Japan's lower house passed Tuesday a controversial bill to resume the country's refueling support to US-led antiterrorism operations in the Indian Ocean, though the enactment of the bill is expected months away.

 

The bill was passed at the lower house plenary session by a majority vote, with the ruling coalition of Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito party occupying over two-thirds of seats in the chamber. It will soon be sent to the upper house for approval.

 

However, the bill is expected to be blocked by the House of Councilors, which is dominated by the oppositions since their victory in July's parliamentary election. The oppositions, led by the Democratic Party of Japan, have been strongly against the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in and near Afghanistan.

 

The bill cleared the House of Representatives's committee on antiterrorism and Iraq reconstruction affairs Monday before it went through the plenary session of the chamber.

 

Due to resistance from the oppositions, Japan had halted a six- year refueling support for foreign vessels participating in U.S.- led antiterrorism operations in and near Afghanistan at the end of October, as the special antiterrorism measures law authorizing such operations expired on Nov. 1.

 

Last month, the government submitted the bill to the Diet for a new law to continue the refueling support, which defines the activities as supplying oil and water to foreign vessels engaged in antiterrorism maritime interdiction operations in the Indian Ocean and limits the activities to "non-combat" areas in the Indian Ocean.

 

The bill, if established to be a new law, expires one year after coming into force and allows extension for up to one year.

 

Backed by the ruling camp, the parliament decided last week to extend the current Diet session by 35 days through Dec. 15, to guarantee sufficient time for deliberations over the bill.

 

If the bill fails to clear the House of Councilors within 60 days, the bill could be sent back to the lower chamber for a second vote. Analysts said that the ruling parties are expected to take a second vote in the House of Representatives and pass the bill into law with a two-thirds majority.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2007)