Fukuda’s policy speech lacks substance: JCP Shii

   Asked by reporters for a comment on Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo’s policy speech, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on October 1 said, “He mentioned ‘a country of hope and reassurance,’ but failed to show how such a country can be created.”

   “Mr. Fukuda hoped that ‘the young people have hope for the future and the elderly people have a sense of reassurance.’ In that cace, he needs a prescription based on an analysis of what has deprived young people of their hopes and elderly people of their sense of reassurance,” Shii said.

   Taking an increase in non-regular employment, a question that Fukuda referred to in his policy speech, for example, the fundamental cause is the relaxation of regulations on employment, Shii pointed out.

   Shii said that the JCP will address specific issues related to regaining “hope and sense of reassurance” in the upcoming Diet deliberations.

   Concerning the Self-Defense Force’s assistance to U.S. wars based on the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law, Fukuda stated that he would “explain in detail the necessity of continuing these activities to the people and the Diet.”

   Shii, however, pointed out that Fukuda failed to explain what he meant by “contribution” and “fight against terrorism.” “Without hesitation, we will grill the government in the Diet to show that the government policy is wrong,” Shii said.

   Phrases like “creation of a beautiful Japan” and “breaking away from the post-war regime” that former Prime Minister Abe frequently used disappeared from Fukuda’s speech.

   Shii said, “The argument by what we call the pro-Yasukuni forces has ended up in failure and have become unable to prevail because of the sharp verdict handed down by the people. This is a positive change made by popular judgment.”

- Akahata, October 2, 2007