  Plebiscite bill prepares for constitutional revision -- Akahata editorial, March 15 (excerpts)At the call of Nakayama Taro, Liberal Democratic Party Research Commission on the Constitution chair, officials in charge of the Constitution issue from the LDP, Komei, and Democratic parties of Japan met on March 11 to discuss setting up a three-party consultative body on a bill to establish a procedure for a national plebiscite. How opportunistic pro-constitutional revision forces are! They have been speaking ill of the Constitution, but are now calling for the Constitutional provision concerning a national plebiscite to be developed into a statute. A national referendum law is required only for constitutional revision. No such law is necessary if the affairs of state is administered based on the Constitution. At present, there is no consensus among the people on constitutional revision. Consequently, no procedures are necessary to legislate a plebiscite. What we must pay attention to is that the people's opposition to constitutional revision plans schemed by the LDP and other forces have thwarted plans to enact a plebiscite law. The major aim of the LDP is to adversely revise Article 9. By removing the constitutional provision banning the maintenance of war potential, Japan can legally maintain armed forces and fight wars abroad together with the U.S. forces. To serve this purpose, people will be forced to "defend the nation" and their rights and freedoms will be restricted. It is natural that many people oppose such a LDP plan to change the Constitution to move Japan onto a dangerous course again. The sound judgment of the peace-loving people has prevented a national plebiscite law from being enacted. This doesn't represent parliamentary negligence but a valuable national gain. The outline of the national plebiscite bill states that the affirmative vote of a majority of valid votes effectuates the proposed constitutional revision, without specifying the conditions validating a plebiscite. The outline also includes strict restrictions on movements and reports that call constitutional revision into question. Disguised as a follow-up for the constitutional provision, the plebiscite bill is a step toward changing Article 9 to undermine the peace principles and violating people's sovereignty. (end) |