Act now to stop the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces, a historic outrage

The Japanese Communist Party Central Committee at its 10th Plenum on December 3 adopted a statement calling for a national struggle to stop the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq. The text of the statement is as follows:

The Iraq occupation is getting bogged down in a quagmire. The urgent task now is to make internationally acceptable efforts to help reconstruct Iraq in a way that respects the wishes of the Iraqi people. The Koizumi Cabinet, however, is bent on sending the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq at the request of the United States. This represents the worst kind of choice that will bring about irreversible calamities to the people of both Iraq and Japan. The Japanese Communist Party sincerely calls on all Japanese peace-loving people to rise in action to block this historic outrage.

The situation in Iraq is worsening to the extent that the U.S.-British occupation forces have to acknowledge that the whole of Iraq is in a state of war. On November 29, two Japanese diplomats were killed. Nearly 500 U.S. and British soldiers have died, and the toll in November was 80, the largest number since the war began. About 40 military personnel from other countries, including Italy and Spain, have died. Damages have been caused to the facilities and staff of the United Nations and the Red Cross. In addition, more than ten thousand innocent Iraqi civilians have been killed in the war and occupation.

What is the fundamental cause of the present state of disorder? Note that the Iraq war was a lawless war of aggression launched by the United States and Britain in disregard of international law and that the illegal U.S.-British-led military occupation continues. All this has roused the Iraqi people's anger and hatred, contributing to nurturing violence and acts of terrorism.

The way to solve the Iraq issue based on reason is quite clear: The U.S.-British-led occupation should be replaced as quickly as possible with a U.N.-led framework for humanitarian assistance in Iraq's reconstruction. Under this framework, national sovereignty should be swiftly returned to the Iraqi people and the U.S. and British forces should be withdrawn. This is the only way to resolve the issue based on reason. The majority of the international community is strongly calling for a solution of the issue in this manner. The task now is for Japan to make diplomatic efforts on its own to this end.

However, the Koizumi Cabinet is reluctant to make these efforts to achieve a solution based on reason; it instead is clinging to the SDF dispatch policy, saying, "We must be undaunted by terrorism."

To begin with, the dispatch of SDF personnel to assist the U.S.-British occupation forces in Iraq means that Japan will militarily play a part in the lawless war of aggression and the illegal occupation.

Needless to say, acts of terrorism that indiscriminately kills civilians must not be condoned. In Iraq, the prevalence of devastating terror and violence have been caused by the lawless war of aggression and the illegal occupation. This is the very root cause of the worsening situation. Japan's military participation in this illegal occupation will only bring about an irreversible consequence: Japan will be seen not only by the Iraqi people who are opposing the U.S.-British military occupation but by all Islamic nations as an object of hatred. This is the way for Japan itself to incur the danger of coming under terrorist attacks.

Secondly, it is clear that the SDF dispatch to Iraq is a flagrant violation of Article 9 of the Constitution declaring renunciation of war and military forces. Given the present situation in Iraq, the stated policy of "not sending troops into combat zones" under the Iraq dispatch law is increasingly fictitious and cannot convince anyone, as made clear from the deaths of the two Japanese diplomats. As long as the whole of Iraq is in a state of war, the SDF participating in the U.S.-British occupation will literally be seen as a part of the occupation forces and will inevitably be exposed to armed attacks.

If the government enforces the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq, it means that for the first time since the end of World War II Japan will be dragged into the horrific path of sending troops into another country and killing its citizens. It is also the path that would cause war casualties among SDF personnel for the first time since the end of World War II. Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro's statement that SDF personnel may "kill or be killed" will become a reality. It is natural that some SDF members and their family members are expressing their concerns, saying, "We didn't join the SDF to go to Iraq."

We oppose the historic outrage.

Japan now stands at a historically critical juncture. It is facing a choice between its full-fledged participation in the shameful war and occupation and the path of peace based on the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution.

Let us act now to heighten public awareness and increase the movement in support of the call for "No dispatch of SDF to Iraq!" and for the "defense of Article 9!" Now is the time to organize grassroots activities throughout the country, including publicity actions, signature drives, demonstrations, and rallies.

Since its founding 81 years ago, the Japanese Communist Party has opposed war and worked for peace at the risk of death or imprisonment of its members. We will continue to make every effort in cooperation with the broader public to block the historically outrageous plan to send the SDF to Iraq. (end)





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