A Japanese campaigner for Palestinian rights committed suicide by setting himself on fire in a Tokyo park in protest of Israeli military operations in the West Bank, a fellow activist said Monday.
54-year-old Takao Himori poured gas over his body and set himself on fire Saturday, according to his friend Masao Adachi.
Japanese Police spokesman Koji Hata confirmed that a man burned to death over the weekend in the park, however refused to reveal his identity.
"People watching the cherry blossoms suddenly saw flames shoot up and called the police," Hata said.
Himori, a member of the activist group "Voice," frequently took part in hunger strikes and candlelight vigils in support of the Palestinian cause, said Adachi.
After firefighters extinguished the flames, they asked Himori if the burns were self-inflicted, Adachi said, quoting a police report shown to family members.
"He nodded in assent, and died."
A number of Japanese activist groups held rallies on Saturday, commemorated by Israeli Arabs as "Land Day," to protest Israel's crackdown on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Several Japanese ultra-leftist groups carried out attacks against Israelis in support of Palestinian liberation during the 1970s. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
