工藤会幹部逮捕 凶悪集団を壊滅する突破口に

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Crackdown on Kudo-kai must boost efforts to tackle organized crime
工藤会幹部逮捕　凶悪集団を壊滅する突破口に

Contemptible, organized violence must not be tolerated. We hope the police will use their recent arrests of two leaders of an organized crime group in Fukuoka Prefecture to achieve a breakthrough in the complete destruction of the organization.
　卑劣な組織暴力は、断じて許されない。警察は「頂上作戦」を突破口にして、組織の壊滅を図ってもらいたい。

The Fukuoka prefectural police have arrested two top leaders of Kudo-kai, the largest organized crime syndicate in the Kyushu region, on suspicion of murder and another charge. In 1998, the two allegedly instructed some group members, including the leader of an organization affiliated with their syndicate, to shoot dead the former leader of a local fishermen’s cooperative in Kitakyushu. Kudo-kai has been officially listed as an organized crime organization posing specified dangers under the Antigang Law.
　福岡県警が、九州最大規模の指定暴力団「工藤会」の最高幹部２人を殺人などの容疑で逮捕した。２人は１９９８年、配下の組長らに指示し、北九州市で漁協元組合長の男性を射殺させた疑いが持たれている。

There seems to be no end to the list of cases in which private citizens and businesses have been subjected to attacks in Fukuoka Prefecture, including incidents in which firearms have been used. Though the prefectural police believe Kudo-kai has been involved in many of these incidents, nearly all the cases remain unsolved. The situation threatens to jeopardize the police authorities’ reputation.
　福岡県内では、市民や企業が拳銃などで襲撃される事件が後を絶たない。県警は、その多くに工藤会が関与しているとみているものの、ほとんどが未解決だ。警察の威信に関わる事態である。

On Tuesday, the National Police Agency directed local police authorities — the Fukuoka prefectural police and officials at other prefectural police authorities related to the cases — to do their utmost to deal Kudo-kai a fatal blow. In fact, the Fukuoka prefectural police have assigned 3,800 officers — about 30 percent of their total staff — to their investigation.
　警察庁は１６日、福岡県警や、関係する他の県警幹部に対し、総力を挙げて、工藤会に致命的な打撃を加えるよう指示した。福岡県警は、全職員の３割にあたる３８００人を捜査に投入している。

The arrests of the two crime group leaders have sparked speculation that Kudo-kai could choose to fight back. The prefectural police need to step up efforts to ensure local citizens are not put at risk, such as by increasing patrols around busy streets.
　トップの逮捕により、工藤会の反撃も予想される。県警は、市民に危害が及ばぬよう、繁華街の警備などを強化する必要がある。

The 1998 murder is believed to have been committed in retaliation for the former fishermen’s cooperative leader’s rejection of a Kudo-kai demand, intended to secure the group rights related to a port facilities improvement project in Kitakyushu.
　今回の逮捕容疑となった事件は、北九州市の港湾施設整備事業を巡り、利権を得ようとする工藤会の要求を、元漁協組合長が拒んだことへの報復とされる。

The murder, which has resulted in arrests of the two gangsters, was tantamount to use of violence against all local residents and companies that refuse to accept coercive demands from the organization for rights and interests. This conduct must be condemned as abominable. In 2012, the Antigang Law was revised and enforced to prohibit extortion exemplified by Kudo-kai’s methods.
　市民や企業に利益提供を強要し、従わなければ暴力に訴える。言語道断である。工藤会のやり口を封じるため、２０１２年に改正暴力団対策法が施行された。

Punishment clause not helpful

The revised law designates an organized crime group as a specified-danger syndicate if it is suspected of being involved in an attack on any business corporation. The legislation includes what is called a direct-punishment clause, a rule authorizing the police to immediately arrest members of an organized crime organization if they press undue demands on firms or others.
　企業襲撃に関与した疑いがある暴力団を「特定危険指定暴力団」に指定し、構成員が企業などに不当要求をすれば、即座に逮捕できる「直罰規定」を盛り込んだ。

In 2012, the 560-member Kudo-kai was listed as a specified-danger crime syndicate under the Antigang Law, becoming the only group to receive such a designation. However, there have been only two cases in which Kudo-kai members were arrested under the direct-punishment clause. It is difficult to say progress has been made in achieving the rule’s intended goal.
　構成員５６０人の工藤会は全国で唯一、特定危険指定暴力団となったが、直罰規定に基づく逮捕は２件にとどまる。効果を上げているとは言い難い。

In cities such as Fukuoka and Kitakyushu, a prefectural ordinance has been enforced that bans organized crime group members from entering eating and drinking establishments. However, there has been a succession of incidents involving violence and extortion by gang members, including a case in which a business operator was attacked with a knife. The victim had cooperated in efforts to eliminate the influence of crime groups. In another case, a shop owner was threatened by telephone, with the caller saying to him, “You’re next.”
　福岡市や北九州市などでは、飲食店への暴力団員の入店を禁止する県条例も施行された。しかし、暴力団排除に協力的な店の経営者が刃物で襲われたり、「次はおまえの番だ」などと電話で脅されたりする事件が相次ぐ。

It seems that the slow progress in eliminating Kudo-kai’s influence is due to hesitation by local residents and business corporations to provide information to the police about the organization’s activities, fearing they could be subject to retaliation by the group.
　工藤会の排除が思うように進まないのは、市民や企業が報復を恐れ、警察への情報提供をためらうためだろう。

Another factor underlying the situation may be the distrust felt by citizens and corporations about police authorities in connection with Kudo-kai. They seem to feel police will not protect them even if they offer information about the group.
「通報しても、警察は自分たちを守ってくれない」という市民の警察に対する不信感も背景にあるのではないか。

The police must implement every possible means to weaken Kudo-kai and restore the trust of local residents and companies. Measures should include cutting off the group’s sources of funds.
　警察は、資金源を断つなど、あらゆる手段を講じて、工藤会を弱体化させ、市民の信頼を回復せねばならない。

It is important for the crackdown on Kudo-kai to be used as a model for the drive against crime organizations nationwide.
　工藤会対策を全国の暴力団排除のモデルとすることが重要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 17, 2014)Speech