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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Discussion throws into relief the role of JCP in the struggle to defend peace and living conditions

"Discussions reflected party members' conviction in the efficiency of the JCP Program which provides a long-term view of the world," said Shii Kazuo, Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee chair, in his concluding remarks at the JCP 24th Congress on January 14.

Shii made the concluding remarks, focusing on the following 3 characteristic features of the 3-days of discussion in which 58 delegates and non-voting observers spoke:

First, the discussion revealed that with LDP politics reaching an impasse, people's struggles to defend their living conditions are emerging from throughout the country, and the JCP is playing a role as a "lifeline." A catchphrase of the Congress became "Build social solidarity to make a social counterattack."

A delegate who is a hospital worker said that the number of homeless people among outpatients is increasing and that the JCP is gaining their trust through its activities to protect their lives. Some reports from workplace branches described the outrageously lawless situations in their workplaces and their struggles to make a breakthrough.

Second, the Congress united all delegates, from the young to the old. Youth delegates reported on their activities to breakthrough the situation in which human beings' pride and dignity are being trampled on. As an 80-year-old branch head spoke about the struggle against war and in defense of the Constitution, it became clear that many senior members are at the forefront of party activities.

A 23-year-old delegate from Chiba Prefecture talked about a female high school student who believed that money is everything and had sex with middle-aged men in exchange for money, experiencing attempted suicide by wrist cuts. "There are many young people that feel they can only become happy by defeating others or that they cannot become happy without overtaking others. Only the JCP has the capacity to listen to them and encourage solidarity to try to overcome their troubles," he said.

Thirdly, the Congress showed the high road for building a strong party. Many of the delegates reported that based on "policy and plans," their branches overcame their difficulties and made fruitful gains in party building.

A delegate from Yamagata Prefecture said that when he became a branch head one and a half years ago, it had not held a regular meeting for a long time, and only 40 percent of its members paid their membership fees. But after setting up their "policy and plans," they strove to build a relationship with community members, hold weekly meetings, learn the JCP Program and share tasks among all the members. They increased the daily Akahata readership to 130 percent from the previous congress and 220 percent for the Sunday edition, and all the branch members now pay their dues regularly.
- Akahata, January 15, 16, 2006