Japanese activists take to the streets

IssueDecember 2002 - February 2003
News by PN staff

In October, the Kansai Antiwar Joint Action Group, a Japanese peace movement network, passed a “Resolution Against Aggressive War on Iraq by the Bush Government of US and Against Participation in the War by the Koizumi Government of Japan” and took to the streets of Osaka to show their opposition to proposed military action against Iraq.

They are specifically opposing the deployment of Japanese naval fleets in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, which they believe would be used to provide US forces with military support for any attack.

The campaigners are also protesting against the presence of US military bases in Japan and their potential use in waging what they consider to be an illegitimate war against Iraq.

The group firmly sees itself as part of an international anti-war movement.