Stop the prime minister's open attack on Constitutional principles of peace and democracy -- Akahata editorial, August 27Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro has instructed Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Yamasaki Taku to come up with a draft of constitutional amendments in preparation for the LDP's 50th founding anniversary in November 2005. The LDP has decided to submit to the ordinary Diet session starting in January 2004 a bill on holding a national referendum in accordance with the parliamentary procedures for constitutional amendments.
Rumor has it that the prime minister gave the instruction with the election of an LDP president scheduled for September in mind. It is intolerable to toy with the supreme law of the nation for personal politics. The problem also goes further than such politicking.
Since he took office, Koizumi has not only repeated unconstitutional acts, including visits to Yasukuni Shrine, but enactment of the contingency laws and the law to send the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq to take part in U.S. wars. His recent instruction is a manifestation of his willingness to set out for a revision to the Constitution.
Prime Minister Koizumi took office avowing that he would "destroy the LDP". However, what he has destroyed are people's livelihoods and the national economy. He has also run counter to the internationally accepted peace. Will he go further and destroy the constitutional principles of peace and democracy in defiance of the world wishes for peace?
Prime Minister Koizumi's instruction was issued in conjunction with the LDP 50th founding anniversary. He stated, "The founding spirit of the LDP lay in the call for an independent constitution."
The Preamble of the Japanese Constitution clearly states that the Japanese people are "resolved that never again shall we be visited with the horrors of war through the action of government." This marked the start of postwar Japan based on remorse for its barbarous war of aggression. The Constitution has been maintained for more than 50 years thanks to public opposition to constitutional amendments, although the LDP's persistent intention has been to revise the Constitution to allow Japan to get legally armed.
The LDP put forward its call for drafting a constitutional amendment, regarding it as a good chance to mark its 50th founding anniversary. Such an advocacy only indicates how the party is isolated from the people's will to defend the Constitution over the past half century. This shows that the party is completely unable to reflect on the war of aggression, which Japan declared at its post-war principle.
Fifty years ago, the LDP evoked its desire for an "independent constitution" in response to U.S. pressure on Japan for its rearmament. Behind every call of the LDP for constitutional revision were U.S. directions on Japan to increase its military role under the Japan-U.S. military alliance.
Triggered off by the 1997 Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation, the government enacted a series of contingency laws enabling Japan to take part in U.S. preemptive strikes. The current move of the LDP for constitutional amendment are a consequence of this. How unreasonable it is for the LDP to refer to an "independent constitution" to mark its 50th foundation day!
Constitution must be defended
In order to defend the peace of the world as well as living conditions in Japan, we must safeguard the peaceful and democratic principles of the Constitution, the Preamble of which states: "We desire to occupy an honored place in an international society striving for the preservation of peace, and the banishment of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance for all time from the earth."
The Japanese Communist Party in its draft revised Constitution calls for "guaranteeing all clauses of the Constitution, including the preface, with special emphasis on all clauses related to peace and democracy." Therefore, the JCP is opposed to any LDP scheme for constitutional revision. Let's make every possible effort to block such schemes. (end)