Iraq-SDF bill points a gun at Iraqi people

Japanese Communist Party representative Koizumi Chikashi in the House of Councilors plenary session on July 26 criticized the Self-Defense Forces dispatch bill for allowing SDF personnel to point their guns at the Iraqi people in joint operation with the U.S. occupation forces.

Koizumi asked, "Do you consider it legitimate for U.S. forces to shoot at Iraqi demonstrators seeking jobs?" Foreign Minister Kawaguchi Yoriko replied, "The authority is justifiable and inviolable in light of international laws." Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro agreed with Kawaguchi.

Resistane of opposition parties

Four opposition parties, including the JCP, carried out concerted action in the parliament in opposition to the forcible passage of the bill without sufficient discussion.
The four parties on July 24 submitted a censure motion against the Defense Agency director-general, foreign minister, and the chief government spokesman. (see separate item)

On July 25, the opposition parties proposed that the Upper House plenary session remove the chairman of the House of Councilors Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense who refused to discuss the bill and just took a committee vote on the bill.

The opposition parties also submitted a non-confidence motion against the Koizumi Cabinet in the House of Representatives.

Both motions were rejected by the majority of the ruling parties. (end)