TOKYO, 21 January 2004 — The majority of Japanese oppose the deployment of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) troops to Iraq, according to a poll conducted by Kyodo News over the weekend. The news agency reported that out of 1,084 randomly selected eligible voters, 51.6 percent were opposed to the SDF dispatch, while 42.8 percent were for it.
This poll was taken just as an advance team of Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) personnel arrived in Kuwait to begin preparations for the scheduled dispatch of the main contingent of GSDF troops, which will provide water supplies and medical aid in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah.
A Russian transport plane arrived Sunday in Kuwait carrying armored vehicles to be used by the GSDF. The chartered Antonov-124 plane transported eight light-armored vehicles, firearms, ammunition and communications equipment from Hokaido to Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base next to Kuwait International Airport.
The first group of the main contingent may go to Samawah later this month for the humanitarian operations to support reconstruction of the previously war-torn country.
Meanwhile, the survey showed that the approval rating for Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his Cabinet was at 52.5 percent, up 8.7 percent from a similar survey in early December. Koizumi’s aides say the rise in the Cabinet approval rating reflects public appreciation of efforts by the prime minister to explain the importance of the troop dispatch, as well as growing signs of economic improvement. However 51.6 percent of those polled said they supported Koizumi simply because there were no other appropriate person for the job.
The poll suggests that the dispatch — the first since World War II in which Japanese troops will set foot in a country where hostilities are taking place — could be risky business for Koizumi. Asked what Koizumi should do if death or injury were to befall the Japanese troops in Iraq, 35.9 percent of respondents said Koizumi should step down as prime minister, while 50 percent replied he should bear responsibility, but keep his post as prime minister.
In the event of death or injury to the SDF troops, 53.2 percent of those polled, favored a total withdrawal from Iraq, outnumbering the 41.9 percent that said the troops should remain. Of the respondents who opposed the SDF dispatch to Iraq, 28.6 percent — the largest group — said they are opposed to any overseas dispatch of the SDF, followed by 28.2 percent who cited the danger of the mission stemming from the unstable situation, and 25.6 percent who argued that the war on Iraq itself was unjustified.
Kentaro Hoshino, 37, a civil engineer, told Arab News, “This is not our war, so we have no business being there. Troops from many countries are being killed and injured. It is just matter of time before some tragedy befalls our troops also.”
Masako Higa, 21, a university student, said, “I think Japan has a responsibility to become involved. We should support our prime minister and our troops for as long as they are unharmed. We are there to help. If the Iraqis don’t want our help, then our troops should come back home where they are appreciated.”
