Stop Another War in the Middle East!
We demand solution through dialogue and withdrawal of Japan’s decision to send SDF personnel to the Middle East

Statemen by Secretary General NOMURA Yukihiro
National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren)
January 8, 2020

The US administration of President Donald Trump on January announced that it killed commander Qasem Soleiman of the Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. It justifies the killing as an act of self-defense against an imminent threat of terrorist attacks without any foundation. No country has a right to kill foreign government officials for any reason whatsoever as such an act is a clear violation of international law. Zenroren strongly protests the US military action taken in disregard of the UN Charter and international laws and demands an end to all military actions.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling for “maximum restraint”. Criticism is rising everywhere throughout the world. People are taking to the streets across the United States calling for “No War with Iran.”

However, the problem has entered a new serious stage. Iran’s state-run TV on the early morning of January 8 reported that the country carried out missile attack on bases of US forces in Iraq, including Ain al-Assad, northwest of Baghdad. This new development could lead to a real war in the region.

The use of military force will only generate a cycle of revenge. Dialogue is the only means of solving disputes. Zenroren strongly demand the US and Iran immediately end all military actions to sit at a table of dialogue.
　
To begin with, the present problem arose following the Trump administration’s decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement. The Trump administration must immediately return to the deal and seek to resolve the problem through political negotiations.
　
Prime Minister ABE Shinzo’s government has tacitly approved the Trump administration’s illegal action and is pushing ahead with the sending of Self-Defense Force personnel to the Middle East despite growing tension in the region. The task should be for Abe administration to urge the US and Iran to halt all their military actions instead of sending Self-Defense Force personnel to the Middle East. It should devote all its efforts to peaceful diplomacy in line with the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution.

No new war must be started in the Middle East. Zenroren strongly call for a solution through dialogue instead of the use of military force. It strongly urges the Abe administration to retract the Cabinet decision to send SDF personnel to the Middle East.

Workers and citizens in Japan are taking part in action throughout the country to call for No War. Zenroren is determined to do its upmost in the forefront of the action to avert another war.