12,000 people attend 'Let's bring back SDF from Iraq!' rally in Tokyo

About 12,000 citizens attended a rally on February 13 in Tokyo to voice their firm opposition to the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq and to demand a U.N.-led humanitarian mission to Iraq. The rally was organized by the Aviation Safety Council, composed of transport-related unions, peace, religious, and many other citizens' groups.

A representative from the All Japan Dock Workers' Union said, "Our union will fight to block any seaports presently run by local administrations from being used for military purposes."

Representatives of the Japanese Communist, Social Democratic, and Democratic parties spoke in solidarity.

JCP Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo criticized the government for dispatching the SDF to Iraq without making any clear case for the dispatch before the public.

He said that the dispatch of Japanese troops conflicts with the international rules for peace and contravenes the Japanese peace Constitution and the law that requires certain conditions for sending the SDF to Iraq.

There is no sane future for the Iraq War that was started on a false basis, Shii said.

The JCP chair emphasized that the need now is for Japan to cancel the SDF dispatch and bring back SDF units from Iraq.

After the rally, participants marched in demonstration in three separate courses, including one to the Diet, calling for the defense of peace, life, and Article 9 of the Constitution. (end)