JCP Shii criticizes LDP election platform

Commenting on the Liberal Democratic Party election platform published on October 14, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo said that it contains two premises that are too dangerous to ignore.

One is the public promise to adversely revise the Constitution. The platform states that it will take "drastic steps" for a constitutional revision by 2005.

Shii said, "The target is Article 9. Their aim is to remake Japan into a war fighting nation that is always ready to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces to U.S. global wars. This must be stopped.

The other is the promise to increase the consumption tax rate. Shii said, "This is clear from the LDP election platform calling for a conclusion to be drawn concerning the consumption tax rate increase based on a nationwide discussion.

"This is very serious in that if the LDP wins the coming general election, it will give the LDP a free hand with a consumption tax rate increase. The JCP will call on the people to reject this scheme."

Commenting on the proposal the Democratic Party Leader Kan Naoto made on October 13 for an increase in the consumption tax rate to around ten percent (from the present 5 percent) to secure pension funds, Shii stated:

"At a time when the LDP and the business circles are about to endorse a massive tax increase, we must call into question the DPJ's move toward joining them."

Pointing out that Koizumi in a one-on-one debate on October 9 with Shii did not deny the possibility of a mass tax increase, Shii said, "This shows that the LDP is preparing a mass tax increase, followed by a consumption tax rate increase." (end)