Better rules needed for SDF weapons use

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 9, 2010)
Better rules needed for SDF weapons use
自衛官武器使用　国際活動強化へ権限拡大を（9月8日付・読売社説）

The use of weapons by Self-Defense Forces personnel is an issue that needs to be discussed for Japan to more actively participate in international peacekeeping activities and fulfill roles commensurate with its national power.
　日本が今後、国際平和活動に一層積極的に参加し、国力に応じた役割を果たすには、避けて通れない課題と言えよう。

The government recently decided not to dispatch a Ground Self-Defense Force unit to Sudan for a U.N. peacekeeping mission in the southern part of the country.
　政府は今夏、スーダン南部における国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）への陸上自衛隊の部隊派遣を見送った。

The government cited the difficulty of overland travel and transportation in Africa as grounds for the decision. But it actually was made against a backdrop of the Defense Ministry's increasing wariness of sending SDF members to the area out of security concerns in light of the significant restrictions on the use of weapons by SDF personnel.
　直接の理由は、アフリカでの陸上移動や輸送の困難さなどとされた。だが、背景には、自衛隊員の武器使用の制約が大きいため、防衛省が安全性を懸念し、派遣に慎重になっていることがある。

Working with hands tied

Under current law, SDF personnel are allowed to use weapons during overseas missions, including peacekeeping activities, solely for self-defense when their own lives or the lives of other SDF personnel are threatened.
　自衛隊員は現在、ＰＫＯなどの海外任務の際、法律上、自分や同僚などの正当防衛目的に限ってしか、武器が使用できない。

SDF members are thus prohibited even from firing a warning shot if hostile local forces should obstruct them when they are traveling by car, leaving them no choice but to make detours. When troops of other countries are attacked and seek help from SDF personnel, they will not even be allowed to provide covering fire.
　このため、道路を車で移動中、現地の反対勢力から妨害を受けても、警告射撃さえできず、別の道に迂回(うかい)するしかない。他国の部隊が襲撃され、自衛隊に救援を要請してきても、援護に駆け付けることは許されない。

As it stands, the SDF will not be able to sufficiently carry out many activities or build relationships of trust with units from other countries. In addition, SDF members' lives may be put at risk because of the legal restriction that prevents them from using weapons unless their lives come under immediate threat.
　これでは、効率的な活動ができないし、他国の部隊との信頼関係も築けない。自らの身が危うくならない限り、武器が使用できないという法的制限は、隊員の生命を危険にさらす恐れもある。

The government must review SDF personnel's rights on the use of weapons in line with international standards so as to enable them to use weapons for the purpose of fulfilling their duties.
　自衛隊員の武器使用権限を国際標準に合わせて見直し、任務遂行目的の使用を認めるべきだ。

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada raised the issue in Diet deliberations and at a press conference in mid-March, saying that it may be acceptable to change the conditions under which SDF personnel may use weapons in U.N.-authorized peacekeeping activities.
　岡田外相は３月中旬、国会答弁と記者会見で、「国連で認められたＰＫＯであれば、武器使用が許される範囲を変えていいのではないか」と問題提起した。

Despite his proposal, the government led by the Democratic Party of Japan stopped short of reviewing the SDF members' right to use weapons in consideration of its now former junior coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party, which is cautious about sending SDF members overseas.
　だが、自衛隊の海外派遣に慎重な社民党が連立政権に参加していたことが大きな制約となり、権限見直しは具体化しなかった。

Consider new rules

In October last year, Okada called for reviewing the government's five conditions on SDF participation in peacekeeping operations under the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law. The five conditions include the right to use weapons, the existence of a truce agreed to by all parties in a conflict and the agreement by the parties in a conflict to the SDF's participation in the peacekeeping mission.
　外相は昨年１０月にも、ＰＫＯ協力法の参加５原則の見直しを提唱している。５原則は、武器使用権限のほか、「紛争当事者間の停戦合意」「自衛隊参加への紛争当事者の同意」などである。

In recent years, however, it has become difficult to identify the parties involved in a conflict in an increasing number of cases. Given this, it can be said that the five principles are out of touch with current realities.
　最近は、紛争当事者の特定が困難な例が増え、５原則が実態に合わなくなっているとされる。

In its election pledges for the House of Councillors election in July, the DPJ proposed considering what forms international contributions by the SDF and Japanese civilians should take to enable Japan to play a greater role in building international peace. The pledge was made with an eye toward reviewing the five principles on peacekeeping activities.
　民主党は、今年７月の参院選公約に「平和構築に役割を果たすため、自衛隊および文民の国際貢献活動のあり方について検討する」と明記した。ＰＫＯ５原則の見直しを念頭に置いたものだ。

An expert panel on the National Defense Program Guidelines also proposed at the end of August expanding the SDF's right to use weapons and reviewing the five conditions on peacekeeping missions.
　防衛大綱改定に関する有識者懇談会も８月末、武器使用権限の拡大と５原則見直しを提言した。

Because the SDP has left the coalition, the government has been freed from one problem. In the divided Diet, in which the ruling bloc controls the House of Representatives while the opposition camp holds a majority in the upper house, the DPJ should seriously consider joining hands with the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, which is positive about reviewing the SDF personnel's right to use of weapons.
　社民党の連立離脱により、一つのハードルはなくなっている。衆参ねじれ国会の下、民主党は、武器使用権限の見直しに前向きな自民党と連携することを真剣に検討してはどうか。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 8, 2010)
（2010年9月8日00時46分 読売新聞）