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

Let's bring Koizumi government to an end by people power
Akahata editorial (excerpts)

Five full years have just passed since Koizumi Jun'ichiro of the Liberal Democratic Party became Japan's prime minister.

Shouting, "I'll destroy the LDP," Koizumi has in fact destroyed people's living and peace as well as the friendship and trust of neighboring countries in Asia.

The Koizumi government has taken to extremes abnormalities of LDP politics to justify the past war of aggression, to take submissive attitudes toward the United States, and to stick to the position catering to major corporations.

Widening economic disparities and increasing poverty have particularly become serious because of the corporation-oriented politics to expand non-regular employment, to undermine social security, and to give tax breaks to large corporations while imposing heavier tax burdens on people that are carried out under the pretext of "structural reform."

That Prime Minister Koizumi has repeatedly visited Yasukuni Shrine in defiance of criticism in and out of Japan is undoubtedly worsening relationships with China and South Korea.

In addition to supporting the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Koizumi government carries out a policy aimed at taking part in U.S. wars abroad by means of a realignment of the U.S. Forces in Japan, Japan-U.S. military integration, and an adverse revision of the Constitution. The Koizumi administration is thus extraordinarily obedient to the demands of United States.

Furthermore, it accepted the U.S. demand that Japan pay more than six billion dollars as expenses for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps command to Guam, and is rushing to conclude a final agreement with the U.S. government. However, the agreement with the U.S. will inevitably face a backlash from the Japanese people.

Nothing can be expected from LDP politicians who are said to be "post-Koizumi prime minister hopefuls" or from the Democratic Party which is unable to show its standpoint in opposition to the Koizumi government.

In order to put an end to the LDP politics and open a new way, people need to corner the Koizumi government and hand down a verdict on it by their own efforts. To this end, it becomes more important than ever to increase solidarity among ordinary people.
- Akahata, April 26, 2006