Sit-in protest against adverse revision of medical insurance system

About 500 people from throughout Japan conducted a sit-in in front of the Diet Building on April 24 in protest against the bill to increase the people's share in medical costs, as the House of Representatives committee began discussion on it.

The sit-in was organized by the Central Council for Promotion of Social Security and the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren).

Zenroren Vice President Suzuki Akira in his speech on behalf of the organizers said that the adverse revision of the medical insurance system and the contingency legislation are flagrant attacks by the Koizumi Cabinet on people's rights. He called on the participants to besiege the Cabinet and get the bill withdrawn.

A representative of the Tokyo Council for Promotion of Social Security said that the struggle against the bills to deal with "emergencies" and the bill to adversely revise the medical system is a struggle to defend the Constitution's Article 9 and Article 25 which specify that the people have the right to maintain the minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living.

He reported that 15 percent of all local governments in Japan have adopted statements expressing opposition to the adverse revision of the medical system.

Haruna Naoaki, Japanese Communist Party House of Representatives member, and Kawada Etsuko, independent, encouraged the sit-in participants.

187,000 signatures in opposition to the wartime bills and the adverse revision of the medical system were handed to Haruna. (end)