Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan has got approval of his cabinet to send troops to Iraq. He has a prior commitment to president Bush to come to his support in Iraq. Though the troops will be non-combatants, it is likely that they will be seen as troops in support of American occupation forces. A commitment stands fulfilled; yet questions remain if the timing and the conditions are right for such action.

By its own admission, the coalition is still at war in Iraq. Most parts of Iraq still remain combat zones; security is far from secured as is clear by the daily incidents of attack on coalition troops and reprisals by them on Iraqi civilians. Question arises how then Japan abides by its constitutional obligation not to engage in combat role in a foreign land? If the troops come under attack by Iraqi resistance they will have to respond ; the arms they carry will be in use; casualties are likely. How all that will go with the sentiments of Japanese public, many of whom are already protesting the deployment?

Japanese people are sceptical; they do not wish to see body bags coming home. Only recently, the deaths of two of their diplomats in Iraq

grieved and shocked many. Their sentiments and apprehensions are real.

The commitment of the Japanese prime minister to help Iraq's reconstruction, to rebuild Iraq's shattered infrastructure and to give valuable

humanitarian assistance reflects Japan's deep desire to be a responsible member of the international community. Japan already has demonstrated its generosity and goodwill in ample measure by its pledge to provide a huge

amount of aid at the Madrid donors' meeting. Japanese goodwill and commitment to international development is second to none - a fact the world community will readily acknowledge. Given this background, would it not have been

more appropriate and perhaps more reasonable had Japan committed its able and willing reconstruction team of engineers and others, only after a stable and internationally accepted Iraqi representative government was formed.

Japanese firms had undertaken several infrastructure projects in Iraq under the previous regime. Japanese voluntary organisations remained active in medical and related humanitarian work in Iraq; they are no strangers to the people of Iraq who would welcome Japanese participation in the reconstruction of their country destroyed by war and sanctions. But are the conditions right or the timing opportune? This is an issue that will concern not only the opposition political parties but also perhaps a large majority of citizens of Japan. It is a tribute to the industry of its people that Japan has emerged as a major economic power in the world. Japanese solidarity with Iraqi people and its generous help for Iraq's reconstruction, which is in the long term interest of Japan also, should make countries and peoples of the Asian continent proud .

Dr. Zakir

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