WE, the Lawyers, participating in the XVIth Congress and General Assembly of the IADL in Paris, on June 7 to 11,2005, and having in mind our long history of struggles for peace,
Recognizing that Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan of 1946 stipulates total renouncement of war whatsoever; that in this regard Article 9 has been a target of severe political struggles betweem peace-loving people and conservative forces in Japan for about 60 years; and that the Japanese conservative forces ignite, having taken away to militarization as early as the 1990’s, actions to put their cases into reality.
Confirming that a change of Article 9 is not only a narrow item of internal affaires, but a grave concern of international community alike, as it was born out of sincere regrets towards the calamity of World War Two as well as the colonial rules over Asian region, both of which were no mischieves but tragedies played by Japan to the point that it is too natural for the Japanese nation and people alike to make a pledge of peace to nations and peoples in the world.
DISAGREE flatly any change of Article 9 which might make easier for Japan to rely on use of force anywhere on the planet shouldering with the US military strengths, for Japan’s blatant participation in any use offorce whatever conducted by the USA may be nothing but a grave challenge against the world peace, while the humanity aspires on the contrary to realize a 21st Century without war, and that our aspiration may rest on a legal principle embodied in Article 9 as it is no exaggeration to say that the very article is a small pack of gift given to the humanity, nor to say that no wise men or women may cast their own treasure into depth of calamity.
SUPPORT lawyers and citizens in Japan in their struggles to stop any change of Article 9 to the detriment of peace and security in the world, as well as CALL upon peace-loving lawyers and citizens on the planet to build up a larger circle of solidarity in order to eradicate any calamity of war from earth forever.
N.B Article 9:
Aspiring sincerely to an international people based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation, and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.