給油法案駆け込み審議

2008/10/11 --The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 10(IHT/Asahi: October 11,2008)

EDITORIAL: MSDF's refueling mission

給油法案―駆け込み審議の異様さ

With a Lower House election looming, the calculated maneuverings so common in politics have increased in scale. However, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito and opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) were far too opportunistic in the way they dealt with the bill to revise the anti-terrorism special measures law.

　政治に駆け引きや打算はつきものだ。総選挙が近いとなればなおさらだろう。だが、それにしてもあまりにご都合主義に過ぎないか。 

The bill will extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean for another year.

　インド洋での海上自衛隊の給油支援活動を１年間延長する特措法改正案をめぐる自民、公明の与党と民主党の対応のことである。 

We are particularly appalled at Minshuto's about-face. In last year's Diet sessions, the largest opposition party strongly opposed the extension of the MSDF's mission, saying it violates the Constitution. It demanded thorough deliberations, which were carried over to the following year.

Although Minshuto also opposes the bill this time around, the party proposed that a vote be taken after only two days of deliberations in the Lower House.

　驚かされるのは民主党の豹変（ひょうへん）ぶりだ。昨年の国会では給油支援は憲法違反と猛反対し、徹底審議を要求して越年決着となった。なのに今回、反対するのは同じだが、衆院でわずか２日の審議で採決しようと提案したのだ。 

Minshuto is also ready to agree to an early vote in the Upper House. Thus, the bill is set to pass the Lower House but is expected to be rejected in the opposition-controlled Upper House.

However, the ruling parties will pass the bill by reapproving it in the Lower House, where they hold an overwhelming majority. The bill will likely become law by the end of the month.

　民主党は参院でも早期の採決に応じる構えだ。これにより法案は衆院で可決、参院では野党の反対多数で否決されるが、与党は衆院で再可決し、今月中にも成立する可能性が強まった。 

Minshuto is apparently determined to stop Prime Minister Taro Aso and the LDP from using discussions on the bill as an excuse to delay the dissolution of the Lower House for a snap election. Even so, Minshuto's tactic of trying to hastily handle the bill is questionable.

　法案審議を口実に、麻生首相や自民党が解散・総選挙を先延ばしするのは許さない。そんな狙いなのだろう。だが、だからといって駆け込みで法案を処理しようというのはどうだろう。 

Last year, Minshuto submitted an anti-terrorism bill centering on civilian aid in Afghanistan as an alternative to the MSDF's refueling activities. Why doesn't the party press the point again in the Diet to win public support?

　民主党は昨年、給油支援への対案として、アフガニスタンでの民生支援を軸とするテロ根絶法案を国会に出した。なぜ、これを国会の場で主張し、国民の理解を求めようとしないのか。

Critics argue that as the security situation in Afghanistan worsens, civilian aid advocated by Minshuto would be difficult and its proposal would be tantamount to doing nothing. Some Minshuto lawmakers also say the refueling activities are more realistic.

　アフガンの治安が悪化するなか、民主党が言う民生支援の実現は難しく、結局は何もしないのと同じという批判がある。給油支援の方が現実的との声は党内でも聞かれる。 

Some people even suspect that Minshuto is trying to quickly end deliberations on the pretext of demanding an early Lower House dissolution because it lacks the confidence to squarely push for its alternative plan.

　つまりは、対案を堂々と論じる自信がないから、早期解散を求めるためという口実のもとで早々に審議を閉じてしまおうというのではないのか。そう勘ぐる見方さえある。 

The ruling parties are no better. Aso persisted on deliberating the bill because he wanted to use it to attack Minshuto in the election campaign with the question: "Is Minshuto pushing for a Japan that does nothing in the war on terror?"

　与党もほめられたものではない。首相がこの法案の審議入りにこだわったのは、総選挙で「テロとの戦いで何もしない日本でいいのか」と民主党を攻撃する布石でもあった。

New Komeito, which was reluctant to put the bill to a vote for a second time in the Lower House, also changed its attitude. Observers suspect the change is based on the party's desire for an early dissolution.

公明党は衆院再議決に否定的だったのに、態度を一変させた。公明党の求める早期解散の実現にはその方が得策という思惑があるからと見られている。 

Although it has been seven years since the collapse of the Taliban regime, Afghanistan remains in turmoil. Moreover, political instability has spread to neighboring Pakistan, which possesses nuclear weapons.

　タリバーン政権の崩壊から７年がたつのに、アフガンはおろか、核兵器を持つ隣国パキスタンの政情まで混迷してきた。

How can we change this situation and get the "war on terror" back on a desirable track? What should Japan do? These are the points that need to be discussed.

どうすればこうした状況を変え、「テロとの戦い」を好ましい軌道に戻せるのか。そのために日本は何をすべきなのか。本来ならこうしたことこそ論議すべきなのだ。 

While the refueling mission is a form of contribution that Japan can make under the Constitution, debate should not be narrowed to its propriety alone. It is shameful to use the issue as a bargaining chip over the timing of a Lower House dissolution.

　給油支援は日本が憲法の下でできる貢献のひとつではあるが、その是非だけに論議を矮小化（わいしょうか）させてはならない。まして解散の時期をめぐる駆け引きの材料にするようでは恥ずかしい。 

The ruling and opposition camps should put their cases before voters in the election campaign. Debate should be advanced under a new administration to seek an agreement. There is still time before the anti-terrorism law expires in January.

　与野党は総選挙でそれぞれの主張を掲げて戦うべきだ。そのうえで新政権の下で議論を深め、合意を見いだせばいい。来年１月の期限切れまで時間はまだある。