The ruling bloc of the Abe administration, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Komeito, is busy with drafting war-related bills to be presented to the Diet in the second week of May. These bills are to cope with warfare overseas, or elsewhere on the earth without any limitation. Discussions in the meetings of the consultation group exceed the scope set by the cabinet on ex
ecution of the right of collective defense.


We must continue organizing mass movements throughout the na
tion to object the legislation.


ABE GOVERNMENT PREPARES LEGISLATION SO THAT SELF DEFENSE FORCES MAY INTENSIVELY USE WEAPONS OVERSEAS


On Fridays a group of the ruling LDP and Komeito has a meeting to discuss bills related to wars engaged abroad. The consultation body sets three categories; (1) a gray zone, in which a situation has not yet culminated in an armed attack, (2) intensive use of weapons in the logistic support to multinational forces and in the PKO missions, and (3) execution of the right of collective self-defense. Practically, these three factors link one with another.


The consultation began on February 13. According to the government, discussions are scheduled to end late March after holding 6 times of debates when the members will ‘digest’ briefly this broad, complex issue at each meeting. Chairman of the meetings, Vice-President of the LDP Komura Masahiko, is scheduled to visit the United States and, reportedly, discussions will be finalized before his departure. Debates seem a ceremony.


Frequent Dispatches of Troops Proposed


For a definition of ‘gray zone’, the cabinet used to regard that Japan might defend US ships during alert for possible missile launching and during transporting Japanese citizens. But now the government proposes to cover vessels of a secondary ally, like Australia. It demands that the ACSA, acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, could be implemented in the operations during joint military exercises with the US and Aussie forces. These actions rightly constitute the right of collective self-defense.


The government even demands a hostage rescue operation, which is (according to the Komeito) ‘unrealistic’. It decided to rely on a UN resolution as the prerequisite in dispatching the Self Defense Forces (SDF) abroad in the context of ‘international cooperation’. But now it insists that a UN resolution is unnecessary and prefers a permanent act to occasional special acts so that objectives and geographic areas of the SDF missions may not be specifically restricted. It says that weapons and ammunitions could be supplied.


The government announces to revoke the Contingency Act to cope with Situations in Areas Surrounding Japan. This law authorizes inspection of foreign vessels only in the limited geographic zones and now the government wants to extend sphere so that investigation might be made at any location in the world. It will allow SDF to use weapons during the duty.


The ruling bloc discusses not only use of weapons in the PKO missions (=combat) to rescue civilians in the remote locations or to accomplish duties but also involvement in keeping public security in foreign countries.


The LDP plans to engage in removal of underwater mines in the Strait of Holmes concerning the right of collective self-defense though the coalition partner Komeito opposes the idea.


In the session of the House of Councilors Prime Minister Abe Shinzo did not reply exactly to a question whether Japan might help ‘a close ally’ if it should wage a first strike. It is because he knew that Japan could not support the United States if he had answered ‘No’. The closest ally is not hesitant to carry out a preemptive strike.


Let’s Organize Mass Movements to Stop Dangerous Drives!


The cabinet authorized last July the right of collective self-defense, which is to deceive people as the judgment overrules Article Nine of the constitution. Many suggestions which go beyond the constitutional boundaries have been raised in the meetings attended by ruling bloc members. The LDP is confident in enactment in the Diet as it sees resistance of the Komeito as merely formal opposition, and disregards massive opposition of citizens.


The big parties control over the Diet, with opposition parties remaining weak. The Diet goes together with the government. Only mass, civic protest campaigns could stop legislation for wars. The Anti-War Committee prepares for large-scale joint actions. Let’s organize various action programs at workplaces and in the communities of residence.


March 10, 2015