Japan Press Weekly

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2016 July 6 - 12 [POLITICS]

Gov’t should not expose SDF troops in South Sudan to risk of ‘killing and being killed’

In the South Sudanese capital city of Juba, fighting and violence between the pro-government and ex-anti-government forces are escalating. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide on July 11 at a press conference admitted that the security situation is deteriorating in the country, but indicated that the stationing of the Self-Defense Force there will continue.

The SDF is currently taking part in the UN Peace Keeping Operation in Juba. The recent development in the city will be in conflict with the five principles regarding SDF participation in PKO missions, including the conclusion of a cease-fire agreement among parties concerned. It is out of the question for the Abe government to assign new missions to the SDF based on the war legislation.

A report by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) dated July 10 reveals that fierce fighting keep occurring near the SDF camp and the UNMISS headquarters in Juba. The report also stresses that hundreds of civilians are seeking shelter at the UN base.

The UN secretary general pointed out that the UN facility in Juba is in a state of war. However, Suga at the press conference declined reporters’ requests for explanation about the current situation in the city by saying that he has no detailed information. Regarding SDF activities from now on, Suga said that Japan will act in accordance with decisions by the UN Security Council, suggesting that Japan will keep deploying the SDF troops in the country if the UNMISS decides to extend its term there.

This is not the first time for the Abe government to disregard the five principles on SDF participation in PKOs. When an armed conflict between the pro-president and pro-vice president forces in South Sudan was developing into nationwide violence at the end of 2013, the Abe administration considered withdrawing the SDF troops from the country but decided to maintain SDF presence there.

If the revised PKO act, part of the war legislation which took effect in April, is applied to the SDF units in South Sudan, they will be allowed to use weapons to protect civilians taking refuge in SDF camps and defend UN bases in cooperation with military forces of other countries. In such cases, the SDF may open fire on the South Sudanese military.

The Abe government should not choose a path that enables the SDF use of arms abroad for the first time in the postwar era and increases the risk of SDF members’ killing and being killed in battlefields overseas.

Past related articles:
> Violence at UN camp in South Sudan verifies risk of SDF members ‘killing’ and ‘being killed’ in PKO missions [February 20, 2016]
> Condition no longer met for SDF to take part in PKOs in South Sudan due to collapse of ceasefire deal: JCP Inoue [September 10, 2015]