JCP chair speaks before group of Okinawa's businesspeople, officials, and journalists

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo made a speech on the JCP's views and policies regarding Japan's economy and foreign relations before about 120 businesspeople, journalists, and local government officials of Okinawa on December 11 in Naha City.

The gathering was sponsored by the "Ryukyu Forum," which is made up of 210 firms, business organizations, universities, prefectural and municipal bodies, and media organizations.

Shii spoke on the theme: "Japan's diplomacy, economy, and the JCP" as the first JCP leader to speak at the forum.

Referring to the issues on Iraq, North Korea, and Japan's serious economic recession, Shii explained JCP proposals as counter measures to the Koizumi Cabinet.

Stressing that the existence of U.S. military bases is the biggest problem for Okinawa, Shii recalled Okinawa's struggle for getting the administrative right over Okinawa returned to Japan, a historical struggle against the San Francisco Peace Treaty which separated the island from Japan to place it under U.S. occupation.

If the 1.2 million islanders again succeeded in uniting as in that historical struggle, they can easily change the policy of the U.S. and Japanese governments toward creating "an Okinawa without U.S. bases," Shii stated.

"The JCP is convinced that the Okinawans will achieve such unity, irrespective of differences of beliefs and opinions," Shii said.

A leader of local business circles said, "The speech was very clear and fruitful. It is no good for the whole of society to support government policy. The need now is for more people to raise voices against policies of the central and prefectural governments." (end)