Prime Minister Koizumi makes no reference to his pledge to Bush for
supporting U.S. retaliatory war: Diet

In his policy speech in the Extraordinary Diet Session which opened on
September 27, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro declared that Japan will
take independent, effective, and every step possible in support of a U.S.
plan to launch a retaliatory war against terrorists.

He didn't refer to the details of his public promise he made in the
latest Japan-U.S. summit talks on giving Japan's support to the U.S. in its
military retaliation.

In the Diet session which will last till December 7, the government and
the ruling parties are attempting to railroad through a new law that will
allow Self-Defense Force units to be sent abroad. Koizumi, however, didn't
touch on it, either.

On the contrary, the prime minister emphasized the need to examine
wartime legislation, saying that Japan in peacetime must establish a crisis
management system in preparation for emergencies.

As regards the issue of disposal of non-performing loans, another promise
he made to the U.S., Koizumi said that the goal of normalizing the situation
must be achieved within three years.

On the compilation of a 2001 FY supplementary budget, national bonds
issuance should be held to under 30 trillion yen in a year base, as well as
in the next year's budget, he said.

* * *

Commenting on Koizumi's policy speech on the same day, Shii Kazuo,
Japanese Communist Party chair, said as follows:

"The prime minister made no explanation for his policy in support of a
U.S. military retaliation plan, though he is going to submit a grave
unconstitutional bill to the Diet. How irresponsible he is.

"The core of parliamentary debates is how Japan, as a member of the
international community, should deal with the task of eliminating terrorism.
The JCP has issued a 'letter' calling on the world to eliminate terrorism
not by means of military retaliation, but by pursuing justice through legal
channels.

"In the Diet speech, Mr. Koizumi referred to the fact that the government
decided on a seven-point plan in support of retaliatory operations led by
the U.S. But, he stopped short of elaborating on the bill aimed at deploying
SDF units overseas as legislation of specified duration, and details of the
7-point policy were not given.

"The government must explain to the Diet what is a reasonable means to
root out terrorism internationally. In his policy speech, Koizumi has had to
explain the government plan in support of U.S. retaliatory steps. It should
at least try to convince the people on what legal basis it is going to
extend its support to the U.S. Forces." (end)