 More than 1,100 public figures have expressed support for Article 9 Association appeal The Article 9 Association held a news conference on January 31 in Yokohama to announce that the number of public figures who have expressed support for the movement to defend the war-renouncing Article 9 has reached 1,157 as of January 25. It also said that more than 1,000 local Article 9 Associations have been established in response to the appeal calling for a national movement to defend Article 9. Representatives of the Association said that many public figures in their messages in support of its call have expressed their ideas and thoughts about the need to defend Article 9. Film director Obayashi Nobuhiko stated, "Our duty in the 21st century is to eradicate the word 'war' from our dictionaries." Takeoka Katsumi, former deputy vice minister for Defense, said, "Article 9 should be preserved as it is. I see no reason why it has to be amended." Painter Takidaira Jiro said, "I am a Battle of Okinawa survivor. I cannot tolerate any move to revise Article 9." As the ruling Liberal Democratic Party lays the groundwork for gutting the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution with strong backing of corporate leaders, the Article 9 Association will hold a series of public assemblies: February 25 in Yokohama; March 12 in Hiroshima, and March 19 in Fukuoka. The Article 9 Association was established in June 2004 by nine public figures, including Nobel Prize writer Oe Kenzaburo. (end) |