ID :
29685
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 23:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/29685
The shortlink copeid
Ex-ASDF general Tamogami calls in Diet for revising Constitution
TOKYO, Nov. 11 Kyodo - Former air force chief Toshio Tamogami called for revising the U.S.-drafted Constitution on Tuesday during a parliamentary session he attended as an
unsworn witness to testify about his controversial essay on Japan's role in
World War II.
Tamogami also pressed his case over the essay, in which he claimed Japan had
not been a wartime aggressor in other Asian countries, and complained about his
dismissal as the Air Self-Defense Force's chief of staff on Oct. 31 during a
closely watched 160-minute session in the House of Councillors.
Tamogami's unapologetic stance on the issue prompted the opposition camp to
step up its attacks on Prime Minister Taro Aso, making it more uncertain
whether a bill to continue Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean can
clear parliament at an early date.
''It is better to fix an issue on which such a big difference of opinion exists
in relation to national defense,'' Tamogami told the upper house's Committee on
Foreign Affairs and Defense.
Tamogami, 60, did not elaborate but it is believed he was referring to
differences over legal interpretations of Japan's Constitution, which renounces
war and the possession of armed forces as a means of settling international
disputes.
Tamogami testified before the committee as a rare witness, having left the
Self-Defense Forces as a top officer shortly beforehand, and faced a barrage of
questions and criticism from opposition lawmakers who dominated the panel.
At the outset of the session, Committee Chairman Toshimi Kitazawa from the main
opposition Democratic Party of Japan told Tamogami, ''This is not a place where
you can express political opinions.''
The former general told the panel, ''I don't think there is anything (in the
essay) that goes beyond the government's position.''
Tamogami complained about his dismissal over the essay, saying, ''It seems odd
that the government is trying to control free speech by SDF personnel because
of the position of successive governments.''
''I was fired after saying Japan is a good country...It's a bit strange,''
Tamogami said.
Aso told reporters after the testimonies, ''Needless to say, everybody has
freedom of speech...But it (the essay) was inappropriate as remarks by a person
who holds key posts such as a chief of staff in the SDF. That's all.''
Tamogami said he has no intention of voluntarily returning a retirement
allowance worth some 60 million yen, despite growing calls for him to do so
from some even in Aso's ruling coalition. The Defense Ministry has yet to pay
the benefit.
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada reiterated to the panel that he sacked
Tamogami as ASDF chief because Tamogami's essay contains views clearly
contradictory to the position of successive governments.
Opposition lawmakers including Keiichiro Asao, the defense minister in the
DPJ's shadow Cabinet, blasted Hamada for allowing Tamogami to leave the
ministry with a status that enables to receive the retirement allowance.
The opposition lawmakers said Hamada should have punished Tamogami even if it
took the ministry a long time to do so.
Hamada defended the decision, saying, ''We made the judgment thinking it would
be the fastest way for us to lead him to leave.''
Tamogami admitted he had informed the Education Division of the ministry's Air
Staff Office of the existence of an essay competition effectively organized by
a friend of his.
The division chief then notified ASDF units across Japan in May of the
competition, organized by hotel and condominium developer Apa Group under the
theme ''True Modern Historical Perspectives,'' according to Vice Defense
Minister Kohei Masuda.
Of the 235 participants in the contest, 94 were from the ASDF. The high ratio
has fueled suspicion that ASDF personnel authored and submitted essays on the
political theme in an orchestrated way.
But during the upper house committee session, Tamogami denied he told a
subordinate to encourage ASDF personnel to submit essays in the competition.
Tamogami won the top prize of 3 million yen in the competition with the
controversial essay.
In the essay, Tamogami also challenged the restrictions on the SDF's use of
arms overseas and the ban on the exercise of collective self-defense -- or
helping an ally militarily -- under the pacifist Constitution.
Tamogami left the ministry after being demoted to the rank of lieutenant
general on Nov. 3.
==Kyodo
unsworn witness to testify about his controversial essay on Japan's role in
World War II.
Tamogami also pressed his case over the essay, in which he claimed Japan had
not been a wartime aggressor in other Asian countries, and complained about his
dismissal as the Air Self-Defense Force's chief of staff on Oct. 31 during a
closely watched 160-minute session in the House of Councillors.
Tamogami's unapologetic stance on the issue prompted the opposition camp to
step up its attacks on Prime Minister Taro Aso, making it more uncertain
whether a bill to continue Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean can
clear parliament at an early date.
''It is better to fix an issue on which such a big difference of opinion exists
in relation to national defense,'' Tamogami told the upper house's Committee on
Foreign Affairs and Defense.
Tamogami, 60, did not elaborate but it is believed he was referring to
differences over legal interpretations of Japan's Constitution, which renounces
war and the possession of armed forces as a means of settling international
disputes.
Tamogami testified before the committee as a rare witness, having left the
Self-Defense Forces as a top officer shortly beforehand, and faced a barrage of
questions and criticism from opposition lawmakers who dominated the panel.
At the outset of the session, Committee Chairman Toshimi Kitazawa from the main
opposition Democratic Party of Japan told Tamogami, ''This is not a place where
you can express political opinions.''
The former general told the panel, ''I don't think there is anything (in the
essay) that goes beyond the government's position.''
Tamogami complained about his dismissal over the essay, saying, ''It seems odd
that the government is trying to control free speech by SDF personnel because
of the position of successive governments.''
''I was fired after saying Japan is a good country...It's a bit strange,''
Tamogami said.
Aso told reporters after the testimonies, ''Needless to say, everybody has
freedom of speech...But it (the essay) was inappropriate as remarks by a person
who holds key posts such as a chief of staff in the SDF. That's all.''
Tamogami said he has no intention of voluntarily returning a retirement
allowance worth some 60 million yen, despite growing calls for him to do so
from some even in Aso's ruling coalition. The Defense Ministry has yet to pay
the benefit.
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada reiterated to the panel that he sacked
Tamogami as ASDF chief because Tamogami's essay contains views clearly
contradictory to the position of successive governments.
Opposition lawmakers including Keiichiro Asao, the defense minister in the
DPJ's shadow Cabinet, blasted Hamada for allowing Tamogami to leave the
ministry with a status that enables to receive the retirement allowance.
The opposition lawmakers said Hamada should have punished Tamogami even if it
took the ministry a long time to do so.
Hamada defended the decision, saying, ''We made the judgment thinking it would
be the fastest way for us to lead him to leave.''
Tamogami admitted he had informed the Education Division of the ministry's Air
Staff Office of the existence of an essay competition effectively organized by
a friend of his.
The division chief then notified ASDF units across Japan in May of the
competition, organized by hotel and condominium developer Apa Group under the
theme ''True Modern Historical Perspectives,'' according to Vice Defense
Minister Kohei Masuda.
Of the 235 participants in the contest, 94 were from the ASDF. The high ratio
has fueled suspicion that ASDF personnel authored and submitted essays on the
political theme in an orchestrated way.
But during the upper house committee session, Tamogami denied he told a
subordinate to encourage ASDF personnel to submit essays in the competition.
Tamogami won the top prize of 3 million yen in the competition with the
controversial essay.
In the essay, Tamogami also challenged the restrictions on the SDF's use of
arms overseas and the ban on the exercise of collective self-defense -- or
helping an ally militarily -- under the pacifist Constitution.
Tamogami left the ministry after being demoted to the rank of lieutenant
general on Nov. 3.
==Kyodo
