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  Multi Lingual Internet Mail Magazine

  jp-Swiss-journal   Vol. 86 – April 03, 2007 (Swiss Time)

   http://www.swissjapanwatcher.ch/
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目次 / INDEX / INHALTSVERZEICHNIS

 

 

J

スイスの国防

 

明子 ヒューリマン

 

E

Swiss National Defense 

 

Akiko Hürlimann

 


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スイスの国防

明子 ヒューリマン



有力者・著名人を誘致:
スイスには世界中から著名人が移り住んでいる。この現象は税率の高い州、低い州に関わらず起きている現象なのだが、何故なのかお分かりだろうか?「普通に静に暮らせること」に尽きるようなのだ。スイス人は有名人を見ても騒ぎ立てたりしない。物見高くないし、やたら群れたりしない。それどころか、大きな関心さえ示さない(実は振りをしている?!)。都会でも、小さな田舎の村でも、スイスでは有名人はカメラに追いかけられることなく、物見高い視線に晒される事も無く、普通に暮らせるのだ。世界中には、インフラが整い、治安が良くて、税金が安くて、風光明媚な所は多々あるが、静に暮らせると言う点ではどうだろう?

金融インフラ:
こうした有名人や富裕層が預けて安心な銀行のあるスイスに資産と共に定住したり、長期の休暇で滞在する。自国に資産を置いておく事が不安な国の指導者達だけでなく、多分諸国の反政府組織でさえも、スイスに自分達の資金を置いておけば安心だと思うのは当然だろう。大事な金庫のあるスイスを痛めつけるような事を彼らがする筈は無いと思われがちだ。だが、スイス国内では「スイスもテロの攻撃対象になり得る」と、必ずしも楽観視する空気はないようだ。とは言え、有力な外国人を自国に心地よく滞在して頂く方策も確実な国防の一戦略だろう。ここで、案外知られていないらしいのは、銀行の守秘義務が「何が何でも守られる時代は過去の事」ということだ。犯罪捜査の場合には当局に顧客情報を開示する法律が出来ている。一旦司直に目を付けられると、財産の秘匿を目論む某国の独裁者も山口組の幹部もホリエモンも、成す術は無い。

法令順守:
スイスの金融関係者とて、世界の金庫を守る為には、犯罪に関わらないようそれなりの理論武装と対策を心掛けている。この為の民間アドヴァイサリー機関として[VQF http://www.sro-vqf.ch/ (D)]が10年前に設立されており、中小の投資顧問会社に至る迄、顧客情報の管理、法令順守等のルールを周知させている。 EUや世界中から違法資金の秘匿を指弾されたスイスは、守秘義務の基本は手放さずに批判を回避出来る独自の違法資金を取り締まる法律を編み出し、法律の脇を固める民間組織を誕生させた訳だ。このような民間組織の他にも、常に政界情勢を鑑みながら、憲法も法律も政府・議会・選挙民が国益に沿って随時修正を加えている体制には、独自路線を歩む強い意志が感じられる。

永世中立:
世界に冠たる永世中立を国是としているスイスだが、武装中立である点をつい忘れがちだ。1815年にウィーン会議で永世中立を認められて以来、2度の世界大戦を通じて、この事は唱えてされいれば世界の国々は尊重してくれる、というものではなかった事を歴史は語っている。永世中立とは「世界に敵も見方もない」という非情な理念だ。とかく「ナチスへ協力した」という批判があるが、スイスにとっては連合国も枢軸国もいずれも敵でも見方でもなく、国の存続こそが中立の為の最優先事項だという考え方であったという。この独立独歩の道を歩む姿勢は今日に至るまで継承されており、国連加盟も恐ろしく慎重だったが、EU加盟は未だ考慮中であることはご承知の通り。

皆兵制:
この武装中立を維持する為の国民皆兵制度は良く知られているところだが、実は兵役を嫌う男子は少なくない。普通の新兵訓練は17週間だが、1年の将校訓練を受けて、軍のエリートコースに行く道がある。将校になると統率力や体力が評価されて職場で出世がしやすいと言われてはいるのだが、頓着しない人々も多い。それどころか、近年新平訓練に耐えられない若者が増える傾向にあり、皆兵制の障害となっているという報道も伝えられている。又訓練度の低い一般人の徴用は非効率で財政負担が重くなることから、スイス軍はプロの軍人に戦力の比重を置くようになってきたという。このところ、民兵の銃を自宅に保管し続ける事にするか否か議会で論議されている。時々女性が被害に遭う事件が起きている為だ。とは言え、例え兵役を好まない男子でも皆兵制を支持はしているようで、目立った廃止の動きは見られない。

核シェルター:
現在一般家庭に至るまで普及率100%以上を誇る核シェルターは、1959年民間防衛法に定められた。当時スイス国民はどのようにこんな大事を受け入れたのか、今更ながらだが、大いなる疑問が持ち上がった。この危機感のもの凄さ!核戦争になっても、スイス人だけは生き延びるんだという覚悟の程が伺える。我家の物置もこの核シェルターの中にある。スイス政府が編纂した『民間防衛 (ISBN 4562036672)』日本語版は原書房から出版されており、阪神淡路大震災を機に再び日本で多く読まれているそうだ。テロ攻撃と災害の両方に対応する為に。但し、地震大国日本では、ここ数年耐震構造の偽造が大きな社会問題となっているが、スイスの建物は耐震についてほとんど考慮されていない、という報道があった。日本とは異なり、地震の危険性が限定的である事や、高層建築物が少ないという事情からと思われるが、この点いささか心許ない気はする。とに角、国防の為の武器や設備を備えてさえいれば安心というものではない事は明瞭だ。運用の仕方を誤れば磐石と見えるこうした供えも役に立たない場合がある。折々の報道からその為の周到な情報戦略もスイスにはあるように伺える。

直接民主主義:
他国との軋轢を避ける為にスイスが心掛けている予防措置を考えてみた。外国人を差別しない、他国を侵略しない、諸外国の動向に気を配る、国際社会に積極的に貢献する、等が直ちに頭に浮かんだ。スイスの政治課題はことごとく外交問題化する事は容易にご想像出来るだろう。情報を分析する意識が必要になるわけだが、日頃から国民投票で政治的見識が鍛えられているので、外交センスも同時に磨かれることになる。年に3〜4回はある国民投票の義務に、時には負担を感じながらも、この直接民主主義の制度を手放そうと考えている選挙民は極限られているという調査がある。政治家は「最後は国民が決めるのだから、」と公言して憚らないし、国民の方でもそれを当然の事と受け止めている。とは言え、政治家にはあくまでプロを求め、タレント性を求めることは先ず無い。面倒な法案の議論は専門家に任せて、最後の決済は国民自らが下す、という心積もりだ。政治を国民が憚ることなく語る風潮がある。そうした時に「皆が言っているから」式の発言は軽んじられるだけ。とに角、スイス人は大同小異の意見を言うにしろ、先ずは「いいや!」と始める傾向がある。最後まで聞くと、「ちっとも違わないのに、」と思うことはままある。控えめながらも反骨の国民性が成せる業ではないかと拝察している。

国民性:
日瑞には多くの共通性があると言われているが、決定的な相違があるとすれば、前述のように、「我が道を行く」スイス人に対して、「赤信号、皆で渡れば怖くない」と言われる日本人、という点だろうか。更に言えば、スイス人は「過去を忘れない」。が、日本人は実に「忘れっぽい」ようだ。二度も原爆を落とされて、被害が何世代にも亘って未だに続いていても、国民の間に必ずしも怒りが共有されていない。これは、もしかすると、現実主義の在り方が異なるのだろうか?日本は非戦と非武装を憲法に明記していて、内容は立派な中立の様に見えるが、非武装はとうの昔に形骸化し、非戦論議が限りなく堂々巡りをしている。この国を分ける堂々巡りの議論が実は歯止めとなって、かの同盟国の思惑を案外牽制出来ているのかもしれない、と思えなくも無い。スイスのような直接民主主義ではないが、一応民主主義国家である強みと言えようか。昨今日本の選挙民の政党離れは著しく、無党派層が最大政党の支持率を上回ってしまったが、選挙への関心は高まっているそうだ。これは案外日本国民が政治を我が手に取り戻す予兆なのかもしれない。どういう形になるのかは未だ分からないが。願わくば、日瑞が国際社会で非戦のイニシアティブを協調して取る様になってもらいたいものだ。紛争を回避出来るのは、国民の意識に他ならないのだから。

【参考】

URL:
- http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B9%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B9 (J)
- http://dataranking.com/country.cgi?LG=j&CO=27 (J/E)
- ヴィキペディア検索キーワード http://ja.wikipedia.org/ :
アンリ・ギザン、民間防衛、武装中立

書籍:
- 『民間防衛』スイス政府著/原書房 ; ISBN 4562036672
- 『スイスと日本 国を守るということ「永世中立」を支える「民間防衛」の知恵に学ぶ』

  松村劭著/祥伝社 ; ISBN 4396681062
-  「将軍アンリ・ギザン」植村英一著、原書房発行
-  「スイス 歴史から現代へ」森田安一著、刀水書房

【編集後記 】

スイスに住んでいて国防や治安に大きな不安は感じないのだが、それにつけても日本の国防が気懸かりになってきた。日本では2005年3月、村上龍氏が書いた「半島を出よ」が出版されて反響を呼んだ。北朝鮮の特殊部隊が九州を占領するという内容だ。今日周辺諸国の動向は反日と友好相半ばする複雑さを増してきている。歴史を再検証する動きがヨーロッパで、スイスで、そして日本でもそれぞれ異なる方向を向いて起きている。公正な歴史観を共有する努力をしないと子々孫々に累が及ぶことになる。平和憲法を掲げる日本とスイスの永世中立について比較して考える事が多くなったので、日頃感じている事柄について触れてみた。



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Swiss National Defense

      Akiko Hürlimann



Inviting prominents:
Many prominent people immigrate to Switzerland from all over the world. This phenomenon happens not only in canton with low tax rate, but also in high tax rate canton. Do you know the reason? It allows such foreigners simply to live normally and quietly here. Swiss people do not make a fuss over prominent. They behave not curious and hung out on the street frequently. In fact, they even don't show big interest in them (actually, they pretend not to do?). Well known persons can live normally without being followed by camera or exposed by curious eyes, neither in the city nor in a small village in Switzerland. There are many places in the world, where the infrastructure is well-developed, safe, cheap tax, and scenic; however let those places live you quietly?

Financial infrastructure:
Such prominent and wealthy people move in or make long vacations in Switzerland with their assets. It's natural that not only leaders who feel insecure to deposit their assets at banks in their home country, or even opposition forces of nations feel at ease to deposit their money in Switzerland. People tend to think that nobody ever will give any damage to Switzerland where their safe is located. However, people in Switzerland think "Switzerland can be also a target of terror attacks"; the mood isn't optimistic at all here. Anyhow, as a measure, making foreign prominent comfortable in their own country, that certainly assures national defense. One point, that seems not widely known is, that absolute banking secrecy is out of date. In case of criminal investigation, a bank has to disclose to the authority their client information according to law. If once caught by the arm of the law, one trying to hide their fortune such as dictators of certain countries, leader of Yamaguchi-gumi (Japanese gang group), or Horiemon (IT idle) have little chance to escape.

Compliance:
Regarding to Swiss financial leaders, they arm themselves with certain legal knowledge and measures in order not to be involved in criminal cases for the sake of keeping good reputation as the world's safe heaven. For this reason, a private advisory institution called [VQF http://www.sro-vqf.ch/ (D)] was established ten years ago. They advice how to organize clients information, compliance, and so for middle and small financial advisory companies. Switzerland was criticized by EU and international bodies about keeping bank secrecy of illegal funds in the past; Switzerland created their own legal instruments and laws to counter illegal money transactions avoiding criticism without giving up the principl e of confidentiality, and founded such a private organization to strengthen the law. Swiss government, parliament and nation are watching international phenomena, and occasionally making revision of constitution and law for the national interest that shows their strong will for going their own way.

Permanent neutrality:
Switzerland has a national credo as the world's preeminent permanent neutrality; however, often the aspect of armed neutrality is forgotten in that context. Switzerland was admitted permanent neutrality at the Vienna conference in 1815, since then, history tells that their neutrality wasn't respected by just saying <we are neutral>; that showed the two world wars in the 20th Century. The idea of permanent neutrality is a hard-hearted ideal that there is no enemy and friend in the world for them. It's given to saying that Switzerland cooperated with Nazi. But it's said for Switzerland the Allies and the Axis were neither enemy nor friend, and top priority for permanent neutrality is the survival of the nation. Such going my way attitude has been handed down up to now. As you must have known, Switzerland was very careful regarding to join the United Nation (UN), and joining EU is still under the consideration.

Universal conscription system:
Their universal conscription system for maintaining armed neutrality is well known. In fact, men disliking military service are not only a negligible number. Normally, fresh recruit training is 17 weeks, but there is a one-year elite course for officers. Officers are considered because of their leadership and physical capacity; it might be easier for them to get promotion at work, however, still many people don't care about it. Far from it, it is reported that more and more young men cannot bear fresh recruit training; that disturbs the universal conscription system. On the other side, commandeering not well-trained citizens is now considered inefficient and a heavier financial burden; Swiss army authorities place emphasis on more military professionals. These days at
parliament sessions, it was discussed whether militia should keep (store) their personal gun at home or not. That was because of occasional incidents with army weapons with women as victims. However, even men who don't like military duties, but they seem to support the universal conscription system; there isn't a visible movement about abolishing that system.

Nuclear shelter:
Nuclear shelter cover more than 100% of the nation down to private houses; the act was introduced by the civil defense law in 1959. At that time, how did the Swiss citizens react to such huge measure, a big question has risen to me. What a heightened sense of crisis! I can see a strong will of Swiss for survival. Our storage is located in the nuclear shelter too. Japanese version of [Civil defense (ISBN 4562036672)] compiled by the Swiss Government was issued by Hara Shobo and widely read in Japan since Hanshin Awaji earthquake. The purpose is to prepare for terror attacks and casualties. In that regard, Japan as earthquake country, the recent forgery of earthquake-proof structures has become a big social problem. Buildings in Switzerland however, have disregarded the aspect of earthquake-proof, as it was reported. Not like in Japan, I guess the risk of earthquake is lim ited, and high-rise buildings are also rare in Switzerland; nevertheless, I find less secure in that point. Anyway, it is obvious that if only we have weapons and facilities for national defense, we may not set our mind at ease. If we fail to manage, such firm security preparedness, it can be useless. Based on occasional reports, Switzerland seems to have also a meticulous information strategy for that purpose.

Direct democracy:
I thought about Swiss preventive measure for avoiding conflict with other nations. Immediately, some points come up to my mind such as, not to discriminate foreigners, not to invade other countries, to watch about movement of other countries, and to contribute to the international society. As you can easily understand that every Swiss political matter becomes foreign affairs. People need sense of analyzing information; they are trained regarding to political knowledge by national voting and sense of foreign affair too. There was a report, obligation of national voting three to four times every year, people feel sometimes a burden, though the majority of people do not want to give up the direct democracy system. Politicians do not hesitate to say, "Final decision will be made by the citizens." People consider it as normal, however, they choose only professionals as politician, and they don't look for an entertainer. The intention of nation is to leave the messy work up to professionals and then; they will make the final decision. There is atmosphere that people talk about politics without hesitation. On such occasions, the words of "other people saying" would be only disregarded. Anyway, when Swiss people express their opinion even that's more or less the same as others, though they tend to start a word with "Nooo!" If I hear the mind till the end, sometimes "Nothing different" to the others. I guess such attitude was formed by reserved, but adversarial quality.

National character:
It's said, that there are many mutualities between Switzerland and Japan, however, if there is a decisive difference, I would point out to the aforementioned "going my way style" of Swiss; whereas it is well known to the Japanese character, "If everyone crosses against the red light, then there's nothing to be afraid of." If I may say furthermore, Swiss people don't forget the past. However, Japanese seems to be rather forgetful. Atomic weapons bombed them twice, and people have been suffered many generations up to now, but the anger hasn't been properly shared among the nation. Whether this could be a different way of pragmatism? In theJapanese constitution "not fight war" and "unarmed" are clearly mentioned. According to context, it looks certainly neutral, but unarmed has lost substance already long time ago; "non fight" arguments go around and around. The arguments divide the nation, actually it has become a break, and unintentionally ulterior motive of that alliance partner could make a feint. Not direct democracy like Switzerland, but Japan is also a democratic country; this could be strength. Recently, a tendency of dealignment of the Japanese constituency is significant; no party affiliation (nonpartisan) ratings have become higher whereas the major party lost support. However, reportedly the interest to go to polling has risen. That could be a sign of taking back politics to the people. We don't know yet what's going on. Hopingly, Switzerland and Japan will take together a no war initiative in the international society. We can avoid conflicts only by people's will.


Reference

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland
 (E)
- http://dataranking.com/country.cgi?LG=j&CO=27 (J/E)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Guisan (E)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Switzerland (E)


Editor's comment

As far as my residence in Switzerland is concerned, I don't feel a big fear about security; I have however become concerned about Japanese national defense. In Japan, a novel called "get out from the peninsula" written by Ryu Murakami was released in March 2005, and produced a big impact. The story is about a special operation by troops of North Korea occupying Kyushu island. Recent movements of neighboring countries against Japan showed an increased complexity and mixed feelings of like and dislike. Movements of a revision of history have occurred in Europe, in Switzerland, and in Japan towards different directions. If we miss to make an effort to share fair historical perspective, this can cause troubles to our remotest descendants. I think more often about a Japan with peace constitution and Switzerland with permanent neutrality, I tried to express my thinking at the present moment.

 

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