CAMPAIGN IN JAPAN TO MAKE WAR LEGAL
- A move i8 on foot in Japan to change the constitution so as to ‘ake it legal for the country to engage in another war.
The drive is being mounted by the Liberal-~Democratic party's “Constitution Research Council." It has prepared a booklet which argues the need for the amendments. ,
Three objectives are listed by the modernizers who hold that the constitution imposed on Japan after the defeat in World War ITI has become antiquated.
Under Article 9 Japan renounced war once and for all... This does not fit the prevalent international situation, the “new think" group contend. «They hold that the article should be deleted and one inserted about "peace maintenance, national defense and military actions,"
Article 41 provides that the Diet is the highest institution
of government power. -This should be deleted and replaced by some= thing putting the administrative, legislative and judicial powers on an equal: plane. The change would, of course, facilitate elevating the Mikado to his former divine role.
The third point is that the constitution is too broad about safeguarding human rights. These should be restricted, the modernizers contend, "when national interests are involved, ar? Obligations of citizens should be listed such as “abiding by the law, t loyalty to the state," a rety to national defense," and "duty to observe state secrets.
"