Stop creating a war-fighting Japan -- Akahata editorial, March 10The Koizumi Cabinet on March 9 approved seven war contingency-related bills and submitted them to the Diet.
They included a bill to "protect the Japanese people", a bill to "support the U.S. forces", and the amended Japan-U.S. Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA), all filled with jargon unfamiliar to regular people.
These bills are intended to add substance to the contingency laws which were enacted last year by the majority force of the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties as well as the opposition Democratic Party. Contrary to "protection of the public," the seven bills, if enacted, will have adverse effects on the situation of the world, in particular in Asia, and on Japan's future course as well as the basic rights and living conditions of the Japanese people.
Violation of traffic clause will face prison terms
The bill to "protect the Japanese people" provides that they decide on a voluntary basis whether to cooperate with the government in abiding by law. However, it also provides that citizens' freedom and rights may be restricted, and establishes penalties for those who reject government requests.
This clearly shows that the bill, if enacted, will undermine the freedom and rights of the people. Disobedience to government orders to keep materials and restrict road traffic will result in a prison term of up to three months.
In the parliamentary debate on the war contingency bills, the Chief Cabinet Secretary stated that anti-war assemblies and demonstrations will be allowed "only when they are not contrary to public welfare" under the bill, indicating that opposition to a war may face suppression.
The "people protection bill" provides that designated public organizations, including broadcasting stations and medical institutions, will be obligated to carry out government orders. All local governments will be placed under government control, and if prefectural governors decline to agree to the compulsory use of civil land or houses, the prime minister will directly take action. These domestic provisions will pave the way for making Japan a "war fighting nation" instead of a nation defending the "war-renouncing Constitution."
Under militarism in prewar days, following the national mobilization law, the Japanese government enacted one law after another to mobilize the people, conscript people, impose price controls, and restrict newspaper reports.
We have a Constitution providing that fundamental human rights must be guaranteed as "eternal and inviolate rights" and that the freedoms and rights "shall be maintained by the constant endeavor of the people". This reflects Japan's determination to prevent the recurrence of the war that was carried out by suppressing people's rights and freedoms.
What drives the Koizumi Cabinet to press for such war legislation? What is the benefit of war? That is the question.
It's because the U.S. Department of Defense wants to get Japan and other U.S. allies take part in U.S. preemptive attacks to control its world empire.
The director general of Japan's Defense Agency doesn't rule out invoking the war contingency laws in the event of a U.S. preemptive attack.
Contrary to the stated policy of "preparing for outside attacks", the contingency laws can be invoked even though Japan is not under attack. This is what the contingency legislation is all about.
Japan will be allowed to use its force if the government concludes that Japan has come "under armed attack" or that "an armed attack is predicted", while the Self-Defense Forces are assisting the U.S. forces in dealing with "situation in areas surrounding Japan".
The government concedes that it may invoke the contingency legislation in response to an attack against the SDF outside Japan on the grounds that it is an "armed attack against Japan".
Harbors, airports, roads, and radio waves will be used exclusively for U.S. wars and the Japanese people will be forced to mobilize for war while the SDF participates in wars.
This is nothing but a way for Japan to be further involved in the U.S. preemptive attack strategy and to rush to war and suppression with hostility towards the majority of the world's people who are forming a major current for peace.
Most governments are opposed to the Iraq War
The world knows that the U.S. preemptive attack policy is an unjustifiable war in violation of the U.N. Charter and international law.
That's why the Iraq War gave rise to the largest ever anti-war movement and led the majority of the world's governments to expressing opposition to the war.
We must not allow Japan to be a war-fighting nation and deprive its citizens of freedom and rights for the sake of supporting U.S. wars,.
Let's block the enactment of the war contingency laws-related bills and the completion of the war contingency laws! (end)