JCP in metropolitan assembly criticizes Tokyo governor for condoning terrorism

On September 25, a Japanese Communist Party representative in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly demanded that Governor Ishihara Shintaro apologize for his recent remarks condoning terrorist attacks.

Yoshida Nobuo, JCP Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Members Group leader, said it was absolutely improper for the governor to state that "it stands to reason that a bomb was placed" at a senior foreign ministry official's house.

Ishihara not only rejected Yoshida's demand but went as far as to justify his remark in question, saying that the foreign ministry's handling of the issue of North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals amounts to "betraying the country" and that the official "deserves death".

In the metropolitan assembly, the Liberal Democratic Party gave tacit approval to the governor's remarks and the Komei Party kept silent. The opposition Democratic Party of Japan referred to the remarks in the legislature, but stopped short of demanding the withdrawal of the remarks. (end)