Japanese rally in Tokyo to defend pacifist Constitution, calling for peace

China

Japanese rally in Tokyo to defend pacifist Constitution, calling for peace

2024-05-04 11:19 Last Updated At：18:37

Over 32,000 Japanese people on Friday rallied at a park in Tokyo, capital of Japan, calling for peace and protection of Japan's Constitution, including the war-renouncing Article 9, as the country marked the 77th anniversary of its pacifist post-war Constitution.

The protesters held placards to voice their opposition to the revision of the pacifist constitution and the military expansion, and called for safeguarding peace.

Article 9 of the Constitution renounces the nation's right to engage in war or to resort to military force to resolve international conflicts and stipulates that "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained".

However, in recent years, Japan has lifted the ban on the export of fighter jets to third countries, strengthened its military alliance with the United States, expanded its military, and forcibly acquires the "enemy base strike capabilities" by updating the "three security and defense-related documents". These actions have made more Japanese people feel uneasy.

"I believe that strengthening the military alliance with the United States will put Japan in danger. Japan has gradually increased its military spending and intends to export its lethal weapons overseas. This is a very dangerous move," said a protester.

"The Liberal Democratic Party has been proposing to revise the Constitution to include 'emergency clause' in it so as to pave the way for Japan to engage in war. That's what they're really trying to do with the constitution revision," said another protester.

Against the backdrop of the depreciation of the Japanese currency and price hikes, the Japanese government's decision to significantly increase the defense budget for 2024 has caused dissatisfaction and concerns among the Japanese people.

"The increase in military expenditure will impoverish the country and lower people's living standard, which I fear will lead to a national recession," said a demonstrator.

People in Gaza exhaust efforts in rescuing family members in Israel-ruined buildings

2024-05-18 11:58 Last Updated At：12:37

The restricted rescue capacity of the local civil defense department due to the war has compelled local residents to rescue their loved ones trapped beneath the debris with their bare hands in Zeitoun Neighborhood in the south of Gaza City.

Israeli military operations in Gaza led to widespread destruction of buildings and a significant rise in civilian casualties.

In Zeitoun, no intact buildings remain in sight. Amidst the wreckage, survivors painstakingly comb through ruined buildings and debris, desperately searching for their lost homes and families.

The continuous bombs from the Israeli army impeded the evacuation of local people.

"We couldn't contact my child's family or his neighbors at all. After the situation calmed down, we came here and tried to rescue them from the ruins, but we couldn't make it. Today, we brought some simple tools, but only one child was rescued. We couldn't save the rest because the situation here is too difficult," said a local resident.

Israeli army's prolonged military operations weakened Gaza's civil defense, resulting in restricted capabilities. A total of 69 rescue workers died in Israeli attacks by far.

The lack of fuel recently further hampers civil defense and rescue efforts.

"Due to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, there is currently an obvious shortage of civil defense personnel. The biggest problem we face is the lack of equipment, which prevents us from rescuing missing people under the ruins. The Israeli army usually bombs the roofs of buildings (leading to building collapse), which requires professional large machines and equipment such as trucks and excavators," said Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for the Civil Defense Service in the Gaza Strip.

With no other option, some survivors had to save their family members and friends by their own hands.

"Young people volunteer for rescue, using the simplest tools such as hoes, axes and pliers. We can at least lift out the bodies, including women and children, so that their families can identify and bury them," said another local resident.