Protest against the Ministerial Decision on Basic Plan for Dispatching SDF to Iraq

December 10, 2003

On December 9, the government held an extraordinary cabinet meeting where they finalized a basic plan for dispatching the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq (Basic Plan) based on the Special Legislation Calling for Assistance in the Rebuilding of Iraq. In the Basic Plan, the SDF Air Force is going to be dispatched in January, followed by the SDF Ground Force.

The decision made by the government treaded down our appeal for canceling the SDF dispatch and majority of public voices against such policy. Therefore, we firmly protest and demand the cancellation of the Basic Plan.

In the Basic Plan, approximately 1,000 SDF personnel are to be dispatched with armored vehicles, recoilless guns and portable antitank weapons. This shows that this mission is to be conducted with use of forces as its precondition.

The Iraq War was forcefully evoked without any consent or any UN resolution by the preemptive attack of the US and UK armies. This is an act of destruction against the international orders that are supposed to be the one with the UN as its center. The fact that the government of Japan supported the war of aggression by the US and UK governments shows its priority on the US-Japan Security Treaty and contradicts the UN centered international policy. Weapons of mass destruction, the pretext used for the start of the war have never been found, and there is a growing international criticism in regard to the justification on the use of forces in Iraq.

The Iraq war is a war of aggression by the US and UK, and their military occupation is clearly a violation of laws. The Special Legislation enables SDF to be dispatched in order to support "reconstruction under military occupation." This is clearly contradictory to the spirit of the Japanese Constitution. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Koizumi obstinately insists, "The dispatch of SDF goes along with the spirit of the Constitution." Yet, even the US military authority says, "It is hard to distinguish combat areas and non-combat areas." The dispatch of SDF is clearly a violation of the Constitution.

On November 25, JRU already called for canceling the dispatch of SDF to the Prime Minister Koizumi. After that, the worst scenario came true and the two Japanese diplomats were killed in Iraq. In spite of this tragedy, the government finalized the Basic Plan for dispatching SDF to Iraq.

Now is the time for the government to abide by the Peace Constitution, and in stead of dispatching SDF, appeal a peaceful solution on international conflicts to the people in the world to establish a respectable position in the international society. JRU strongly appeals our demand to the society that we should make efforts on humanitarian and reconstruction support as well as economic aid under the supervision of the UN. We urge the government to cancel the Basic Plan, while we are determined to fight for stopping the SDF dispatch to Iraq.

Japan Confederation of Railway Workers Unions