A Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Councilors on Monday described the Japanese civilians recently released from captivity by militants in Iraq as "antigovernment, anti-Japan elements."
"I have heard that some of them openly expressed opposition to Japan's deployment of Self-Defense Forces troops in Iraq," Takeaki Kashimura, 60, said during a meeting of the Upper House Audit Committee.
"I cannot help feeling discomfort in or strongly against spending several billion yen of taxpayers' money on such antigovernment, anti-Japan elements."