People power can foil wartime legislation -- Akahata editorial, February 13, 2002

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro in his policy speech expressed the government intention to submit bills to deal with contingencies to the current session of parliament. The contingency legislation will certainly be a major issue in the Diet.

In trying to justify this legislation, the prime minister repeats that readiness is all important.

In the recent Lower House Plenary Session, Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo pointed out that the true objective of the legislation is to establish preparedness in order for Japan to join with the United States to carry out wars abroad free from anxiety about future.

"For U.S. forces" is no secret

The legislation to deal with emergencies will ensure that the government can grab citizens' private properties such as land and buildings, and mobilize medical doctors, nurses, transport workers, and civil engineers to help the Self-Defense Forces engage in wars. Criminal punishment will be imposed on those who refuse to abide by the laws.

The government is studying ways to enable the government to expropriate land without notifying the landowner.

Remember that in 1978, when wartime legislation was a major issue, Fukuda Takeo, prime minister at the time, stated that a secret protection law would be necessary. This reminds us clearly that wartime legislation will restrict freedom of speech and the press.

It is reported that the proposed legislation is designed to "protect the public" in case Japan has become a battlefield, hiding the character and contents of the contingency legislation that deprives the people of basic human rights and destroys democracy.

Why is the Koizumi Cabinet so intent on passing such legislation? The answer to this question can be found in documents published by the government and ruling parties.

Government documents state that legislation for dealing with emergencies should serve the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty system, and that such laws will be invoked even before armed attacks are made on Japan. The document agreed upon by the ruling parties also states that the contingency legislation is intended to support U.S. forces as well as the SDF.

Japan already has the new "Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation" to have the SDF provide U.S. forces with rear area (logistical) support if the U.S. forces launched an interventionist war in Asia. It also has the Law on Measures to Deal with Situations in Areas Surrounding Japan, which is a law for the implementation of the "Guidelines." The government and the ruling parties do not conceal that the proposed legislation is intended to mobilize people for such wars.

In short, contingency legislation is wartime legislation that serves U.S. wars. This is why the prime minister, who spoke of the need for "preparedness" in parliament, was unable to name any country that has either the capacity or the intention to invade Japan.

The prime minister says that it is the government's responsibility to make arrangements to deal with emergencies within the framework of the Constitution. The Japanese Constitution, however, prohibits Japan from going to war; Article 18 of the Constitution prohibits involuntary servitude except as punishment for crime; Article 29 prohibits the violation of the right to property; and Article 31 prohibits any deprivation of liberty. Article 11 generally guarantees constitutional fundamental human rights as eternal and inviolate rights.

To begin with, contingency legislation is incompatible with the Japanese Constitution.

Some people argue that contingency legislation is commonplace in the present-day world. The fact is that no country in the world has ever enacted unconstitutional wartime legislation that deprives the people of their rights and property to help the U.S. forces in action.

Let's join forces to block wartime legislation

Since the 1978 Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation were established, maneuvers for contingency legislation took place on and off. But the people calling for the defense of peace, human rights, and basic freedoms repelled such schemes every time they were proposed. They know that such schemes would change Japan's course and lead the country to war.

Voices opposing wartime legislation are now increasing in Japan.

Let us work to unite all people who are against war in order to frustrate the dangerous ambition of the Koizumi Cabinet. (end)