VZCZCXRO1239
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #3252 3330439
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 280439Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9069
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1167
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 3528
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 9176
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 1738
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4957
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6574
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2633
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2569
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2702
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 003252
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - ATTACKS IN INDIA
1. LEAD STORIES: Most Friday morning papers led with
the attacks in Mumbai, India, on Wednesday.
2. "Fear in Emerging Nation" The liberal Asahi wrote in
an editorial (11/28): "...The situation in India, which
has suffered a series of terrorist attacks, is becoming
more complicated. It is clear, though, that sectarian
conflict between the majority Hindus and minority
Muslims lies behind the problem.... Although the nation
has developed into a rapidly emerging economy, Muslims
have been left behind by the boom, and the gap between
them and the Hindus is widening.... India should
squarely face this problem, which could create a
breeding ground for extremism."
3. "U.S. Should Review Approach" The liberal Mainichi
editorialized (11/28): "...This is a terrible act of
terrorism that must not be repeated.... It is serious
that Pakistan is suspected of involvement in a series
of terrorist attacks in India.... We urge both India
and Pakistan to act calmly.... The U.S. policy toward
India is problematic.... Washington's relations with
Pakistan have cooled since it began to place more
diplomatic importance on India by altering its 'equal
diplomacy' toward the two nations. This U.S. policy
appears likely to have a negative impact on the
situation in Afghanistan. In order to stabilize India,
the U.S. should negotiate in good faith with the
nations concerned about how to fight terrorism."
4. "International Community Should Unite to Eradicate
Terrorism" The conservative Sankei's editorial said
(11/28): "...No act of terrorism can be accepted. This
is a serious attack against all humanity. The
international community should unite again to
regenerate the fight against terrorism using every
means.... There have been a great number of terrorist
attacks in India. Many of them are attributable to
conflicts between Hindus and Muslims or friction
between India and Pakistan. Those two nations need to
make efforts to eliminate the causes of their poor
relations."
5. "Coordination between India and Pakistan Necessary"
The liberal Tokyo Shimbun editorialized (11/28):
"...India can no longer blame Pakistan for all the
terrorist attacks that take place in the country, as
the governments of India and Pakistan exchanged
information in October at special antiterrorism talks.
They should coordinate further to crack down on
terrorist networks."
SCHIEFFER