JCP members of parliament arrive in Pakistan

A Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers Group team began looking into the
damage caused to the Afghan people by the U.S.-led military attacks as soon
as they arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan on October 30.

Akamine Seiken (House of Representatives member) and Kasai Akira (JCP
International Bureau vice director), visited the UNICEF Islamabad office and
interviewed the UNICEF special representative. The staff member stated that
UNICEF activities have become increasingly difficult because of the air
strikes against Afghanistan.

The JCP team also visited the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR)-Afghan office in the city, and heard from Ha'nyu Yusaku (deputy
office head). Ha'nyu said that as many as 80,000 people have fled from
Afghanistan since September 11. The war must be ended in order to resolve
the refugee problem, he stressed.

Ogata Yasuo, JCP team head (JCP International Bureau director and House
of Councilors member), together with another Dietmember reached Pakistan on
October 30. (end)