Japanese politicians scuffled on Thursday during a heated debate over a security bill that could see the military fight abroad for the first time in decades, after thousands rallied to voice their anger. In scenes uncommon for Japan’s normally sedate parliament, members of the opposition and the ruling coalition pushed and shoved each other as a committee chairman was surrounded.Tensions fan high after the committee vote was repeatedly delayed over Wednesday night, as opposition MPs blocked doorways and packed the corridors of parliament in protest.Thirteen people were also reportedly arrested during the evening for “interfering with officers” during a rally of an estimated 13,000 people outside parliament in Tokyo. It is ironic that while the opposition members wanted to prevent their country from possible participation in the violence that is war, the scenes inside the august house crossed all bounds of parliamentary behaviour as a scuffle broke out amongst the MPs.The occasion itself was a historic one. The prime minister was determined to commit his country’s return to active combat, under the UN’s umbrella, after decades.The repercussions for Tokyo, its relations with regional countries such as China, and with a world dominated by a US that ‘must’ fight from time to time, were not a sobering enough thought for the legislators. They ensured that the unruly scenes in parliament climaxed in fistfights. But even as the sun rises in the East, the world continues to learn. Emotions spill over in the unlikeliest of places as discussions get heated — a calm, rational debate is not considered effective enough. Consequently, push leads to shove, and shove to a few punches thrown at the adversary. This happens in many parliaments all over the world, and while regrettable, a more charitable view is that such robust debate is a sign that democracy is evolving — indeed, the merits of democracy themselves are hardly ever in question as fights break out and egos clash.This is a useful lesson for those of us in Pakistan who believe that the quality of politics within and outside parliament is reason enough to decry democratic traditions and to call upon extra-constitutional forces to strengthen the national edifice.
pk.shafaqna.com
