Japan Press Weekly

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2016 November 30 - December 6 [SDF]

Mother of SDF member sues gov’t for unconstitutional SDF dispatch to South Sudan

The mother of a Self-Defense Forces member in his 20s on November 30 filed a lawsuit with the Sapporo District Court in Hokkaido, claiming that sending the SDF to South Sudan for PKO missions is in violation of the Constitution.

She is also demanding 200,000 yen in state compensation as the central government’s decision has caused her emotional suffering from the infringement of the right to live in peace.

The mother, whose son is assigned to the Ground SDF Camp Higashi-Chitose in Hokkaido, has been taking to the streets in Sapporo and Chitose cities to protest against new SDF duties, namely “kaketsuke-keigo”, saying, “I don’t want either my child or anybody else’s children to die while performing an unconstitutional duty.”

After the filing, she at a press conference said that the SDF overseas dispatch deviates from their primary duties of homeland defense and explained that this is why she decided to oppose the SDF activities in South Sudan “from the viewpoint of a mother”.

An 18-lawyer plaintiff counsel pointed to the significance of this case, especially at this time when the concrete action based on the controversial security legislation has become visible in disregard of constitutionalism. The lawyers expressed their determination to challenge the constitutionality of the SDF’s PKO mission. They also announced that they will seek additional legal actions involving SDF personnel and their family members.

The plaintiff said, “I hope that more families will raise their voices against human rights abuses by the government.”

Past related articles:
> GSDF presses its personnel to write ‘farewell notes’ in case of death to their families [March 25, 2015]
> Parents of SDF personnel oppose Abe’s decision on collective self-defense right [July 3, 2014]