Tokyo's 66 unions and groups call for action to stop dispatch of Self-Defense Forces to Iraq

As the government approval of a basic plan for sending the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq was approaching, 66 labor unions and citizens groups in Tokyo on December 8th issued an appeal calling for actions in opposition to the SDF dispatch plan to Iraq.

This appeal was made by the Tokyo Liaison Council for Defending War-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution and Stopping the New Japan-U.S. Defense Guideline and War Laws from being Invoked.

The 66 organizations include the Japanese Communist Party Tokyo Metropolitan Committee, the Tokyo Liaison Council of Various Circles for Prevention of Mal-Revision of the Constitution, the Tokyo Local Council of Trade Unions, The Tokyo Federation of Merchant and Industrialist's Organizations, and the Organizing Committee of the Tokyo Mothers Congress.

The appeal states, "The dispatch plan, which blatantly infringes upon the Constitution, can never be condoned. We, with firm determination to not repeat the abominable war that we had during WWII, heartily call for your joining in our campaign."

Yamamoto Shin'ichi, attorney at law, said, "We have resolved to thwart the government's reckless attempt and safeguard Article 9 in cooperation with a wide range of people throughout the country."

Matsumoto Tadaatsu, secretary of the Tokyo Forum for Peace, Democracy and Progressive Unity (Progressive Unity Forum), said, "An irreversible thing would happen if the government dared to send armed SDF units to a dangerous place where even Japanese diplomats were recently targeted and slain." (end)