Japanese warships leave for Iraq

The Maritime SDF landing ship "Osumi", carrying vehicles and supplies for the Ground SDF, and the destroyer "Murasame" departed Muroran Port in Hokkaido for Iraq on February 20.

Japanese Communist Party members and activists from local labor and peace organizations assembled near the port to stage a protest.

A 60-year-old worker said, "We must change government away from subservience to the United States and stop the SDF from assisting in U.S. wars in violation of the Constitution." (end)