在留邦人保護 アルジェリアの教訓を生かせ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 3, 2013)
Heed lessons from Algeria crisis to improve security system
在留邦人保護　アルジェリアの教訓を生かせ（3月2日付・読売社説）

The government should act urgently to take comprehensive measures to better protect Japanese expatriates, as an increasing number of domestic companies are expanding their businesses abroad.
　日系企業の海外進出が増える中、政府は在留邦人の保護をどう強化するのか。包括的な対策を講じることが急務だ。

A government study panel has disclosed its report on the hostage crisis in Algeria, in which many foreigners including 10 Japanese were killed.
　日本人１０人ら多数の外国人が犠牲になったアルジェリアの人質事件について、政府の検証委員会が報告書をまとめた。

According to the report, there were no staff fluent in Arabic or Self-Defense Force attaches at the Japanese Embassy in the country at the time of the terrorist attack. After the crisis broke out, the Japanese government suffered from a serious lack of information on the situation, partly because the Algerian government put a tight lid on information distribution.
　それによると、現地の日本大使館には、アラビア語の専門職員も自衛隊制服組の防衛駐在官も配置されていなかった。事件発生後は、アルジェリア政府が情報統制を強めたこともあり、日本政府は深刻な情報不足に陥った。

"Japan did not maintain sufficient cooperative relations with Algerian organizations," the report says. "Such relationships must be strengthened."
The Foreign Ministry should seriously consider the report's findings.
　「アルジェリアの機関などとの協力関係は必ずしも十分とはいえず、関係を強化する必要がある」との指摘を外務省は重く受け止めねばならない。

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Better intelligence gathering

The intelligence gathering system used by diplomatic missions abroad must be enhanced to detect early signs of terrorist attacks and help facilitate appropriate action should such events occur.
　テロの兆候を察知したり、事件発生後に的確な対応をとったりするには、在外公館の情報収集体制の強化を急ぐ必要がある。

Regarding the government's reaction to a crisis, the report says all information should be consolidated and shared at the Prime Minister's Office. It also stresses that the commanding role of the office must be reinforced and the government needs to work as a cohesive unit in crisis situations. We expect the government to discuss these recommendations immediately.
　政府の対応に関し、報告書は、首相官邸に一元的に情報を集約し、共有すべきだとして、「官邸の司令塔機能の強化」と「政府が一丸となって対処すること」の必要性を強調している。ただちに検討を進めてもらいたい。

The report also says a revision of the Self-Defense Forces Law should be considered to allow SDF members to transport Japanese involved in a crisis abroad by land. Under the current law, the SDF can only transport citizens on its ships and planes in foreign countries.
　報告書は、海外で危険に陥った日本人を自衛隊が陸上輸送できるよう自衛隊法改正の検討も求めている。現在は自衛艦と航空機による外国での邦人輸送は可能だが、陸上輸送はできないからだ。

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito will request that the government consider a bill to amend the law. It is important to make legal revisions in times of peace, to prepare for an array of emergency situations.
　自民、公明両党は、政府に対し、法改正案の検討を求める考えだ。様々な緊急事態を想定して、平時から法整備を進めておくことが大切だろう。

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Public, private sector ties key

Strengthened cooperation between the government and the private sector is also essential to secure the safety of Japanese expatriates.
　在留邦人の安全を確保するには、政府と民間との連携を強化することも欠かせない。

The effects of the Arab Spring and other incidents are fomenting political unrest and social disruption in North and West African countries. This gives Japanese companies operating in those countries a major cause for concern. It is a matter of course that many firms ask the Foreign Ministry to provide information on the countries in which they operate, such as details on the political environment and security provisions.
　「アラブの春」の余波などにより、北・西アフリカ各国で政情不安や社会の混乱が広がっている。現地の日系企業にとって大きな懸念材料だ。多くの企業が外務省に政治情勢や治安などの情報提供を求めているのは当然だろう。

The ministry says it already distributes information on potential risks to Japanese expatriates through various means such as e-mails sent to registered addresses. However, the Foreign Ministry should more seriously reflect on what information would be most beneficial to citizens abroad.
　現在も、在留邦人のメール登録などによって危険情報を提供しているというが、現地で本当に必要な情報は何なのか、外務省はもっと考えてもらいたい。

Based on the report, the government has formed a panel of experts including company officials. The body is charged with discussing how the government and the private sector can best cooperate and how to minimize the number of Japanese nationals falling victim to terrorist acts abroad in the future.
　政府は今回の報告書を踏まえ、企業関係者らによる有識者懇談会をスタートさせた。企業と政府がどう連携し、将来の犠牲を最小限にするかを議論する。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet, which has acknowledged security management as a priority issue, should not neglect the lessons learned from the hostage crisis in Algeria. The Prime Minister's Office should take the lead in improving the nation's security management system.
　危機管理を最重要課題の一つに掲げる安倍内閣は、事件の教訓をおろそかにしてはならない。首相官邸主導で、危機管理体制の整備を進めていくべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 2, 2013)
（2013年3月2日01時04分  読売新聞）