Japan Press Weekly

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2009 February 25 - March 3 [FOREIGN POLICY]

Ruling parties draft a bill to allow SDF to use weapons during ‘anti-piracy operation’ in waters off Somalia

A project team of the ruling parties on February 25 decided to enable the Self-Defense Forces to shoot at pirate ships that are approaching them and fail to stop in a draft bill to dispatch the SDF to the waters off Somalia for anti-piracy operation.

The project team plans to submit the bill to the Diet on March 10.

The Defense Ministry and SDF are preparing to dispatch the SDF to waters off Somalia in accordance with the SDF Law that requires the SDF to participate in sea patrol missions. The law states that SDF troops on such missions can use weapons only in self-defense or if the need arises to evacuate in an emergency.

The government and ruling parties are trying to get a new law enacted to this effect.

The draft bill also allows the SDF to use weapons to protect foreign ships operating in the same area something they are not allowed to do under the current law.