Statements

The September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon took the lives of thousands of innocent citizens and implanted the horror and atrocities of terrorism in the minds of people all over the world.

We at the Japan P.E.N. Club wish to express our heart-felt condolence to the victims and their families. At the same time we must express our strong indignation at the terrorist acts perpetrated against innocent citizens and demand that never again such atrocities be committed.

The victimized United States started bombing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which harbors those considered to have masterminded the terrorist attacks. The Japanese government, under the pretext of fighting against terrorism and preserving peace, promised to support the American military operations in the rear area, and is in the process of passing the "The Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Bill" in the current session of the Diet, which would enable Japan to send its Self-Defense Forces abroad. It is clear that this undertaking is inconsistent with the Constitution of Japan, as Prime Minister Koizumi himself said, "It would be difficult to answer if we are asked about the consistency and clarity with respect to the law." And yet, the government is trying to force the bill through the Diet, even at the risk of incurring casualties. We feel certain that behind this government action lies the fact that Japan was held in low esteem in the world during the Gulf War. However, we are unwilling to accept the notion that Japan cannot gain high international esteem without military contribution. For the last half a century since the end of World War II, we have built up our way of dealing with international conflicts by peaceful means, never to engage in military actions. Those foreign citizens who criticized Japan might have done so because they did not know that Japan's Constitution prohibits the use of military forces as means of resolving international conflicts. Japan's foreign relations officials should have made this fact clearly known to the world at that time, but they neglected to do so. To the people who insist that Japan cannot earn the world esteem without participating in international military operations, we must assert that the nation which does not observe its own Constitution cannot expect to earn such esteem.

The deployment of the Self-Defense Forces without the Parliamentary approval reminds us of the "prerogative of supreme command of Army", that nightmare of the pre-World War II period. The war in Afghanistan, fought with the super-power's military strength, should not possibly need Japan's military participation. In order to stop the vicious cycle of terrorism breeding retaliation, of retaliation breeding further terrorism, Japan, as the nation which has never once shot a bullet against Muslim countries, ought to dedicate itself to reconciling deep-rooted hostilities.

We believe that this is the time to meditate on the words of wisdom such as "There is no righteous war in the chronicles of Lu," (Mencius) or "Wretched are the defeated in war, but so are the victors. The true winners are the ones who do not make war." (Wellington) To the politicians who utter a loud, high-spirited cry, we will appeal persistently, albeit in a low voice, that Article Nine of the Constitution of Japan must not be abrogated de facto.

October 15, 2001