 JCP: SDF must pull out of wartorn Iraq With 60 percent of respondents in a poll expressing opposition to the government decision to extend the Self-Defense Forces deployment in Iraq for another year, a committee meeting was convened on December 13 in both houses of parliament to discuss the issue. In the House of Councilors Ad-hoc Committee on Iraq and Contingency, Japanese Communist Party representative Ogata Yasuo questioned the government regarding the security situation in Samawah. He said that it is irresponsible for the government to conclude that security in Samawah is stable while past bomb attacks against the SDF camp site have yet to be identified. He also warned that after British forces take over the security mission from the outgoing Dutch forces, the SDF will be regarded more than ever as part of the occupation forces led by the United States. In the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Iraq, JCP representative Akamine Seiken said that the SDF will be exposed to greater danger if it is to carry out activities outside the camp for road repair and other work. He said that Iraqi people can take over such reconstruction work by using Japan's Official Development Assistance program, without help from the SDF. (end) |