Japanese Troops Complete withdrawal From South Sudan
2 views
Skip to first unread message
Elisabeth Janaina
May 29, 2017, 2:37:07 AM5/29/17
to southsudankob
Japanese Troops Complete withdrawal From South Sudan
All of the Ground Self-Defense Force troops deployed for the U.N.
peacekeeping mission in South Sudan have returned to Japan, ending
Japan’s five-year mission in the war-torn country, the Self-Defense
Forces said Saturday.
28 May 2017
Japanese Troops Complete withdrawal From South Sudan
The last Ground Self-Defense Force Japanese U.N. peacekeeping mission
in South Sudan return to Aomori Airport [Photo credit: KYODO]
SOURCE: Japan Times Online
By Kyodo
AOMORI, 28 May 2017 [Gurtong] – The withdrawal of the 350-member unit
took place in stages based on a government decision announced in
March.
With no SDF unit engaged in an active U.N. mission, Tokyo is
considering other ways to contribute to international peace-building
efforts.
The unit was mainly composed of the GSDF’s 9th Division, headquartered
in Aomori. The last contingent of 40 troops arrived at Aomori Airport
on Saturday.
The GSDF unit drew heavy public attention because it was the first to
be assigned the unprecedented task of armed rescues under the divisive
security laws Japan enacted in March 2016. But the unit was never
called upon to rescue anyone during its stint, which began around
December.
SDF activities overseas were heavily restricted under the
war-renouncing Constitution, but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s
government enacted the laws to circumvent those constraints so the SDF
can more actively contribute to global peace and security.
In South Sudan, which is in the midst of a civil war, the GSDF was
given more leeway to use weapons, allowing it to rescue U.N. staffers
or others under attack. Previously, the use of arms was strictly
limited to self-defensive purposes.
They were also tasked with playing a bigger part in protecting U.N.
peacekeepers’ camps.
Japan began deploying civil engineering units to the country in 2012
to build roads and other infrastructure as part of the U.N. mission
there. But security has been dicey since it won independence from
Sudan in 2011. Fighting between government and rebel forces erupted at
the end of 2013. A peace deal was signed in August 2015, but renewed
fighting in Juba, where the GSDF was based, killed more than 270
people last July and caused many to flee.
The SDF can only serve in areas where a cease-fire is in effect.
Posted in: Home
- See more at: http://gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ID/20506/Default.aspx#sthash.H7Ou6Eat.dpuf
All of the Ground Self-Defense Force troops deployed for the U.N.
peacekeeping mission in South Sudan have returned to Japan, ending
Japan’s five-year mission in the war-torn country, the Self-Defense
Forces said Saturday.
28 May 2017
Japanese Troops Complete withdrawal From South Sudan
The last Ground Self-Defense Force Japanese U.N. peacekeeping mission
in South Sudan return to Aomori Airport [Photo credit: KYODO]
SOURCE: Japan Times Online
By Kyodo
AOMORI, 28 May 2017 [Gurtong] – The withdrawal of the 350-member unit
took place in stages based on a government decision announced in
March.
With no SDF unit engaged in an active U.N. mission, Tokyo is
considering other ways to contribute to international peace-building
efforts.
The unit was mainly composed of the GSDF’s 9th Division, headquartered
in Aomori. The last contingent of 40 troops arrived at Aomori Airport
on Saturday.
The GSDF unit drew heavy public attention because it was the first to
be assigned the unprecedented task of armed rescues under the divisive
security laws Japan enacted in March 2016. But the unit was never
called upon to rescue anyone during its stint, which began around
December.
SDF activities overseas were heavily restricted under the
war-renouncing Constitution, but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s
government enacted the laws to circumvent those constraints so the SDF
can more actively contribute to global peace and security.
In South Sudan, which is in the midst of a civil war, the GSDF was
given more leeway to use weapons, allowing it to rescue U.N. staffers
or others under attack. Previously, the use of arms was strictly
limited to self-defensive purposes.
They were also tasked with playing a bigger part in protecting U.N.
peacekeepers’ camps.
Japan began deploying civil engineering units to the country in 2012
to build roads and other infrastructure as part of the U.N. mission
there. But security has been dicey since it won independence from
Sudan in 2011. Fighting between government and rebel forces erupted at
the end of 2013. A peace deal was signed in August 2015, but renewed
fighting in Juba, where the GSDF was based, killed more than 270
people last July and caused many to flee.
The SDF can only serve in areas where a cease-fire is in effect.
Posted in: Home
- See more at: http://gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ID/20506/Default.aspx#sthash.H7Ou6Eat.dpuf
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages