Dispatch of SDF to Iraq isn't needed: JCP survey team

Criticizing the government and the ruling coalition parties for trying to railroad through a new law designed to enable the Self-Defense Forces to be dispatched to Iraq, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi stated, "Sending the SDF will cause difficulties in Japan's future aid activities and damage its political and diplomatic position in Iraq and the Middle East."

He said this at the press conference he called on June 30 to publish a report on Iraq written by a JCP team led by Upper House member Ogata Yasuo which recently visited Iraq. The report emphasizes that what Japan should do for humanitarian assistance for Iraq's reconstruction is not to dispatch the SDF but to cooperate in the U. N.-led efforts to help reconstruct people's living conditions and establish public security.

He stated, "Support with special knowhow intended to make the best use of Iraqi people's capabilities is needed in the areas of supply of power, drinking water, sanitation, medication, education, food, employment, and other areas. Foreign military forces cannot deal with such tasks."

In regard to the maintenance of Iraq's security, he pointed out, "The U.S.-British occupation forces are naturally responsible for the task, but no other foreign armed forces are expected to participate." He went on to say, "The occupation forces are the source of Iraqis' dissatisfaction and antipathy. Any foreign forces trying to cooperate with them will face the danger of being regarded as an integral part of the occupation forces." (end)