Jul 12, 2022

Abe Assassin Explains Motives But Netizens Not Convinced, Come Up With Conspiracy Theories

Source: The Conversation

The recent assassination of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has set the internet ablaze with speculation over why he was targeted. While investigations are ongoing, the assassin himself has given an explanation for why he committed the murder. However, some netizens are not content with the explanation and have cooked up a myriad of conspiracy theories.

Abe’s assassin, 41 year old Tetsuya Yamagami, was said to have borne a grudge against the Unification Church as he believed it led to his mother’s financial ruin. Yamagami claimed that he initially wanted to target the “executive” of the group but eventually decided on Abe instead, adding that his attack was not politically motivated.

Source: Twitter,ura5ch3wo

Source: New Republic

The Unification Church is a new religious movement that was founded in 1954 in Seoul, South Korea by Sun Myung Moon who also claimed to be a messiah. The group is known for mass wedding ceremonies and controversial involvement in politics.

Source: Britannica

Twitterati pointed out that the cult has been funded by Japanese politicians like Abe for a very long time and that there is significant resentment from the population.

Tomihiro Tanaka, the head of the Unification Church in Japan, clarified that Abe was not a member but may have spoken at affiliated group events.

“Abe was not a church member, but may have spoken at affiliated groups’ events, Tanaka said.” – AP News

However, not everyone is buying this explanation and they’re cooking up their own theories. Some said China was behind the assassination because Chinese social media, Weibo, was filled with posts celebrating his death.

Source: Twitter, Badiucao

Source: Twitter, Badiucao

It is not surprising to see the Chinese celebrating Abe’s death as many are unhappy that he did away with Japan’s annual apologies to the leaders of China for their past atrocities like the Nanjing massacre, war crimes and the infamous unit 731.

Abe also did away with the routine annual offering of apology by Japan’s leaders to China and other countries in the region for past wrongs. Abe suggested that the current generation of Japanese are not responsible for what happened in the 1930s and need not apologize for them. – Deccan Herald

Abe also reduced the quantum of Official Development Assistance that Japan disburses to countries as compensation for historical issues and this too could have contributed to the unhappiness the Chinese have for him.

Over time, Abe also reduced the quantum of Official Development Assistance that Japan disburses to these countries as “compensation” for historical issues – including for the modernisation of China and the iconic Pudong Special Economic Zone in Shanghai and increased such assistance for India and other countries. – Deccan Herald

Another theory is how Abe’s hit was ordered by the USA/CIA. According to tfiglobalnews, Abe’s unwillingness to play ball and embrace China as part of Biden’s administration may have been the reason he died.

Source: tfiglobalnews

There are some netizens who seem to share the same sentiments.

Source: Twitter, Richard_World88

Source: Twitter, iey_jun

Here’s a bonus theory. There are Australian and New Zealand netizens who seemed to think that the reason why Abe was shot was because he did not force the Covid vaccine on the people of Japan.

Source: Twitter, Ceriphinz

Crazy times we’re living in.

Reporter’s Opinions: One assassination and the whole internet goes crazy. Frankly I am not surprised by the CIA theory because anytime there is a hit that happens, many people instinctively point at the CIA. Then again, that is probably fuelled by the countless spy movies produced by the US themselves as well as by their own history.

Article from: The Guardians

While the case is still under investigation, it seems like Yamagami is just pissed that Abe and his grandfather, who was also the former PM of Japan, “supported” the cult group that ruined his mother financially.

But hey, keep the conspiracy theories coming. It’s entertaining.

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