Don't overlook the world current of pacifism -- Akahata editorial, May 19 (excerpts)

After agreeing to amend the government bills to get the whole country prepared for "war contingencies", the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties and the opposition Democratic Party are about to railroad the bills through the House of Representatives committee by cutting the discussion short.

Parliamentary discussions have revealed serious problems involved in the bills concerning Japan's assistance to the U.S. forces and obligations to be imposed without limits on local governments and corporations.

The proposed legislation is composed of seven bills, including one aimed at helping the U.S. forces smoothly carry out operations and another for 'protection' of the public. They are designed to implement the "Law to Respond to Armed Attacks" which the three parties railroaded through the Diet last year.

In the present-day conditions in which outside armed attack on Japan is not likely, it is hardly possible to explain why contingency legislation is needed.

Specifically, the DPJ in its proposal for amendments explained that contingency is about coping with terrorism. It calls for the basic law on emergencies to include terrorism and natural disasters as part of "emergencies". In reality, earthquake and other natural disasters should be dealt with by non-military means.

The need now is for Japan to establish and develop peaceful and cooperative relations with its neighboring countries and the rest of the world based on the principles in the United Nations Charter.

For Japan, with its war-renouncing Constitution banning infringement of basic human rights, any attempt to allow public mobilization for U.S. -led wars is completely unacceptable. (end)