National News

'Epoch-making' war contingency bills endorsed by Lower House

A set of government-sponsored war contingency bills were endorsed by the full Lower House in a plenary session vote May 15, paving the way for their likely enactment by the Diet by the end of the current session of the legislature in mid-June.

An agreement was reached May 13 between the ruling coalition and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) amending part of the bills. The following day, the Liberal Party, another opposition force, reversed its stance and voted for the bills at the request of the DPJ.

Among the major political parties, only members of the Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party voted against the bills.

The two parties had called for more time to deliberate the bills, saying that it is too early to vote on them.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hailed the endorsement of the bills as "Epoch-making," saying he has long tried to gain consensus from as many parties as possible on the war contingency legislation.

The three separate bills define Japan's response to enemy attacks and are the first such legislation for the nation since the end of World War II. They would empower the government to mobilize the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to cope with "a military attack situation."

One bill allows the SDF to seize land and other property for its own operations. It also exempts the SDF from various legal procedures to expand the scope of its activities in battlefields.

Another bill would allow the central government to give orders to local governments and designated public organizations in wartime. It would also require the central government to draw up basic emergency guidelines and prepare another package of bills to protect people's lives and rights during "a military attack situation."

The last of the three bills would add more members and roles to a security council to serve under the prime minister.

Shukan ST: May 23, 2003

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