Japan Press Weekly

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2023 August 23 - 29 [POLITICS]

Citizens hold protest against ruling coalition’s hasty move to end Japan’s ban on arms exports

In protest against the hasty move by the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties to lift the ban on Japan’s lethal weapons exports, concerned citizens on August 23 held a demonstration near the Diet building.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Yamazoe Taku joined in the protest.

This action was organized by the Network against Japan Arms Trade (NAJAT) consisting of concerned citizens, NGOs, and scholars. NAJAT member Sugihara Koji in his speech pointed out that the ruling coalition intends to lift the embargo on Japan’s lethal arms export this autumn through the back door. He stressed the need for concerned citizens and opposition parties to jointly work to increase public opposition to this move and demand the holding of parliamentary discussion on this matter during the Diet recess.

JCP Yamazoe, delivering a speech in solidarity, said that it is totally unacceptable for the ruling parties to open the way for the export of lethal arms without holding adequate Diet discussions.

Past related article:
> Rally held to stop Japan from descending into yet again being a 'merchant of death' [June 29, 2023]