Government plans to submit seven war-related bills

Akahata on January 21 reported that the government plans to have the current ordinary Diet session enact seven war contingency-related bills, including a bill for assisting smooth operations of U.S. forces and a bill for "protection of the public in contingencies." Three treaties and agreements, including two Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions, will be submitted to the Diet at the end of February.

These emergency bills, which follow contingency laws enacted last year, are aimed at mobilizing the Self-Defense Forces, local municipalities, corporations, and the public for U.S. wars anywhere the world.

Advocating the need to cope with armed attacks on Japan, the bill for assisting the United States in operational activities, if enacted, requires Japan to supply U.S. forces with material, equipment, and services in the Asia-Pacific region for U.S.-led wars. According to Cabinet Secretariat sources, local governments, corporations and the public will be forced by the government to supply needed land, in addition to materials and services.

In relation to these steps, the Japan-U.S. Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) will be amended to enable Japan to directly supply U.S. forces with weapons and munitions, which has been banned so far.

The bill for "protection of the public in contingencies" will ensure Japan-U.S. wartime cooperation by controlling and mobilizing the public.

Another bill, which will allow the government to use public facilities, is designed to give top priority to the U.S. forces and the SDF to use airports, sea ports, roads, and radio waves. In certain cases, the prime minister will be allowed to force local governments concerned to implement government instructions.

Also, reportedly, a bill for regulating maritime transport of enemy arms is geared to prevent sea transport of weapons by carrying out inspections and warning shots by the SDF. (end)