Masaaki Osaka (大坂 正明, Ōsaka Masaaki, born c. 1950) is a Japanese Trotskyist and former senior member of the Revolutionary Communist League, National Committee. In June 2017, he was arrested for the murder of a policeman on 14 November 1971. His 46 years spent on the run is the longest in Japanese history.[1][2]

Biography

Osaka was a member of the Japan Revolutionary Communist League National Committee, called the Chūkaku-ha, or “middle core faction.”

He was put on the wanted list in 1972[2] after being charged with murder, assault and other offenses.

1971 Shibuya riot

According to police, on November 14, 1971, during a demonstration by students and other activists protesting the ratification of a Japan-U.S. treaty on the reversion of Okinawa, which degenerated into a riot, he attacked Tsuneo Nakamura, a 21-year old police officer, battering him with a steel pipe and setting him on fire with a petrol bomb. The officer died from his injuries.[2]

2017 arrest

In June 2017, Osaka was arrested for obstructing police who raided an apartment in Hiroshima used as a hideout of the Chukaku-ha while searching for a fellow activist. They charged him with obstruction before later discovering his identity through DNA testing. He was charged with murder. [3]

References

  1. ↑ "Fugitive on the run for 45 years is caught". BBC News. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
  2. 1 2 3 The Jiji Press, Ltd (June 8, 2017). "New Arrest Warrant Served on Ultraleftist for 1971 Murder (News)". Nippon Communications Foundation.
  3. ↑ "Far-left activist charged with police slaying after 45 years as a fugitive". The Japan Times Online. 2017-06-07. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
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