Religious leaders want ´peace clause´ kept in Japan´s constitution
- Japan
- December 08 2009
Asian religious leaders have pledged to continue supporting retention of the article in Japan´s constitution that prohibits the country from building up its military forces or going to war.
Bishop Michael Matsuura Goro speaking at the conference
"Many people from different religions appreciate the value of Article 9," said Auxiliary Bishop Michael Matsuura Goro of Osaka, president of the Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace.
The prelate, together with about 80 other religious representatives from eight Asian countries and territories attended a Dec. 1-4 interreligious conference on the issue. They included participants from Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
The National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), together with non-member Protestant Churches, the Catholic Church, local Buddhists and the indigenous Won-Buddhist religion hosted the "Second Asia Inter-religious Conference on Article 9 of the Japanese Peace Constitution."
"It is very meaningful for participants, especially the Japanese, to have the meeting in Seoul, because Koreans suffered under Japan´s colonial rule," Bishop Matsuura said. "When participants go back to their country, they will transmit the message of Article 9 and identify their own peace issues."
The Japanese government faces mounting pressure from conservative groups in the country to change Article 9, which Japan included in its post-World War II constitution at the insistence of the victors.
The article states that Japan will not maintain land, sea and air forces to wage war, and that the Japanese people "forever renounce war" or use of force as a means of settling international disputes. However, Japan does have official air, ground and maritime Self-Defense Forces.
Reverend Hwang Phil-kyu, director of the NCCK Justice and Peace Committee, noted that the collective effort to protect Article 9 is "small but significant," since many participants "hope and seek solidarity to keep peace in the world."
He suggested that South Korea needs a similar article in its constitution after sending troops to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Sister Filo Hirota, a member of the Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace, said participants at this meeting discussed expanding the concepts in Article 9 to areas such as poverty eradication and environmental protection.
The first interreligious conference on Article 9 took place in Tokyo in 2007.
At the end of the Seoul conference, participants released a mission statement, pointing out that although the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Japan is no longer in power, the threat to revise Article 9 still remains.
In 2005, the LDP publicized its draft for a revision of the constitution, which included removing the Article 9 clauses stating that the "Japanese people forever renounce war" and that the "right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized."
Two years earlier, then-prime minister Junichiro Koizumi dispatched SDF units to assist in the US-led war against Iraq.
The mission statement points out that the existence and activities of the Self-Defense Forces and the US armed forces in Japan "strips Article 9 of its essential message."
During the conference, participants joined a street rally for former "comfort women," whom the Japanese army used as sex slaves during the World War II.
Bishop Michael Matsuura Goro speaking at the conference
"Many people from different religions appreciate the value of Article 9," said Auxiliary Bishop Michael Matsuura Goro of Osaka, president of the Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace.
The prelate, together with about 80 other religious representatives from eight Asian countries and territories attended a Dec. 1-4 interreligious conference on the issue. They included participants from Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
The National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), together with non-member Protestant Churches, the Catholic Church, local Buddhists and the indigenous Won-Buddhist religion hosted the "Second Asia Inter-religious Conference on Article 9 of the Japanese Peace Constitution."
"It is very meaningful for participants, especially the Japanese, to have the meeting in Seoul, because Koreans suffered under Japan´s colonial rule," Bishop Matsuura said. "When participants go back to their country, they will transmit the message of Article 9 and identify their own peace issues."
The Japanese government faces mounting pressure from conservative groups in the country to change Article 9, which Japan included in its post-World War II constitution at the insistence of the victors.
The article states that Japan will not maintain land, sea and air forces to wage war, and that the Japanese people "forever renounce war" or use of force as a means of settling international disputes. However, Japan does have official air, ground and maritime Self-Defense Forces.
Reverend Hwang Phil-kyu, director of the NCCK Justice and Peace Committee, noted that the collective effort to protect Article 9 is "small but significant," since many participants "hope and seek solidarity to keep peace in the world."
He suggested that South Korea needs a similar article in its constitution after sending troops to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Sister Filo Hirota, a member of the Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace, said participants at this meeting discussed expanding the concepts in Article 9 to areas such as poverty eradication and environmental protection.
The first interreligious conference on Article 9 took place in Tokyo in 2007.
At the end of the Seoul conference, participants released a mission statement, pointing out that although the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Japan is no longer in power, the threat to revise Article 9 still remains.
In 2005, the LDP publicized its draft for a revision of the constitution, which included removing the Article 9 clauses stating that the "Japanese people forever renounce war" and that the "right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized."
Two years earlier, then-prime minister Junichiro Koizumi dispatched SDF units to assist in the US-led war against Iraq.
The mission statement points out that the existence and activities of the Self-Defense Forces and the US armed forces in Japan "strips Article 9 of its essential message."
During the conference, participants joined a street rally for former "comfort women," whom the Japanese army used as sex slaves during the World War II.
