Stop deploying GSDF Central Readiness Regiment: local JCP

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Stop deploying GSDF Central Readiness Regiment: local JCP

Representatives of the Japanese Communist Party organization and JCP City Assembly members group in Utsunomiya City in Tochigi Prefecture on September 13 visited the Defense Agency to demand that the government cancel its plan to deploy the Ground Self-Defense Force Central Readiness Regiment to the GSDF Utsunomiya Garrison.

JCP House of Representatives member Shiokawa Tetsuya and members of the Utsunomiya Peace Committee joined in this action.

The regiment, to be composed of about 700 members, is the first GSDF combat unit exclusively assigned to overseas operations.

"The regiment's deployment will go against the pacifist principles of the Constitution and Utsunomiya City's motto of building a peaceful town," stated the local JCP statement addressed to DA Director General Nukaga Fukushiro.

DA officials explained that the agency seeks 2.2 billion yen for the regiment's deployment in the FY 2007 budget request and that it will purchase more than ten light armoured vehicles, the same type of vehicle GSDF units used in Iraq.

The JCP representatives criticized the DA, pointing out that the deployment of the regiment is to prepare for the dispatching of the unit overseas with the U.S. forces.
- Akahata, September 14, 2006