Scholars, artists, priests, and athletes together call for an end to terrorism

Well known authors, film directors, musicians, journalists, and scholars
have together given voice to a call for law and reason to prevail in ending
terrorism.

In a joint statement issued on October 25, 193 people who represent a
broad range of cultural and academic fields strongly demanded a halt to the
military retaliation. They also expressed opposition to the use of the
Japanese Self-Defense Forces to support U.S. forces waging the retaliatory
war.

Expressing deep concerns about the U.S. military strikes against
Afghanistan, they demanded that the U.N. Charter and international law be
strictly observed.

The appeal stated opposition to new legislation allowing the SDF to take
part in wars, and called on the government and the Diet to act in conformity
with the Constitution's Article 9 to play a major role in bringing a
peaceful solution to the problem.

The 20 people who proposed the appeal include Inoue Hisashi, writer;
Ikebe Shin'ichiro, composer; Tsurumi Shunsuke, philosopher; Kawai Tomoyasu,
oceanics scientist; Yamada Yoji, film director; and Yamazumi Masami, former
Tokyo Metropolitan University president. (end)