DA urges munitions companies to send technicians to Iraq with SDF

Akahata on December 26 reported that the Defense Agency has requested Japan's major munitions firms to dispatch technicians to repair the Self-Defense Force airplanes, ships, and vehicles in and around Iraq.

Specifically, the agency asked these companies that include Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, Co. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, LTD. to deal with possible dust troubles of C-130 transport plane engines at SDF base sites to be set up in U.S. bases in Kuwait and Qatar.

Japan's trading firm employees are permanently assigned to some Middle East countries to supply aircraft parts as part of the government's assistance in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Most of these technicians sent abroad have been engaged in weaponry repair in areas outside actual combat zones.

One employees who are assigned by the firm to go to the area said, "An SDF man if killed will be paid 100 million yen in condolence, but nothing for us. We will get no combat-zone money. Though a company manual tells us to keep away from U.S. and British bases, the company orders us to go to such bases to do repair."

While these firms have not accepted the agency's request, concerns and anxiety are growing among employees who are going to be dispatched to "combat zones." (end)