'Anti-piracy' bill railroaded

Japan Press Weekly

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

'Anti-piracy' bill railroaded

The Liberal Democratic and Komei parties on April 23 used their majority to railroad an "anti-piracy" bill through the House of Representatives plenary session, paving the way to allow Japan's Self-Defense Forces to use force under the pretext of "anti-piracy" missions and to make a permanent law to send the SDF abroad at anytime. The Japanese Communist Party voted against the bill.

The ruling parties cut short the discussions on the bill to only six days and forced the bill to a vote. The largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan supposedly opposed the bill but had accepted the voting date beforehand.

JCP Akamine Seiken in his argument during the session said, "Japan should provide technological and financial support to Somali neighbors' policing activities, and make diplomatic efforts to help end the civil war and reduce poverty in Somalia."

Akemine also criticized the relaxing of restrictions on the use of weapons for "possibly leading SDF personnel to kill for the first time in Japan's post-war history," and again demanded that the bill be scrapped.

Later at a news conference, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo said, "It will not only be useless to eliminate pirates from waters off Somalia militarily but will create a vicious circle of violence, and right to use weapons will establish a path for the use of force in foreign territories in violation of the country's Constitution."

Soon after the forcible passage of the bill, peace groups urgently held a protest action.

Japan Federation of Women's Organizations (Fudan-ren) Secretary-General Enomoto Yoko said, "The structure in which the DPJ is a firm supporter of the LDP-Komei regime has now become clear."

Federation of National Public Service Employees' Unions (Kokko-roren) Chair Miyagaki Tadashi said, "They appear to be seeking to get rid of the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution."

- Akahata, April 24, 2009