Japan orders ships sent to fight Somali pirates

[unhappycamper]

Japan orders ships sent to fight Somali pirates
By Mari Yamaguchi - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jan 28, 2009 18:03:58 EST

TOKYO — Japan on Wednesday ordered its ships to join the international fight against pirates off the shores of Somalia — a move that has drawn criticism from opposition lawmakers who fear it could draw the country into military operations prohibited by its pacifist constitution.

The post-World War II charter limits Japan’s military to conducting defensive operations. Its naval ships can only be deployed to protect Japanese boats and their crew. Ruling party members have argued that the battle against piracy is more a crime-fighting operation than a military one.

But opposition lawmakers have expressed concern that Japanese ships could be pressed into protecting foreign ships in an emergency.

Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Wednesday the ships were only being sent to protect Japanese commercial vessels — though the government says none have thus far been hijacked. Pirates have fired at three Japanese vessels. No one was injured.

Hamada did not say how many Japanese ships would be sent or when, and said his dispatch order was an interim measure until Parliament passes a formal law outlining the ships’ activities in their mission.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_japan_pirates_012809/%2e