Japan ruling party narrows scope of anti-terror bill News
Japan ruling party narrows scope of anti-terror bill

[JURIST] Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) [official website] has submitted a new draft anti-terrorism law that would limit Japan's naval support for US operations in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom [DOS backgrounder] to refueling and supplying water to coalition ships in the Indian Ocean. The latest proposed extension of the current Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law [text] would bar Japanese ships from refueling coalition ships providing ground support in Afghanistan. It would also preclude Japanese forces from participating in search and rescue missions and relief efforts. New Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda [party profile; BBC profile] had previously expressed support for fully renewing the anti-terror law [JURIST report] but has come under pressure from the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) [official website] which contends that allied military operations in Afghanistan are not sanctioned by the United Nations and violate Japan's pacifist constitution [text]. The current law expires on November 1. The Democrats want a debate of the issue in the Diet, which could keep the law from being renewed before the deadline.

Japan's involvement in Afghanistan has precipitated a major rift [JURIST report] between Japan's two major parties, which helped prompt the resignation [BBC English translation; JURIST report] of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on September 12. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US Supreme Court ruled Indians not US citizens

On November 3, 1884, the US Supreme Court ruled in Elk v. Wilkins that John Elk, an American Indian who had tried to vote in a federal election in Omaha, Nebraska, was not a US citizen entitled to the protection of the 14th and 15th Amendments of the US Constitution. Native Americans became eligible for citizenship in 1887 under the Dawes Act, but only in 1924, under the Indian Citizenship Act, were all Native Americans born in the US made citizens.

Last public execution at Tyburn Gallows in London

On November 3, 1783, the last public execution took place at Tyburn Gallows in London, when John Austin was hanged for highway robbery. From the hanging of William Fitz Osburn in 1196 until Austin's execution, Tyburn served as London's primary location for public executions.

Learn more about the trial of John Austin.