Government introduces bill to support military occupation of Iraq

The Japanese government on June 13 introduced a bill to send Self-Defense Force units to Iraq for the purpose of assisting the U.S.-British forces in occupying the country.

Under the proposed law, SDF personnel will help provide logistical support to U.S.-led forces in Iraq, including medical services, transportation, storage, communication, construction, repair, maintenance, and supplies. They can carry out activities within Iraq if the occupation forces approves it.

Also, as part of "humanitarian assistance", SDF units would provide Iraqi people with relief supplies and medical assistance, help in the return of refugees, and rebuild destroyed facilities.

SDF units would operate only outside of "combat zones", but SDF personnel would be allowed to use weapons if necessary.

Under the bill, effective for a period of four years, the dispatch of SDF units must be approved by the Diet within 20 days after a dispatch order.

However, faced with an opposition from even within the Liberal Democratic Party, the government removed a part of the original bill requiring the SDF to help dispose of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

The government also introduced a bill to extend for two years the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law which expires in November, with the aim of enabling the SDF to support U.S.-led forces under 'anti-terrorism' operations in Afghanistan. (end)