On
this date, 29 April 1946… The
International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE), also known as
the Tokyo Trials, the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, or simply the Tribunal, was convened on April
29, 1946, to try the leaders of the Empire of Japan for three types of war
crimes. "Class A" crimes were reserved for those who participated in
a joint conspiracy to start and wage war, and were brought against those in the
highest decision-making bodies; "Class B" crimes were reserved for
those who committed "conventional" atrocities or crimes against
humanity; "Class C" crimes were reserved for those in "the
planning, ordering, authorization, or failure to prevent such transgressions at
higher levels in the command structure.”
Twenty-eight Japanese
military and political leaders were charged with Class A crimes, and more than
5,700 Japanese nationals were charged with Class B and C crimes, mostly
entailing prisoner abuse. China held 13 tribunals of its own, resulting in 504
convictions and 149 executions.
The Japanese Emperor Hirohito
and all members of the imperial family, such as career officer Prince Yasuhiko
Asaka, were not prosecuted for involvement in any of the three categories of
crimes. Herbert Bix explains that "the Truman administration and General
MacArthur both believed the occupation reforms would be implemented smoothly if
they used Hirohito to legitimise their changes." As many as 50 suspects,
such as Nobusuke Kishi, who later became Prime Minister, and Yoshisuke Aikawa,
head of Nissan, were charged but released in 1947 and 1948. Shiro Ishii
received immunity in exchange for data gathered from his experiments on live
prisoners. The lone dissenting judge to exonerate all indictees was Indian jurist
Radhabinod Pal.
The tribunal was
adjourned on November 12, 1948.
Please
read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Military_Tribunal_for_the_Far_East
As
I did mention that Teamwork plays an important role in the courts, I will name
the 11 judges of the Tribunal.
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