown all over Japanese TV and still photos were on the front pages of every newspaper. America was forgiven! America was forgiven because their Ambassador truly and sincerely regretted the incident and offered his most sincere apology in a manner that they understood! It was amazing! Something that could have been a major international problem was gone almost in an instance!
There is an element of Japanese cultural psyche that is very unique, an element that believes that if you are sincere in your regret for the wrongful act, then you can be forgiven. In this way, those who break the law but show genuine regret for their actions, even if it was a heinous act, are forgiven. Being a Japan scholar and admirer of Japanese history and culture, Mansfield was well aware of this very unique Japanese trait. So he immediately set about doing what he did, knowing that it was the only way to calm the situation, bring things back to normal. He was right, of course.
In the meantime, there was still no response from Washington. But the Japanese took Ambassador Mansfield's actions as that of the U.S. government and did not even seek further apology or words from the U.S. government! Mike Mansfield was very popular with the Japanese and highly respected.
Ambassador Mansfield was able to get away with it. Any other Ambassador would have been chastised by Washington, perhaps even removed, if such a unilateral act was taken without Washington's prior approval. But Mansfield was a very senior Ambassador and a retired Senate Majority leader. I doubt if he even cared that Washington might get upset at his action. He just felt that he had to do the right thing, as quickly as possible. Having spent a long time in Washington, he knew only too well how slowly those bureaucratic wheels turned!
Of course none of this was mentioned in our press! The way history records that episode is that two days after the incident, the U.S. government officially apologized to the Japanese government and everything was smoothed out! No such thing! It took more than two days to get Washington's response, by then Ambassador Mansfield had defused everything!
Mike Mansfield knew Japan. He knew its customs, its history, and its psyche! He very strongly believed that the U.S. - Japan relations were the most important bilateral relations that the U.S. had in the world. That was his mantra during his time as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, our longest serving Ambassador to Japan, from 1977 to 1988.
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