JCP chair protest committee vote on contingency bills

On May 14, after a Lower House special committee voted to approve a set of three war contingency-related bills by a majority of the three ruling parties joined by two opposition parties - the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Party, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo held a press conference to express strong protest at the committee action.

Shii said that the parliamentary discussions have made clear that this legislation paves the way for the Self-Defense Forces to use force outside of Japan and even participate in wars started by U.S. preemptive attack, and that Japanese citizens will be mobilized for such wars.

Shii stressed, "This legislation is about getting Japan prepared for attacking other countries; it is not about defending Japan against possible attacks. It is therefore unconstitutional." He said that the deal struck between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Democratic Party to make partial changes does not solve this basic problem.

Pointing out that the contingency bills are essentially designed to suppress people's rights and compel them into cooperating in war as well as punish those who fail to cooperate, Shii said that "respect for fundamental human rights," which was added to the bill, is a mere face-lift to cover up what the legislation really aims at.

The JCP chair said that the "responsibility of the DPJ is great because it has helped the ruling parties enact the undemocratic bills."

Shii also said the undemocratic procedures have raised serious ethical questions since the amended bills were put to the committee vote without discussion. (end)