Prime Minister Koizumi pushes SDF participation in MNF

"The Japanese government is pushing forward with the Self-Defense Forces' participation in the Multinational Force in Iraq, which is in conflict with the previous government explanation that it is unconstitutional," said Japanese Communist Party representative Koizumi Chikashi.

Taking the floor for questioning the government at the House of Councilors contingency-related committee meeting on June 14, Koizumi reminded the prime minister that UNSC Resolution 1546 stipulates that any force of the MNF is placed under "unified command" with missions that include the use of force.

He also pointed out that the Japanese government's view of 1990 was that the SDF 'participating' in an MNF would come under the commander's control to act as part of the force, and that it is not allowed under the Constitution since the MNF is tasked to use force.

Also, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro stated last May in parliament that the SDF or any other Japanese organizations are not allowed to take part in an MNF that uses force, said the JCP lawmaker.

The Prime Minister insisted that it is constitutional because the SDF will take part in nothing but humanitarian assistance activities of the MNF. Earlier in the day Cabinet Legislation Bureau Director General Akiyama Osamu at an Upper House committee meeting stated that the SDF participation in the MNF is unconstitutional.

"What the prime minister said conflicts with the Legislation Bureau director general's statement," said JCP Koizumi, emphasizing that the Constitution categorically bans the sending of the SDF overseas. "Moreover, it can hardly be accepted for the government to renege on past government views and push the SDF deployment to Iraq as part of the MNF," warned the JCP lawmaker. (end)