Talk:Special Higher Police
 | Japan: History Start‑class Mid‑importance | |||||||||||||||||||
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 | Law Enforcement Start‑class | |||||||||
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Information needed on Tokko's use of torture
From page 221 of the book "The Policing of Politics in the Twentieth Century: Historical Perspectives edited by Mark Mazower" shows two viewpoints of the Tokko's use of torture. One view says the Tokko carried out organised torture, while another viewpoint says that only individuals used torture, and that torture was not the official policy of Tokko leaders.(Greg723 (talk) 02:26, 9 September 2014 (UTC)).
Discussion of what needs clarification in this statement
"Prisoners were forced to write accounts of how they had become involved with "dangerous ideologies", rewriting these essays until their interrogators were happy with the work. These works then were used to prove their criminal involvement."
My understanding of the situation is that it is similar to the essays that foreigners are sometimes currently forced to write if they do something that the Police deem sufficient to warrent a caution. These essays are written in only Japanese and not translated for the person expected to copy them out, since the person has not been arrested representation need not be in attendance and in most reported experiences I have learned of the person does not resist writing out these "statements" as it avoids greater possible sanctions including the potential to violate their VISA requirements and be returned to their home country. The statements are generally known to be admission of guilt and grovelling apology statements though I've not heard of any cases where they have later been used as primary evidence in convictions - they may be inadmissible anyway due to the person not understanding sufficient Japanese to understand what they are doing. Certainly some steps in the direction of fairer trials.