LDP revises Article 9 in draft Constitution
Official OK for military force sought
By TETSUSHI KAJIMOTO
Staff writer
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday endorsed a new draft Constitution featuring a rewritten version of war-renouncing Article 9 that would officially allow the nation to possess a military for self-defense. The draft was compiled by the LDP's Constitution drafting committee. It was endorsed during a meeting of the LDP's Executive Council, the party's top-decision making body, following its endorsement at the drafting committee's general assembly earlier in the day. The Democratic Party of Japan, the nation's main opposition force, is planning to present its preliminary draft for a revised Constitution on Monday. The LDP's move is thus likely to accelerate ongoing debate over possible revisions to the Constitution, which has remained intact since its creation after World War II. The LDP's draft constitution retains Clause 1 of the original Article 9, which stipulates that the nation renounces war as a means of settling international disputes. But Clause 2, which prohibits the nation from possessing a military, has been deleted. The LDP is planning to unveil the draft Constitution on the upcoming occasion of the party's 50th anniversary, which will be marked on Nov. 22. The draft also spells out that the nation will maintain a "self-defense military," with the prime minister serving as the supreme commander tasked with ensuring the nation's peace and independence, along with the people's safety. The self-defense military would also be allowed to engage in activities aimed at maintaining public order and protecting people's lives and freedom in emergencies, as well as to help secure international peace and safety, according to the draft. Controls over the military, as well as its formation and the exercising of its right to self-defense and collective defense, will be stipulated by subordinate laws that will be mapped out later, according to a drafting committee member. Earlier in the day, the draft's wording on two of the most sensitive passages -- Article 9, including the naming of the military, and the preamble -- was approved during a meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who heads the LDP's new Constitution enactment headquarters, and former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who chairs the drafting committee. The preamble of the draft was originally drafted by former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who chairs a subcommittee on the issue. But some members were critical of Nakasone's version on the grounds that it asserted patriotism too strongly and was subjective in its views of Japanese history. As a result, in the final draft, the preamble stipulates that "the Japanese people jointly hold an obligation to support and protect their country and society with affection, a sense of responsibility and spirit." The preamble also stipulates that the Emperor shall remain the symbol of the state and states that basic principles regarding the sovereignty of the people, democracy, liberalism, respect for basic human rights, pacifism and international cooperation should be maintained as everlasting values. The new draft also features five types of individual rights not stated in the current Constitution pertaining to government information, intellectual property, the environment, personal data protection and dignified treatment for disabled people and crime victims. Article 20 of the Constitution prohibits the nation and its organs from carrying out religious education and any other religious activity. The LDP's draft prohibits the nation and public organs from engaging in religious education or any other religious activity that will lead to support for or interference with a specific religion beyond the scope of social courtesy, manners and customs. The Japan Times: Oct. 29, 2005
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Gestern hat die regierende Liberaldemokratische Partei (LDP) einen Vorschlag zur Änderung der japanischen Verfassung verabschiedet. Darin wird unter anderem Artikel 9 geändert, in dem sich das Land zum Pazifismus verpflichtet.

Dabei geht es um Absatz 2, in dem Japan sich das Recht abspricht, ein Militär zu unterhalten. Der Vorschlag enthält diesen Absatz nicht mehr. Dafür soll ein „Selbstverteidigungsmilitär“ geschaffen werden, dessen Oberkommando beim Premierminister liegt. In der Praxis hat das Land bereits eingeschränkte Selbstverteidigungsstreitkräfte, die offiziell nie als Militär bezeichnet werden.

Daneben beinhaltet der Entwurf noch weitere Änderungen. Unter anderem werden fünf neue Grundrechte genannt, darunter Datenschutz und Schutz von Behinderten.

Die oppositionelle Demokratische Partei Japans (DPJ) hat angekündigt, am kommenden Montag, den 31. Oktober eigene Reformvorschläge zu veröffentlichen.