Second self-immolation in Japan opposing Abe’s militarisation plan
15 Nov 2014 4:09 AM IST
A Japanese man set himself on fire, which resulted in his death in Tokyo’s Hibiya Park on Wednesday. He left behind a note in which he expressed protest against the government’s move to relax existing controls on Self-Defense Forces, the name of Japan’s military.
This is the second case of self-immolation since the last incident near Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station in July. The Japanese media reported that the man who lit himself on fire in that case was also protesting Abe’s decision to reinterpret the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution. The public outcry emanating out of these two incidents might weaken Abe’s determination in going forward with his militarization program. He might even face opposition to the militarization move from the US because President Barack Obama is showing signs of accommodating China instead of opposing it.
Abe has been pushing for amending the pacifist constitution and giving proper military powers to the SDF although a large section of Japanese population, who have suffered bombing during World War II, are opposed to remilitarization. The rightist prime minister is also making rule changes that will allow Japan to go to the aid of an ally, which is under attack.
This is the second case of self-immolation since the last incident near Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station in July. The Japanese media reported that the man who lit himself on fire in that case was also protesting Abe’s decision to reinterpret the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution. The public outcry emanating out of these two incidents might weaken Abe’s determination in going forward with his militarization program. He might even face opposition to the militarization move from the US because President Barack Obama is showing signs of accommodating China instead of opposing it.
Abe has been pushing for amending the pacifist constitution and giving proper military powers to the SDF although a large section of Japanese population, who have suffered bombing during World War II, are opposed to remilitarization. The rightist prime minister is also making rule changes that will allow Japan to go to the aid of an ally, which is under attack.
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