From left top row clockwise, Morihiro Hosokawa, Tsutomu Hata, Tomiichi Murayama, Naoto Kan and Yukio Hatoyama (Asahi Shimbun file photos)
Five former prime ministers expressed their opposition to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s security bills being discussed in the Upper House that would vastly expand the role of the Self-Defense Forces overseas.
“I believe Japan should be the rare country that is unable to engage in warfare,” former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said in a written statement, calling for a war-free Japan.
A group of 51 retired media officials released the five politicians’ statements on the legislation on Aug. 11. The documents have also been sent to Abe.
The group protesting Abe’s plan to extend the scope of SDF activities asked former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone and his 11 successors to voice their opinions on the issue in July, and presented responses from the previous prime ministers who responded to the request by Aug. 11.
Along with Hatoyama, the others are Morihiro Hosokawa, Tsutomu Hata, Tomiichi Murayama and Naoto Kan. None belonged to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party when serving as prime minister.
In the statements, all expressed opposition to the security legislation, with one calling for modification of the Constitution if Abe hopes to allow the SDF to exercise the right to collective self-defense.
Another comment said there would be risks of arbitrary applications of the legislation, if the bills pass the Diet.
“Article 9 of the Constitution represents a promise with the international community that Japan would never repeat its wrongdoing,” Hata said in his dictated comments.
Hata concluded his statement with the sentence: “Save Japan from Prime Minister Abe.”
Hosokawa referred to the Abe administration’s reinterpretation of the Constitution by saying, “The act symbolizes (Abe’s) lack of respect for constitutionalism.”
Meanwhile, Murayama said, “It is unacceptable that (Abe) disregards the feelings of Japanese nationals and proceeds with his plan by force (of numbers).”
Kan criticized the current prime minister for placing a higher priority on his own personal desires to fulfill the wishes of his grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, than the future of the country.