●Statement against Participation by Japanese Self-Defense Forces in the Multinational Force
On June 18, 2004, the Koizumi Administration met in cabinet, and decided that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (J.S.D.F.) currently stationed in Iraq would participate in the multinational force to be officially formed on June 30. The participation of the J.S.D.F. in the multinational force clearly goes against the renunciation of war in the Japanese constitution. We, the Japan P.E.N. Club, strongly protest such participation.
The position of the Japanese government in the past has been that placing the J.S.D.F. under the unified command of the multinational force, which has the application of military force as its objective, would violate the constitution. The current administration, however, is attempting to gloss over this former position, stating now that the constitution will not be violated because the independent J.S.D.F. command is located in Japan. While Prime Minister Koizumi has stressed that the J.S.D.F. will participate without accepting foreign command, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546 and others make it clear that the multinational force is under unified command.
The participation of the J.S.D.F. in the multinational force began with a promise by Prime Minister Koizumi to President Bush, at their official meeting held just before the Summit. For the prime minister to make such a promise to the president of another nation at his own descretion in spite of its crucial nature with regards to the basis of the Japanese constitution, and without consulting the Diet or even providing an explanation to the Japanese people, is an abomination, as were the attempts made to wallpaper over the issue following his return to Japan.
Furthermore, for this decision to be made so quickly in cabinet, regardless of the many doubts raised, violates the spirit of the constitution, and is an outrage to neglect the the sovereign citizens of Japan. It represents a suspension of the constitution, a state where the approval of neither than citizens nor the constitution is required. In other words, the constitution and the Diet have been forcibly wrested from the control of the citizens of Japan by Prime Minister Koizumi.
This dictatorial approach to government adopted by Prime Minister Koizumi could lead to the emergence of the military control of government, as occurred in Japan prior to World War II. We fear a possible return to that era when the freedom of speech was controlled, and cannot silently acquiesce to the distortion and dismembering of the Japanese constitution.
We strongly request that existing J.S.D.F. activities in Iraq be completely reviewed to ensure that they do not violate the Japanese constitution, and that the citizens of Japan be allowed an opportunity to participate in discussion to define the optimal methods of providing aid and assistance to the people of Iraq.
June 23, 2004