Death of a Japanese Guerrilla, Asah

[brelief@xxxxxxx]

Asahi Shimbun
February 5, 1998

Last July 3rd, Asahi Shimbun introduced Nishiyaa Takasumi (32) as "a
Japanese guerrilla" who was fighting with the Karen against SLORC.  He died
of malaria in Thailand last November.  A photo journalist, Uda Yuzo (34) met
Nishiyama in the Karen region and they had become friends.  Uda wrote to
Asahi Shimbun about Nishiyama's activities while he was alive.  ?

The Death of a Japanese Guerrilla

by Uda Yuzo

Nishiyama said the encounter with the Karen was destined to happen.  In his
twenties, he quit college and had traveled around Southeast Asia with a
spirit of adventure.

In the beginning he may have only been searching for a reason to live from
the battlefield.  But as he joined the battle, he was moved by the Karen who
fought for the freedom of their people.  Nishiyama said, "Only because they
are the Karen, they have been constantly attacked, had everything taken
away, and been killed.  I couldn't stand by and not do anything.  Under the
SLORC's merciless violence, how have they been resisting for the last 49 years?"

Nishiyama discovered the Karen's strong yeaning for freedom, and capacity
for kindness and helping each other in the midst of great difficulties.

Being a volunteer soldier, he also did many kids of jobs for the Karen.
Back in Japan, he worked at construction sites and as a mover to earn money.
With that money he bought many things such as medicine, toys and stationery.
He asked Japanese relief organizations to secure food for refugees.

In the past few years he found his strength failing because of malaria.  He
began spending more time travelling with organized mobile clinics than
fighting in the battle field.  He didn't inform his parents of his
activities because he didn't want them to worry.  He only told his closest
friends.

As soon as his parents heard of their son's death, they hastened to Bangkok.
Some officers and Karen friends crossed the border at the risk of their
lives to explain how Nishiyama had devoted himself to the Karen.

It might be hard for Japanese who are used to peaceful conditions to
understand fighting with arms.  But after hearing of how his son was trusted
by the Karen, Nishiyama's father said, "If I had been young, I might have
done the same thing as my son."

Nishiyama, who had seen many people dying, wrote, ? "People can't choose how
to die and where to die.  So I choose how to live and where to live." ?
								
I felt the purity of Nishiyama's activiites.

In order to inform the world about the Karen's plight he also worked very
hard on a homepage.  When he had problems with his computer, even if it was
in the middle of the night, he mercilessly telephoned me.  When I stay up
late at night even now, I feel as if Nishiyma might call me.
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