Will SDF be supporting U.S. aggressors by participating in multinational force -- Akahata editorial, June 2

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro made clear that the government is considering incorporating the Self-Defense Forces in a multinational force in Iraq. In the Diet, he stated, "Japan must consider how it should fulfill its responsibility as a member of the international community."

Occupation forces' website

The website of the occupation forces counts the SDF, under the command of the British forces, as part of the Multi-National Force.

Is the Koizumi Cabinet trying to use the SDF as a force assisting the U.S. in the Iraq war by further deepening the SDF integration with the multinational force?

By "responsibility as a member of the international community," the prime minister means supporting the U.S. forces. By the same reasoning, he dispatched the SDF to Iraq.

The U.S. government is attempting to keep its troops in Iraq beyond June by changing the name of the occupation forces to "the Multi-National Force". In the U.N. resolution submitted to the U.N. Security Council, it made it clear that a multinational force will come "under unified command". The U.S. secretary of state indicated that a multinational force will be led by the U.S. "The U.S. military commander has overall command," he stated.

If the SDF participates in such a multinational force, it will mean a further and even decisive infringement on the Japanese Constitution.

Prime Minister Koizumi has said that SDF activities would be "within the framework of the Constitution and the Special Measures Law on Iraq." He also made clear that the SDF "will not take part in a unit using force." However, regardless of its stated mission, or which units it takes part in, the SDF's participation in a multinational force amounts to using force.

The occupation forces' paper ("SCIMITAR") stated that the role of a multinational force is to fight against elements hostile to the coalition forces and Iraq.

The SDF in Iraq is supporting the U.S. "mop-up" operations by transporting armed U.S. troops. By participating in a multinational force, the SDF will openly carry out such activities under the command of the U.S. forces.

As combat intensifies between Iraqi militias and the U.S. forces, many countries that have deployed troops in Iraq are beginning to consider pulling them out or have already announced a withdrawal.

Prime Minister Koizumi, however, has begun saying that he will consider Japan's participation in the multinational force. This may not be unrelated to the opinion put forward by the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan to the effect that interpretation of the Constitution should be changed so that the SDF can participate in the multinational force.

July this year marks the 50th anniversary of the SDF. At the time of their founding, the House of Councilors adopted a resolution declaring that the SDF will not be sent abroad.

Under the Constitution that prohibits Japan from possessing war potential, the SDF Law provides that the SDF's main duty is to defend Japan's independence and peace, and to maintain the country's security.

If the SDF participate in a multinational force and support U.S. wars abroad, it will be a more flagrant violation of the Constitution and even deviate from the principle of "self-defense".

Criticism of Japan

The Koizumi Cabinet has forcibly dispatched the SDF to Iraq to support the savage U.S. war. This has not only aroused opposition from a wide range of people who wish for peace but also exposed Japan to severe criticism and anger from the rest of the world.

Events in Iraq show that Iraqis who used to have pro-Japanese sentiments before the Iraq War are now regarding Japan as their enemy because it deploys its troops in Iraq. The Koizumi Cabinet's cooperation in the war of aggression is confounding the expectations of Japan in Iraq and the rest of the world.

What Japan should do is to immediately withdraw the SDF from Iraq and not to consider participating in the multinational force. (end)