産経新聞や私のことを「テロリストを意識的に扇動し、1930年代ふうの軍国主義への復活を希求している」と誹謗した投稿を掲載したワシントン・ポストに送った英文投書の内容を以下に紹介します。私が送ったのは8月30日です。ワシントン・ポストはこちらを中傷する投稿を一方的に載せながら、それに対する当事者からの反論を載せないのです。なんと不公正なことでしょう。アメリカのマスコミへの信頼が一気に減りました。
To the Editor
The Washington Post
1150 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC
In an op/ed by Steve Clemons (The Rise of Japan's Thought Police, Sunday, August 27, 2006; Page B02), the author crosses the line from mere guile to demagoguery with a grossly unfair personal attack on my integrity. In statements that are completely untrue, he suggests that my newspaper and I are part of "an increasingly militant group of extreme right wing activists who yearn for a return to 1930's style militarism." Clemons writes that "…Komori has no direct connection to those guilty of the most recent (terrorist) acts, but he's not unaware that his words frequently animate them -- and that their actions in turn lend fear-fueled power to his pronouncements, helping them silence debate."
In this, he is accusing me, a newspaper reporter and commentator, of deliberately and willfully trying to inspire acts of terror in Japan. He cites incidents entirely unrelated to me or my newspaper including the recent deplorable act of arson that burned the house of Koichi Kato, a known political opponent of Prime Minister Koizumi. To set the record straight, my newspaper immediately published an editorial severely condemning this act. Mr. Kato personally expressed his gratitude to the editors. In the past Sankei Shimbun also criticized any violence as a means of addressing political issues. If there are any activists in Japan who yearn for a return to 1930’s style militarism, both Sankei and I would denounce and oppose such efforts. Mr. Clemons also mischaracterized my regular newspaper column published on Aug. 12 in which I reported on a government-funded institute using Japanese taxpayer funds to dispatch non-objective criticism and misrepresentations of Japanese people, government policies and leaders, written exclusively in English for an overseas audience. My column maintains a calm and objective tone throughout and seeks no apology from anyone.
Modern Japan is democratic, peaceful, and committed to the rule of law. It is also a strong ally of the U.S. The Sankei Shimbun is one of Japan’s mainstream newspapers with daily circulation of approximately 2.2 million copies distributed nationally. There is nothing "ultra" conservative about my writing or the paper, in contrast to Mr. Clemons' claim. For example, our newspaper is a leader in editorial support for Japan’s cooperation with the American effort to fight global terrorism. Although I frequently criticize government policy myself, in over thirty years of reporting I have never once advocated Japan's return to militarism.
If Mr. Clemons does not like my views, that is fair game. But he should not forget that I also have a right to express my views and that is not an assault on free speech. I have consistently criticized moves that would in any way undermine open government, free speech and multi-party democracy. I fervently condemn violence against anyone for their political views, including those who share the views of Mr. Clemons. Mr. Clemons has no basis to imply otherwise.
Sincerely yours,
Yoshihisa Komori
Editor-at-Large (Washington)
The Sankei Shimbun
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by donsukedon
日米間の離婚が子どもをめぐる…