Global Peace Campaign (Japan) – 2004-05-22 12:37:28

http://www.envirosagainstwar.org/edit/index.php?op=edit&itemid=1457

The Japan-based Global Peace Campaign is supporting an online petition asking for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to withdraw the country’s Self-Defense Force troops from Iraq — and to protect Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution.Once 20,000 signatures have been received, the Global Peace Campaign will deliver them directly to Prime Minister Koizumi’s office.

You can find the online petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/964698665

Japanese SDF Out of Iraq: Protect Article 9!
A Letter to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi

Dear Prime Minister Koizumi:

We, the concerned citizens of the world, stand together in opposing Japan’s dispatch of “Self-Defense Forces” to Iraq. We are united in urging you to immediately and unconditionally withdraw all SDF troops from Iraq and return them to Japan.

At the same time, we stand together for peace and in support of Japan’s Constitution, which prohibits Japan from even having military forces in the first place. The two paragraphs of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, adopted in 1947, read in whole:

“Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.”

“In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized”!

What is recognized around the globe, however, is that Japan’s “Peace Constitution” is an international treasure and a model for all peace-loving nations to follow. We urge you to do everything you can to protect and honor the spirit and letter of Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution.

And once more, Prime Minister Koizumi, we concerned citizens of the world demand that Japan withdraw all SDF troops from Iraq, immediately and unconditionally.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned,

Information on the Global Peace Campaign is available at its website: http://www.peace2001.org/