 Opposition Dietmembers in public assembly call for withdrawal of Self-Defense Forces from Iraq About 300 people, including 13 opposition party members, held an urgent meeting within the Diet on November 15 to call for the withdrawal of the Self-Defense Forces from Iraq. The meeting was sponsored by religious and citizens' groups with Japanese Communist, Democratic, and Social Democratic party members attending. JCP Chair Shii Kazuo, SDP Head Fukushima Mizuho, DPJ member Taruyuka Shinji and independent Itokazu Keiko spoke and called for the enactment of the opposition bill to abolish the "Special Measures Law on Iraq" which provides the legal base for the Iraq deployment of the SDF. Speaking on behalf of the JCP, Shii condemned the U.S. military action in Fallujah as "an act of war in violation of international law and humanitarian law." He referred to the recent military attacks and the SDF camp in Iraq and said, "The continued deployment of the SDF contravenes not only the Constitution banning Japan from fighting wars but the Iraq special measures law that limits the Iraq deployment of the SDF to non-combat zones." "The continued deployment of the SDF apparently in support of U.S. forces committing lawless, brutal acts would lead to staying on to assist in their atrocities," Shii added. (end) |