Kakushinkon holds 30th general meeting

Japan Press Weekly

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

Kakushinkon holds 30th general meeting

The National Association for a Peaceful, Democratic and Progressive Japan (Kakushinkon) held its 30th annual general meeting in Tokyo on July 26 with an attendance of 274 people involved in the Kakushinkon movement to protect peace, democracy, and people's livelihoods.

Regarding the July House of Councilors election results in which the Democratic Party of Japan suffered big losses, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo said, "Although voters delivered a severe verdict on the DPJ, they did not want the Liberal Democratic Party to come back to power. This shows that the business circle's attempt to establish a 'two-party-system' has reached an impasse."

As for the reason for the impasse of big businesses' attempt, Shii pointed out that the policies of the LDP and the DPJ have also come to a deadlock because they have the same view which recognizes the Japan-U.S. military alliance as absolute necessity and puts high priority on big businesses, and that other newly established political parties, including the Your Party, have the same view as the LDP and the DPJ.

Shii went on to say, "Under the situation that people's explorations of a new direction in politics brings a new dimension to Japanese politics, the very existence and further development of the Kakushinkon movement is essential. I look forward to the further development of the Kakushinkon movement."

Presenting an action program for the next general meeting, Kakushinkon Representative Shii Naoki stressed the need to increase their movement to oppose the move to raise the consumption tax and the move to cut proportional representation seats in the Diet as well as to achieve the unconditional removal of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa.

Regarding the issue of reducing the number of the House of Representatives proportional representation seats, Shii stated, "If the number of seats in the proportional representation bloc is decreased, public opinion such as opposition to a consumption tax hike or relocation of the U.S. Futenma base will not be reflected in government policies. It is necessary to launch a campaign against such a plan across the country."

- Akahata, July 26, 2010