Nationwide A9A No to Using the Right to Collective Self-Defense

Uploaded on November 4th, 2014 English Edition No. 126

Nationwide A9A “No” to using the Right to Collective Self-defense

A9A Secretariat Press Conference held

On September 30th,the A9A secretariat held a press conference to about the appeal made by the founders on July 5th to all A9A groups in Japan to raise their voices and disallow government attempts to make Japan into a country which could potentially go to war. The Secretariat announced an October campaign for expressing public dissent to the cabinet decision to define and activate the right to collective self-defense.

Strong response to September Campaign

In the press conference, Secretary General Komori Yoichi reported that despite the short notice, response to the July 5 call for a September campaign gained a strong response from A9A groups around the nation. In the midst of growing tension, mushrooming new local groups and groups coming back online are creating a cascade of advertisements, all kinds of study and learning sessions, and petition drives. Komori declared that the Secretariat would link arms with associations across the nation.

An October 10th seminar will respond to government and cabinet actions (See below for information) and on November 24 results of the Special September campaign will be shared at the “A9A: Meeting and Marching to stand against Abe Government ConstitutionalAmendment.” Komori and secretariat members Toshio Kawamura and Ken Takada displayed their latest poster, designed to express opposition to activation of the Right to Collective Self Defense. This poster is hoped to raise public awareness of this issue across the nation.

The press conference concluded with a question and answer session on local initiatives that could make a difference in the public awareness of this issue.

Here are reports of daily activities from prefecture-level A9A groups.

Toyama group

The Toyama Prefecture Intergroup Liaison Committee (Renrakukai) had their first meeting of representatives from groups around the prefecture on September 20th at theA9A prefectural office in Toyama. Representatives discussed response to the A9A Secretariat propositions, and agreed on campaignsto oppose Constitutional Amendment. Representatives from three A9As which had suspended operations reactivated to attend the meeting.

Discussion centered first on government moves. Members reviewed the fact that only nineteen cabinet members confirmed the interpretation of the Constitution to allow the use of the Right to Collective Self-Defense; even at the cabinet level, the interpretation was pushed through with a great deal of effort. Members confirmed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’ stated desire to ‘escape from the postwar regime’ may include a demon’s whisper within its perimeters: a return to the former Empire System or a Ruling Emperor State, in which a sovereign emperor controls the government, commands the army and could potentially promotewars of invasion. Discussion included North Korea issues: That country has targeted nuclear reactors on the Japan Sea with MRBMs (medium range ballistic missiles). At such a time it seems close to insanity to change Japan into a potentially ‘aggressor’ state. Discussion noted other factors behind Abe’s runaway politics, including the existence of hawks and an association called the Japan Conference.

The meeting concluded with the statement: “Now is the time when we must fight for Article Nine and against the reform of the Constitution. This is a must-win battle. In the discussion, we agreed that we would share ideas, devise ways, cooperate, and collaborate in high spirits to address this major campaign to stand against Constitutional Reform.”

Details of campaign and activities proposed by the Toyama A9A:

(1) The “Big Constitutional Campaign” will run from October to March. During the campaign period, groups will join the nation-wide October campaign. Further activities will extend from November to March.

2)Promotional strategy will consist of a two-pronged initiative: a petition drive for A9A and magnet stickers. There will be study meetings on the Constitution, and finally an exchange meeting in March to report and reflect on the campaign.

Shiga group

Shiga Prefecture A9A Resolve【Shiga A9A】The ShigaPrefectural A9A has decided on campaign period from September to April. During the campaign they plan to reinforce A9A initiatives and enhance the new initiatives already happening around the prefecture, with an exchange and coordination meeting to be held in November.

Shiga efforts include the successful defeat in the gubernatorial election (July 2014) of the LDP candidate. This spurred the growth of the A9A, with many new groups and others resuming activity.

Shiga A9A declares that they plan to “mobilize A9As and enhance activity from September to April!” The group states that “onJuly 1st, Prime MinisterShinzo Abe forced cabinet approval of the use of the Right to Collective Self-Defense in the face ofthe protests of many people. In response, on July 5th,the A9A Secretariat urged A9As around the nation to take initiative and create innovative and ingenious actions to stand up to the government approval of the use of the Right to Collective Self-Defense.”

“We, A9A Shiga, recognize that now is the time to demonstrate importance the Constitution. We have decided to mark the gubernatorial elections in Fukushima (October) and Okinawa (November) and raise consciousness during the lead-in period to the nationwide local government elections, which will be held next spring.

We will not only have petition drives and street promotion activities where appropriate; we will organize study sessions to expand awareness of how dangerous Abe’s ambition can be to the local citizens. We will prepare promotional items such as flags, pamphlets, DVDs sharing war experience, and we will coordinate potential lecturers so that issues may be addressed as part of our activity any time.

We will hold a study, exchange and coordination meeting on November 29thfor professional and workplace A9A groups.

Newly-born A9Asare given as follows.

Hirado

On July 20, Hirado A9A started in the city of Hirado with a lecture meeting by Constitutional Lawyer Kasumi Sagara: “Against the reinterpretation of the second paragraph of Article 9.”

Tokyo Keizai University

The planning meeting by current members, mostly Alumni/ae, was held to found a group with a wider range. The group hopes to welcome interested faculty members and current students of the University.

Iwai City, Wakayama

The group is preparing to launch a A9A Yamazaki Kita in the city of Iwai. They sent a request for promotional pamphlets to the Secretariat.

City of Matsudo, Chiba

Areas close to Edogawa in Matsudo (a part of Chiba neighboring Tokyo) plan to set up the Matsudo A9A Arinomi.The name has an interesting origin. The word for Asian pear, nashi, has the same pronunciation as the word for ‘nothing’nashi although the characters are different. A more ‘positive’ name for Asian pears in Japan is ari-no-mi, arimeaning ‘existence’ or ‘to be’, the opposite of ‘nothing’, and mi being fruit or seed. The Asian pear breed “20thCentury” was originated in this area.

Oi-Cho, Kanagawa

At the organization meeting before the kick-off of this group, members frankly expressed their mixed feelings about Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. The meeting, held on September 10, resulted in an invitation to Minami Ashigara A9A members Ms. Oishi and Mr. Sugiyama to share their experiences.The group will officially begin activities with a founding meeting on October 29th

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