Piracy. Japan to dispatch Aircraft

(Version anglaise seulement)

Japan on Friday ordered its navy to dispatch two aircraft to watch out for pirate activity off Somalia. Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada ordered the two P-3C surveillance planes to assist Japan's two Maritime Self-Defence Forces destroyers patrolling off the coast of Somalia in their anti-piracy mission.

The Defence Ministry said it plans to send about 40 people to neighbouring Djibouti Monday before the rest of the support team heads off later this month. About 100 personnel were expected to begin anti-piracy surveillance activities with the P-3C planes in June with Djibouti international airport as their base.

The two Japanese destroyers have escorted 55 Japanese-linked commercial ships, including some passenger vessels, in the Gulf of Aden since they began their mission in late March. Besides the planes patrolling over the gulf, Japan would dispatch ground forces armed with pistols and rifles to guard the aircraft, the ministry said. Countries including the United States, Russia, China and South Korea have sent their navies to the region to counter surging pirate attacks.
The Japanese parliament has been considering legislation to enable the Self-Defence Forces to protect foreign vessels and use force against pirates. But opposition politicians have protested because it could conflict with the nation's pacifist constitution, which limits Japanese military activities only to self-defence.

Source: Ecoterra Intl, May 15, 2009

~	Contrôle des loyers: Québec solidaire dépose un projet de loi

~	Stablex – Un bâillon sur mesure pour une entreprise américaine, dénonce QS

~	Budget 2025-2026 : « La CAQ ajoute l’austérité à l’incertitude » – Alejandra Zaga Mendez

~	Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois annonce son retrait de la vie politique en 2026

~	Budget 2025-2026: Face à Trump, Québec solidaire demande à la CAQ de miser sur la résilience

~	Frais vétérinaires abusifs: Québec solidaire demande un meilleur encadrement

~	La CAQ et le PQ refusent de débattre de mobilité, déplore Québec solidaire

~	Crise de l’itinérance: QS propose de convertir les églises vacantes en refuges

~	Journée internationale des droits des femmes – Ruba Ghazal annonce qu’elle déposera un projet de loi pour rendre la contraception gratuite

~	Stablex: Québec solidaire réitère son appui à la mairesse de Blainville et presse le premier ministre de reculer