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

'Crime of conspiracy' bill must be scrapped: JCP Ichida

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi at a press conference on May 8 stated that the JCP will continue to strive to scrap a "crime of conspiracy" bill, rejecting the ruling parties' move to amend the bill in order to make its enactment easier.

Warning of the tense situation in which the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties are trying to pass the "crime of conspiracy" bill through the House of Representatives Judicial Affairs Committee on May 9, Ichida stated, "The bill is tantamount to a modern-day version of the prewar Public Order Maintenance Law. It denies the basic premise of today's criminal law."

Ichida also said, "Current criminal law punishes a committed crime. But if the bill is enacted, thoughts and conscience will be subject to criminal liability. It will be applied to labor unions and NGOs because its definition of punishable organizations is ambiguous."

On the same day, about 150 people marched in a demonstration in Tokyo calling for the bill to be scrapped.

The day's action was called for by the Japan Lawyers Association for Freedom, the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), and the People's Aid and Relief Association of Japan. Japanese Communist Party House of Councilors member Nihi Sohei and Social Democratic Party President Fukushima Mizuho attended a rally in the Diet building.
- Akahata, May 9, 2006