Police Arrest Anti-Defense Bill Protesters in Japan as Lawmakers Scuffle

Police in Japan arrested 11 anti-government activists protesting the proposal of a controversial security bill that would expand military powers, allowing foreign deployment of Japanese troops for the first time since World War II, local media reported.

TOKYO (Sputnik) – The arrested protesters were charged with interfering with law enforcement officials in the performance of their duties, the NHK broadcaster reported late Wednesday. Other outlets reported a total of 13 arrests.

Tens of thousands of people gathered outside the Japanese parliament building early Thursday as lawmakers continued to debate national security bills.

The broadcaster reported scuffles in the national legislature, with a vote on the opposition’s no-confidence motion taking place following an adjournment.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and members of the ruling bloc want to pass the security bills by the end of the week, NHK added.

Liberal Democratic Party chief of legislative affairs, Tsutomu Sato, raised the possibility of a constitutional provision allowing the lower house to use its two-thirds majority to enact the bills if the upper house fails to vote on it within two months.

Abe’s government introduced the legislation to parliament in May. The bills triggered nationwide rallies among citizens accusing Abe of using it as a pretext for militarily involving Japan in international armed conflicts.

The new legislation, abolishing Article 9 of the Japanese constitution that renounces the use of force in settling international disputes, would allow the co-called Self-Defense Force to be sent overseas in an offensive military posture for the first time in seven decades.