TOKYO, April 13 (AFP) - Japan's notorious Aum Supreme Truth sect, responsible for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, is turning itself into a cyber network but is still fundamentally dangerous, the government warned in a report Friday.
"The Aum Supreme Truth sect still harbours fundamental dangers," Justice Minister Masahiko Komura was quoted by a ministry official as telling the cabinet meeting.
"Moreover, we cannot say there is any change to its secretive and deceptive character," Komura said.
"The sect attempts to conceal its organizational management by utilizing telecommunications systems such as the Internet and video conferencing to relaying its orders, and manage and teach its members," Komura said.
"While building up telecommunications network, the sect is further strengthening its secretive nature by introducing a code system," Komura said.
Public Security Investigation Agency spokesman Kazuya Sameshima told AFP the agency had evidence showing Aum -- which renamed itself Aleph in January 2000 -- continues to be centered on its founder Shoko Asahara.
Asahara, whose real name is Chizuo Matsumoto, was arrested on May 16 1995 in connection with the Tokyo subway attack which killed 12 people and injured thousands of others, and has been held in custody ever since.
"First of all, the sect members are absolute believers, and worshippers of Matsumoto," Sameshima said.
Created by Asahara, a charismatic, half-blind man, the sect shocked the world when Asahara's disciples released Nazi-invented sarin gas in the Tokyo subway on March 20 1995 to avenge a police crackdown on the cult.
The self-styled guru is on trial facing multiple charges including murder for masterminding the subway attack.
"Secondly, we can say that Matsumoto and (Fumihiro) Joyu, who had been executives of the sect at the time of two sarin gas attacks, still are executives," Sameshima said.
After the subway attack, Joyu, an urbane, articulate and photogenic spokesman was the acceptable face of the cult, but he eventually served a three-year prison term for perjury and forging documents.
"The sect bans believers' contacts with society at large, and still restricts their meetings with their families," Sameshima said.
"The secret way in which teaching is conducted has not changed," Sameshima said.
"Believers are not dropping the sect's doctrine which is said to be the fastest way to help mankind, and which also condones murder," Sameshima said, adding that police raids on sect premises had found copies of Matsumoto's writings and videos on its credo.
"We make on-the-spot inspections of the sect's facility almost monthly."
The spokesman said the authorities would continue to keep up constant monitoring of the sect's activities but acknowledged it had so far complied with restrictions placed on it, and the obligation to submit to searches.
"The Public Security Investigation agency will continue to promote inspections strongly, discover the actual status of the sect and respond to the public's expectations," the justice minister said.
According to the report, the sect currently numbers about 650 full-time leaders and teachers, and more than 1,000 followers.
It has 29 major facilities such as training centres, and regional branches. Aum also has about 200 accommodation facilities for full-time adherents, the ministry said in the report.