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NEWS & LETTERS, July 2002
Japanese militarismTokyo—Over 60,000 Japanese rallied against Japan's
increase in militarization on June 16. In the largest demonstration in over a
decade, union, church, Buddhist, student, Korean, Taiwanese, nurse, and anti-globalist
groups all rallied against the government's hope for an end to Article 9 of the
Japanese constitution. The bill, "Yugi Hosei," consists of three
laws, which, if passed, would mean that the government can engage in war
overseas at will, has the right to censor anything it pleases through total
media regulation, and can order all public and private institutions to help in
any war effort. This includes individuals like nurses who, if they oppose
helping in a war, will be fined or sent to jail. This comes at a time when U.S. President Bush urges
Japan to do more in the fight against terrorism. But, Yugi Hosei doesn't simply
give the Japanese people the right to defend themselves; it gives the government
the right to do whatever it pleases. The Japanese Self-Defense Army has become more powerful
as more militaristic laws have been passed. In 1992, the Japanese army went to
Cambodia for a peacekeeping mission equipped with guns. It was the first time
the army was allowed overseas and 50,000 Japanese protested. Now, Japanese
troops are in Afghanistan with guns and in a war. Though they are not allowed to
fight, this marks the first time since World War II that Japanese soldiers are
involved in a war. Since September 11, the U.S. has been encouraging
Koizumi, Japan's prime minister, to do more for the "international effort
against terrorism." This translates into more military power for the
Japanese army. Many countries, like the Philippines, Taiwan, China, North Korea,
Burma, and Indonesia fear this increase in power could turn into more Japanese
domination in Asia. These countries and more have never been compensated or
apologized to for the Japanese government's crimes against humanity during World
War II. Most people in Japan have no qualms about an army for
defense. But knowing their government's history and the details of Yugi Hosei,
most oppose the law. Recently, it was found that the Dept. of Defense was
creating a blacklist of NGOs and liberal/radical groups, many against Yugi Hosei.
The scandal made the bill so controversial that it was shot down. But it is
likely to return and, with a largely conservative Diet, it could pass. —Jennifer |
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