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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Anti-terrorism law extended to keep SDF in Indian Ocean

The Liberal Democratic and Komei parties on October 26 used their majority to extend by another year the term of the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law. The bill came into law after passage through the House of Councilors. The Japanese Communist, Democratic, and Social Democratic parties opposed.

The law allows the government to dispatch Maritime Self-Defense Force ships to the Indian Ocean to refuel U.S. and other allied forces' vessels participating in anti-terror "maritime interception operations."

At the House of Councilors Committee discussion on October 25, Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Ogata Yasuo expressed opposition to the law's extension, stating, "It will allow Japan to further cooperate with the U.S. retaliatory war, which is illegal under the Constitution."

Ogata warned that the U.S. retaliatory war in Afghanistan has killed many innocent citizens, giving terrorists the excuse needed for their acts.

"Japan must move to cut the cycle of terror and retaliation," Ogata stressed. -- Akahata, October 26, 2005