Although the police announcement said that there were no deaths, and only 30 injured (including 22 police officers), over 200 laborers were treated for minor wounds at the "field hospital" (that was run by volunteers), over 100 were treated at a local hospital for "major wounds" (such as broken bones, and cuts that needed stitches), and 13 died (including one man in my arms) in the 9 days of riots. To this day the police claim that no one died in the riots, "but there were a few deaths a day, as usual. You must understand, people die here every day". (A comment from a police officer that was on duty during the riots) One of the main factors that helped the police conceal the deaths of those in the riot, was the Japanese law. By law, if a person dies within 24 hours of the 'accident' or 'incident', the death is linked directly to whatever happened. However, if the person survives for 25 hours, whatever happened, is not considered to be the direct cause of death. Thus, as long as you have a hospital in your pocket, and have a doctor swear that the death did not happen within 24 hours, the death cannot be linked to the riot. The hospital that was used for this riot, was under investigation for tax evasion and fraud at the time. All it took was some 'friendly advice' from the police officers in charge, to make this happen.
	Copyrighted 2004.ICPress ©.All Rights reserved.