Cabinet approves war support plan

The cabinet of Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro on November 16 approved
a "basic plan" for dispatching the Self-Defense Forces abroad to support the
U.S.-led retaliatory war.

In a published statement, Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee
Chair Shii Kazuo said the unconstitutional measure must be withdrawn.

The basic plan gives the following three categories of activity for the
SDF units to engage in: (1) support (for the U.S. forces) in transport and
logistics supplies, repair and maintenance, medical services, port work; (2)
search and rescue; and (3) relief for refugees.

As geographical areas for the support and cooperative activities, the
plan specifies the Indian Ocean and Diego Garcia.

The basic plan states that two supply ships and three escort ships of the
Maritime SDF and six transport aircraft of the Air SDF will be dispatched
for six months.

Akahata in its editorial of November 17 said that the SDF will never be
welcomed, because the ASDF members who flew to Pakistan under the heading of
"aid for refugees" were refused permission to disembark carrying weapons.

The editorial says that the SDF operations abroad in support of the U.S.
forces will have nothing to do with ending terrorism and instead increase
casualties among the people of Afghanistan. The editorial maintains that
only the united effort of the international community can bring the
terrorists to justice.

* * *

Commenting on the cabinet approval of the "basic plan," JCP Executive
Committee Chair Shii Kazuo said as follows:

The "basic plan" is the first postwar plan for sending the SDF for
operations abroad where combat is taking place. The JCP demands that such an
unconstitutional plan be withdrawn.

Look at what's happening in Afghanistan. The Taliban rule is crumbling.
Why at the turn of events should military operations be strengthened? The
cabinet decision is increasingly contradictory.

In short, the "basic plan" is a product of government persistence to fly
the Hinomaru flag on SDF ships voyaging to the Indian Ocean. With this as a
precedent, the plan will open up the unconstitutional path on which Japanese
and U.S. forces will jointly use force anywhere in the world. To block this
path, the JCP will develop parliamentary and extraparliamentary struggles,
calling for the plan to be withdrawn. (end)