U.S. Army Charges 1st Lt. Watada; JACL Comments for First Time on Soldier's Ordeal
Nat’l JACL does not take a position on Iraq war but expresses concern over two of the three charges Watada faces. Honolulu JACL comes out in full support of the JA officer.
First Lt. Ehren Watada, 28, has now been officially charged by the U.S. Army for his decision to refuse deployment to Iraq last month. He now faces three charges including missing troop movement, conduct unbecoming an officer, and contempt towards officials.
Although national JACL has been mostly silent since Watada announced his decision in June, the organization has now come out with an official statement. Although they will not take a position on the officer’s refusal to deploy to Iraq, believing this to be strictly a military issue, they expressed concern over two of the charges: contempt and conduct unbecoming an officer.
“We are not in a position to defend his position on the legality of the war in Iraq, nor are we in a position to judge his criticism of the war’s morality,” the national JACL’s statement explained. “That he defied a direct military order falls under the aegis of military law and beyond the reach of the JACL’s authority based on the organization’s mission statement.”
The statement went on to say: “However, the JACL does express its strong concern that Lt. Watada be given fair and balanced treatment in the charges brought against him … We find that the application of these two articles (contempt and conduct unbecoming an officer) raises questions about the intent of the Army to apply undue punishment to Lt. Watada because, as an officer of the United States Army, it appears he is being made an example.”
The Japanese American community has been vocally expressing their opinions regarding Watada’s situation — the first Asian American officer to refuse deployment orders to Iraq — including in this newspaper. Although many have expressed their support of the officer, some even calling him a hero, others, especially fellow veterans past and present, have expressed their disapproval.
And many have asked for and demanded JACL’s official position on the matter.
“This is such a sensitive matter because of the community politics … the situation with our veteran members,” said John Tateishi, JACL executive director. “It was important as a civil rights organization … to make a statement regarding [Watada’s] position.”
On the contempt and conduct unbecoming an officer charges Tateishi reiterated: “They don’t make sense to me. The enhancements are basically to gag him.”
Although some veterans have compared the current Watada situation with the controversy a few years back over National JACL’s apology to the World War II Resisters of Conscience, Tateishi does not think the two issues are similar.
“This is not the same issue as the Resisters,” he said. “I don’t want to begin that debate all over again.”
And in fact, Watada has not been classified as a conscientious objector since he is not against all wars, just the current war in Iraq. Prior to his refusal to deploy to Iraq, Watada had offered to serve in any other part of the world. He also offered his resignation but in the end all his offers were rejected and Watada decided to refuse his deployment.
Watada believes the Iraq war is not only immoral but illegal and he now faces a possible eight years in military prison and a dishonorable discharge for those beliefs. He is currently assigned to an administrative position at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Back in Watada’s home state of Hawaii, the Honolulu JACL has come out in full support of Watada, backing his decision to refuse deployment to Iraq.
“The JACL Hawai’i, Honolulu chapter supports Lt. Ehren Watada’s thoughtful and deliberate act of conscience. We believe Lt. Watada’s refusal to participate in a war that violates the U.S. Constitution and international law is a principled act of patriotism,” the chapter said in their statement. “We believe a staunch defense of the Constitution is in keeping with JACL Hawai`i’s primary mission of protecting the civil and human rights of all.”
The decision of the Honolulu chapter came after several weeks of debate and a bare majority of board of directors voted to support Watada at the chapter board’s meeting July 10.
The Honolulu chapter also noted that their support of Watada does not mean they do not support the soldiers and their families who are currently fighting in the Iraq war. They also pointed to the historical lessons learned in the JA community, especially during WWII, as reasons for why they came to their decision.
“By supporting Lt. Watada, JACL Hawai’i honors our legacy of preserving the lessons of the World War II internment of Japanese Americans to ensure that such mistakes are never repeated nor revisited upon any other minority, and reaffirms our principled efforts to protect the Hawai’i Constitution.”
Although the Honolulu chapter has gone a step further in their support of Watada, Tateishi does not see their position as a conflict with national JACL.
“We don’t think that we’re out of alignment with them. Our position is reasonably close to the Honolulu chapter,” said Tateishi, noting that no other AA organization or civil rights groups has come out vocally regarding Watada’s situation.
Many believe the bottomline is, Watada is JA and as a member of the community fellow JAs feel an obligation to get involved with the debate.
“We’re brought into the debate because he is JA,” said Tateishi, who disagrees with those who believe a fellow JA should automatically get the community’s support. “I don’t buy the fact that because he is JA he demands our support. If he was not JA, would that still be such a strong concern? I think not.”
Although national JACL plans to largely stay out of any pending military court case for Watada, they will continue to monitor the situation.
“We’ll wait to see how it develops,” he said, but added, “I believe history will judge him kindly … but at this moment it is a very unpopular decision.”
Print This Article-
Email This Article