'Oral understanding' on SDF participation in multinational is unjustifiable: JCP Shii

The Japanese government says Japan reached an "oral understanding "with the United States and Britain to the effect that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces participating in the multinational force in Iraq will not come under the command of the multinational force. But this explanation about the "oral understanding" has come under close scrutiny.

At a political debate with other party leaders on an NHK program aired on June 20, Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo demanded that the government make public the written "understanding". Koizumi said, "I'll do so."

The fact that the "oral understanding" was reached between Japanese embassy ministers and U.S. and British government officials was revealed by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi Yoriko at a Lower House committee meeting on June 18.

However, Kawaguchi refused to identify the "ministers" who reached the understanding with senior U.S. and British officials. She even refused to submit to the Diet the 'understanding' in writing.

Concerning the SDF participation in the multinational force, the government in the past regarded it "unconstitutional to join as a member and to be placed under its command so long as it involves the use of military force" (March 3 by Kawaguchi).

In pushing the SDF participation in the multinational force, the government has maintained that the SDF will not be under the command of the multinational force but will engage in activities with the multinational force, saying that the so-called "understanding" of the U.S. and British governments provide a sufficient guarantee for this.

On the NHK program, Shii said, "While refusing to mention who took part in the talks, how can such an 'understanding' be guaranteed?"

"SDF participation in the multinational force is not such an easy matter that can be handled by ministers in the embassy and the like, but by at least the foreign minister or the prime minister," Shii stressed and went on to say:

"This involves an important question concerning commanding the military that deeply affects constitutional principles. The public will not allow the government to continue to take such an irresponsible attitude," Shii concluded. (end)