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2016 February 24 - March 1 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Defense Ministry draws up plan to kill ‘enemies’ abroad

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Kasai Akira revealed on February 29 that the Defense Ministry had made a plan to enable members of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to shoot at and kill “enemies” abroad under the pretext of rescuing hostages.

At a Lower House Budget Committee session, Kasai presented an internal document compiled by the Defense Ministry in March 2012. It details “hostage rescue operations using force”, assuming that the PKO Cooperation Law would be revised to task the SDF to deliver civilians and foreign troops from conflict areas.

Rescue operations are based on a scenario in which local armed groups abducted people, including civilians, and are detaining them within the groups’ key buildings. The document explains that SDF members approach the buildings in secrecy, and that “if necessary”, they shoot enemy guards dead in order to help allied troops storm the buildings.

In reply to Kasai, Defense Minister Nakatani Gen said that the ministry is considering such operations “in all aspects”. The minister also suggested that the amended PKO Cooperation Law, which is a part of the national security legislation enacted last year, allows the SDF to carry out rescue missions abroad.

Kasai pointed to the fact that in South Sudan where SDF troops are deployed, an armed conflict broke out in a UN camp in February and 18 people were killed. “If the SDF is engaged in peace-keeping operations in war zones where it is extremely difficult to tell friends from foes, SDF personnel will inevitably be involved in combat,” he stressed.

Noting that the ministry’s move is in clear violation of the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, the JCP parliamentarian urged the governing coalition to accept the opposition parties’ demand that the Diet begin deliberations on a bill to scrap the unconstitutional war legislation without delay, which the five opposition parties jointly put forth in February.

Past related article:
> Violence at UN camp in South Sudan verifies risk of SDF members ‘killing’ and ‘being killed’ in PKO missions [February 20, 2016]