Contingency-related bills bulldozed through

A set of bills to allow the Self-Defense Forces to participate in US wars outside of the country and enable the government to mobilize local governments, businesses, and the general public for US wars became law after passage by the House of Councilors.

Defying public concerns about the danger of the whole nation becoming involved in U.S. wars, the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties, joined by the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, used their force of majority to railroad the contingency-related bills through the House of Councilors.

Togashi Renzo on behalf of the Japanese Communist Party took the floor and expressed opposition to the bills and the undemocratic procedure that ended parliamentary discussion without public hearings.

Togashi said, "The contingency-related bills are in contravention of the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution because they allow Japan to join with the United States in preemptive attacks and become a war-fighting nation.

The seven new laws include the Law to Facilitate U.S. Military Actions, the Law on the Use of Designated Public Facilities, and the Law to Protect People's Rights.

The government will immediately move to decide on concrete measures to implement the contingency-related laws.

The LDP, Komei, and DPJ are planning to introduce in the next Diet session a "basic law on emergencies" which will further strengthen the contingency set-up. (end)