Japanese gather for funeral of former PM Abe

TOKYO - Family and friends of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gathered at a Tokyo temple yesterday for a private funeral, as mourners outside condemned the leader’s ‘despicable’ murder.

Abe was shot at close range on Friday while giving a campaign speech in the city of Nara, days ahead of upper house elections that saw his ruling party strengthen its hold on power.

The murder suspect, 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, is in custody and has told police he targeted Abe because he believed the politician was linked to an organisation he resented.

Family

Although the funeral rites were for family members and close associates only, long lines of people, some dressed in black, came to the Zojoji temple to pay respects to Japan’s longest-serving prime minister.

“I can’t get over my sadness, so I came here to lay flowers and say a prayer,” consultant Tsukasa Yokawa, (41), told AFP, describing Abe as ‘a great prime minister who did a lot to elevate Japan’s presence’ on the global stage.

Despicable

‘‘It’s despicable,’’ said Yuko Takehisa, a 51-year-old assistant nurse who lives in Kanagawa, near Tokyo.

‘‘More could have been done to prevent it,’’ she said, complaining that ‘no one reported’ Yamagami to police despite reports he had test-fired a handmade gun before the attack.

Satoshi Ninoyu, the Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, a cabinet position overseeing national police, pledged yesterday to hold a full review of any security failings.

Local police have already admitted flaws in their guarding programme for the high-profile politician, who was approached from behind and shot in broad daylight.