Early on the morning of
March 20th the poisonous gas sarin, which was developed by
Nazi Germany during World War Two, was used on subway lines in the
very heart of Tokyo. Ten people died from poisoning and over 5000 people
were reported injured. The affected subway lines intersected at
Kasumigaseki station, the office quarters of the Tokyo government.
Poisonous gas was found on five trains heading for the station, and the
entire city was thrown into confusion for a day.
Investigation on a
Separate Charge Keeps the Sarin Poisoning in View
The Tokyo Metropolitan police department has set up a special
investigation department to find and arrest those responsible for the
incident. On March 22nd, police searched facilities at 25
locations across the nation. The facilities were all connected to the
religious sect Aum Shinrikyo, whose name has appeared before in
connection to sarin.
The search on this day was carried out because police suspected Aum
involvement in the kidnapping of a man whose sister was a member of the
Aum sect but had wanted to leave the group. As many as 2500 police were
involved in the search. At the site of Aum's main facility in
Kamikuishiki, Yamanashi prefecture, they wore gas masks and protective
clothing. This made it clear that the ostensible reason for their
investigation was to find sarin.
Aum Shinrikyo claims the search was illegal. They claim it is
religious oppression. The group has repeatedly claimed that the
kidnapping investigation is a pretense to 'bring down Aum Shinrikyo.'
The sect also denies any involvement in the sarin incident.
In June of last year a number of residents died or suffered injury from
sarin poisoning in Matsumoto City, Nagano prefecture. This was followed
by an offensive odor being reported in July near the religious sect's
facilities in Kamikuishiki. Investigators found by-products of sarin
production in soil taken from near the facility.
In regard to the Kamikuishiki incident, Aum claims that 'somebody has
been conducting poisonous gas attacks on us, and we are the victims.'
The sect filed a complaint of attempted murder against local residents.
What is 'Aum
Shinrikyo'?
Aum Shnrikyo is a religious sect founded by the 'Venerated Master,'
Shoko Asahara (born Chizuo Matsumoto on March 2, 1955).
In 1984, the forerunner of Aum Shinrikyo, 'Aum Divine Wizard
Association,' was established in Shibuya, Tokyo. Mr. Asahara is
said to have attained final salvation in the Himalayas in 1986. In 1987,
the samgha-system was introduced. In this, followers undergo religious
training while living as a group. It was at this time that the
headquarters of the group was transferred to Setagaya Ward, Tokyo.
In 1989, the sect was recognized by the City of Tokyo as a religious
corporation, and in 1990, Mr. Asahara and a number of other top
ranking officials of the sect announced their candidacies as Supreme
Truth Party representatives for the House of Representatives. (None of
them won.)
The group reveres Shiva as their chief god, and is involved in
ancient yoga, primitive Buddhism and Mahayanist Buddhist
teachings. The group's ultimate aim is to 'save all living things from
transmigration.' The group is often referred to as a new Buddhist sect,
but it also claims to be an original religion based on Hinduism and
created by Mr. Asahara.
Mr. Asahara has prophesied that because of increasing evil the
world is heading for a catastrophe at the end of the century. He says
that in 1999 a nuclear war will erupt that will cause the end of the
world. In order to prevent this, 30-thousand people must attain
salvation, since only by spiritual awakening will holy energy be created
to avert the coming crisis.
Based on the four main areas of doctrine, meditation, religious
austerity, and initiation, there are three training systems called the
yoga tantric course, siddhi course, and the bodha course. Through
salvation and enlightenment ultimate happiness can be obtained.
Followers aiming for salvation renounce the world and donate their
personal wealth to the sect.
