[R-G] Struggle over bid to extend Japan's role in Afghanistan

[Anthony Fenton]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0911/p99s01-duts.html
Struggle over bid to extend Japan's role in Afghanistan
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to continue logistical support to  
coalition forces.
By Tom A. Peter

from the September 12, 2007 edition

Six years after the 9/11 attacks on the United States, Japan's role  
in Afghanistan is roiling the already struggling administration of  
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. On Sunday, Mr. Abe threatened to resign  
unless the National Diet, Japan's legislative body, agrees to  
continue Japanese operations in support of US troops.

Since nearly the beginning of the US-led war in Afghanistan, Japan  
has participated by offering refueling assistance in the Indian Ocean  
as well as other logistical support. In a March 2007 report by  
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government laid out the  
nation's accomplishments in Afghanistan.

     Japan held the International Conference on Reconstruction  
Assistance to Afghanistan in January 2002 (Tokyo Conference). Since  
then, using approximately US$1.2 billion Official Development  
Assistance and the Maritime Self-Defense Force's support to Maritime  
Interdiction Operation (operation to prevent flow of terrorists and  
arms) in the Indian Ocean as well as other types of aid to the  
country, Japan has coherently given support to the nation-building of  
Afghanistan. Japan also held the First and Second Tokyo Conference on  
Consolidation of Peace in Afghanistan in February 2003 and July 2006.

     The maintenance of stability in Afghanistan supports peace and  
stability in the world as well as the Middle East and Central Asia,  
further contributing to the eradication and prevention of terrorism  
in the international community. As a responsible member of the  
international community, Japan will positively work for the  
reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The Japan Times reports that Abe's remarks about resigning should be  
taken at "face value."

     "I made the remarks with the determination to stake my job on  
and deal with the issue with the utmost effort," Abe said.

     When reporters tried to reconfirm if he truly meant he would  
step down, Abe said, "I believe that's how the respective media  
organizations understood it."

It appears that since Abe's initial ultimatum, he may be showing less  
resolve to step down if he is not successful, reports eFluxMedia, an  
online news source. His opponents have said that "military troops in  
the Middle Eastern country and any other missions would represent a  
violation of the pacifist constitution and foreign policy." On  
Monday, Abe changed his position, remarking that he would remain in  
office to continue finalizing reforms he'd started.

     After seeing he will have a hard time passing a new bill, Abe  
threatened to resign if the government doesn't approve the law. On  
Monday Abe adopted a different stance, saying he [would] stay in  
office and continue reforms initiated.

     The premier said he won't give in under pressure exerted by  
opposition parties who condemn him for failing to end political  
instability plaguing the government.

     "I have decided to stay in office because I need to lead Japan  
out of its postwar regime at all costs," he said.

Even if Abe cannot build a strong-enough coalition to pass the bill  
with a majority in both of Japan's legislative houses, he may be able  
to take advantage of a constitutional clause to force the law into  
effect. The Asahi Shimbun reports that Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru  
Yosano offered one option to Abe that may allow him to out maneuver  
his opponents.

     [Mr.] Yosano touched upon a constitutional provision that allows  
legislation to be passed into law even if the Upper House votes it  
down. If the legislation is resubmitted to the Lower House and passed  
with the support of two-thirds of the attending members, it becomes law.

     Since the ruling coalition controls about two-thirds of the  
seats in the Lower House, that possibility cannot be ruled out.

     "There is no need to think too dramatically about the  
possibility of using that provision," Yosano said. "I believe it is a  
constitutional provision that should be used in a normal manner."

US officials are urging Abe's opponents to continue Japan's support  
role in Afghanistan. The Financial Times reports that President  
George W. Bush has publicly described Japan's role as "absolutely  
essential" to the Afghan effort.

     During talks at the regional Apec summit in Sydney, Mr Bush told  
Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, that Japanese tanker ships had an  
"absolutely essential" role in refueling coalition vessels in the  
Indian Ocean.

     Jim Jeffrey, US deputy national security adviser, said the US  
would be "very, very concerned" if Japanese support disappeared, and  
urged Mr Abe's opponents to "rethink their position".

Abe's struggle to push the Afghan support measure through the  
Japanese legislature reflect his waning base of support. China's  
Xinhua News Agency reports that even before his recent showdown over  
Afghanistan, many people in Japan wanted the prime minister to resign.

     Abe has been under the pressure to quit the post among a series  
of scandals involving his Cabinet ministers earlier this year,  
especially after his party's failure to maintain majority in the  
upper house election in July. The Cabinet reshuffle he then led late  
last month apparently hasn't improved the situation much, with a farm  
minister resigned over fund scandal in less a week after assuming post.

Since Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost control of the  
parliament in July's election, people have been calling for him to  
step down. At the time, The Christian Science Monitor reported that  
Abe said he would resist pressure to resign.

     Despite facing a loss of his parliamentary majority, Abe told  
Japan's Public Television network, NHK, that he is determined to  
continue his efforts to revise Japan's pacifist Constitution and  
reform its educational system to reflect more patriotic views of  
Japanese history.

     "The nation-building has just started," Abe told a television  
reporter. "I would like to deliver on my duty to proceed with reform."

     Meanwhile, LDP Secretary-General Hidenao Nakagawa, told  
reporters on Sunday evening that he intends to resign. While many  
senior executives in the LDP say they want Abe to continue with his  
reform agenda, Japanese media reported on rumors that some party  
members would like Abe to resign.