Top Story: 17. April 2009
Love for 9th Article
By Editor in Chief, Jaakko Saari
This season of falling sakura is good time to take look of the situation Japan faces concerning the 9th article of Japanese constitution.
9th article is the pasifistic article in Japanese law, which defines Japan as a peaceful country which will never exercise it's arms. 9th article is embodiment of peace. In practise, 9th article defines Japan as a country which cannot join another country's war. Literally it says that Japan's self defence force cannot be used as "“means of settling international disputes”. The self defence force in Japan is strictly for it's own protection, period.
However, when USA started it's war on terrorism in 2001, Koizumi awaked public fears in Japan regarding the 9/11 attack, and got a new legistlation passed on October 29. This legistlation allows Japan's self defence force to be used to provide "logistical support" for US actions against terrorism.
Nowadays the words "peace" and "pasifism" are hardly heard. It almost seems if people have forgotten the 9th article entirely. Mass media in Japan has never done good job of promoting the 9th article or none of these matters. North Korea is seen as threat, sure, and United States is a savior of Japan with it's missiles.
9th article however might be Japan's only way to keep it's independence and freedom. I'm sure that United States would like to see Japan changing this part of it's constitution so that they could utilisize Japan's resources more for their use.
Now that there is talk about countries such as North Korea, one must wonder how long this last petal can cling to the tree. Can Japan really stay free, peace loving country?
USA has various kinds of armed forces stationed in Japan, including nuclear powered vessels, and possibly nuclear weapons. The complaints and fears of local Japanese people have never been properly heard. Few years ago, a bullet from heavy machine gun escaped the US training camp and penetrated a civilian house, leaving a young girl injured. She was merely watching a TV in her house when the bullet went through the wall, and her thigh. There was another incident of US marine raping a 14 years old Okinawan girl. Air vehicle and maritime vessel crashes, accidents, incidents, harmful events, crimes.. Given these facts, it strikes me very odd that nothing can be done to improve the situation.
It cannot be said that Japan's own self defence force would be poorly armed. In fact, Japan has one of the most advanced and heavy armament in the world, including Atago destroyers and F15 fighter planes. The pacifist constitution defines Japan's self defence force as an extension of national police, a keeper of peace, and yet we see them being dispatched to coast of Africa to protect civil vessels. Can police do that?
Let's take a look at Japan's defence policy. It states following tasks.
"ARTICLE 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
(2) In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.
1. Maintaining an exclusive defense-oriented policy.
2. To avoid becoming a major military power that might pose a threat to the world.
3, Refraining from the development of nuclear weapons, and to refuse to allow nuclear weapons inside Japanese territory.
4. Ensuring civilian control of the military.
5. Maintaining security arrangements with the United States.
6. Building up defensive capabilities within moderate limits.
It is interesting is that this defence policy does not mention it's peace-keeping operations or aid-missions, such as in Indonesia during Tsunami crises. It does not mention the aid self defence force has given in yearly snow festival in Sapporo where the SDF equipment is used to build snow castles. When I look at this policy, it would seem to me that Japan's Self Defence force itself exists because of the arrangements with United States, not for the protection of Japan, which isn't even mentioned in the list. It seems that the policy is "to sit quiet and do nothing".
They should also add "avoiding collisions with civilian maritime vessels" to the list, and this is not irony.
Many see that if Japan is to keep it's 9th article, Japan must reduce it's own armaments, and find a way to get rid of the US military bases in Japanese soil. Many would also agree that for any country, 9th article simply is the right thing to do. Harming another human being is wrong.
We are living in 21st century and we must abolish the army and war. And there is no war in Japan. Although mass media wants us to think otherwise, the truth is that there is no threat from another countries, or even from North Korea.
Japan has a chance to become a true country of peace and abolish it's armaments and military connections with United States of America. 9th article is a key for happiness and peace of citizens of Japan.
I really wish Japan will continue to keep it's most important part of constitution which serves as a right to believe to peace.
The Mojority of Japanese people support 9th
article of The Japanese Constiyution.
However, LDP party of Japan is quite similar
with Republican Party of USA and majority of
LDP People's minds are RIGHTEST.
To our regret, The Minister of General Affaiars Dept. is controlling many Medias
especially NHK, and Press Club of Japan is
very close to the LDP party, and trying to
miss lead the citizen.
The only chance that the 9th article can
be valued again is to make LDP as looser
of next General Election.
Why don't we unite Peace Loving People
within this Globe ?
Very best regards,
International Business, Migration Consultant
A. S. J A P A N I N C.
Tommy T. KANEKO