Overwhelming Public Support for Release of Senkaku Collision Video

As the Japanese police continue to question the coast guard officer who leaked the Senkaku boat collision footage to YouTube, polls are showing that the vast majority of Japanese people do not consider the video to be a secret and support the full official release of all footage related to the incident:

A survey of 1,000 people by Kyodo News found 88.4 percent of them think the government should release the video against 7.8 percent who said there was no need for the official disclosure, the news agency said late Saturday.

The poll was taken on Friday and Saturday after a coastguard who said he leaked the footage on the video sharing site YouTube was questioned by police.

Police have interviewed him since he admitted on Wednesday to leaking the video showing the high-seas collisions between a Chinese trawler and Japanese coastguard vessels near disputed islands called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese.

The coastguard has defended his actions, saying people have a right to see the video, according to an earlier report by the Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, which interviewed him before he confessed the leak to his boss.

Investigators are trying to establish evidence that he broke the national public service act, which requires government employees to keep confidential information they obtain through their work.

The Kyodo survey found 81.1 percent of respondents did not think the video was confidential government material, against 13.2 percent who said it was.

A survey conducted by NTV found similar numbers:

58% do not consider the leak of the video to be a problem and 80% think that the Kan administration should go ahead and officially release all of the footage.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Japanese police may decide early this week about whether or not the coast guard officer will be arrested and charged with a crime.

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flowby

Self-fulfilling surveys!

If the vast majority of public opinions were adhered to, we’d be living in a quite different society.

Out of a multitude of examples let’s pick one, say Amakudari, and pose a question along similar lines,

“Do you think the practice of Amakudari should be stopped?”

I dare say the majority would agree – BUT it’S FAR FROM HAPPENING.

or

“Do you think red traffic light runners are dangerous and should be stopped?”

I dare say the majority would agree – BUT it’s FAR FROM HAPPENING.

ad nauseum.

Dev

One slight problem; anyone can skew polls to their own agendas.

flowby

Er – didn’t I say that?

Natem

Oh man, don’t tell the American press. The violent ugly part of the right wing ALSO wanted the videos released.

THEREFORE

Japan is becoming ultra-nationalist!

Next thing you know, there will be people debating whether their children should be forced to recite an oath pledging allegiance to the Hinomaru in class everyday… and the oath might include a vague hint that Japan is the chosen nation of god. (also armed civilians in the ports, openly racist discussions of immigrants from poorer countries, unending assertions that believing X or not believing Y or living in region Z means you’re not “real Japanese”) These ultra-nationalists must be stopped before they get Japan engaged in multiple foreign wars based solely on national interest.

Yours truly,

An American who thinks the US media coverage of Japan is guilty of some serious Double Standardery. (that word is pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable)
Level3

I just wish the poll (all polls) had follow up questions for people who give stupid/nonsense/super-minority answers, so we can find out WHY people in all the recent polls about the incident have pro-China, or pro-whatever-Kan-does (or pro-whatever insane thing) opinions.

In this case:
Are you just voting “No” because you like to say “No”?
Will you vote DPJ no matter what?
Are you from China?
Do you vote JCP no matter what?
Are you blind?
Do you believe whatever the little voices in your head tell you to think?
Have you been skipping your medication?

And screening questions for the ignorant.
Who is the Prime Minister of Japan right now?
What is the capital of Japan?
Do think that the government always does what is best for the people?
Are you easily confused by Yes/No questions?

http://www.zdwonline.de Haf

“Are you easily confused by Yes/No questions?”
Well, ye… No… WAIT, YES!

Level3

You aren’t easily confused by Yes/No questions, are you?

flowby

I’m not sure I understand the question???

jikuu

“CNN got leaked video first, chucked it”
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101125x1.html

The 43-year-old navigator, assigned to the Kobe Coast Guard Office, told investigators he decided to post the footage on YouTube after the U.S. news broadcaster didn’t air it, according to the sources. He said he sent an envelope containing an SD card containing the footage to CNN’s bureau in Minato Ward immediately before releasing the footage on the Internet site on Nov. 4, the sources said. A CNN public relations official declined comment. But the sources said CNN disposed of the card without watching the footage, suspecting it might be infected with a virus.

Someone at CNN’s Tokyo branch will get fired for this one.

Overwhelming Public Support for Release of Senkaku Collision Video

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