Conference held for changing Tokyo Metropolitan Government

With the next Tokyo gubernatorial election nine months away, about 150 people, including representatives of women's and citizens' organizations, labor unions, and political parties on July 13 held a conference in Tokyo to discuss ways to establish a Tokyo Metropolitan government that will respect the Constitution and give priority to welfare and peace. The assembly was called by 405 well-known people of various fields.

The present Tokyo Metropolitan Governor, Ishihara Shintaro, was elected three years ago. He has unsparingly cut residents' welfare living standards, used tax money for large development projects in the name of "Reform of Tokyo," and repeated remarks against the Constitution.

The conference was held in order to form a body of cooperation by Tokyo residents from across the political spectrum in an effort to change the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

People who called the conference include composer Ikebe Shin'ichiro and playwright Kinoshita Junji.

Participants discussed various issues ranging from medical care, education, and welfare, to local autonomy. Tokyo metropolitan Assembly members of the Japanese Communist, Social Democratic, and New Socialist parties, and "Self-governing Citizens 93" attended the conference.

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat head Ichida Tadayoshi stated that Tokyo residents would be greatly encouraged to see such a broad range of people get together to discuss Tokyo's issues.

Referring to the Tokyo governor who is opposed to Article 9 of the Constitution and believes that Japan should be armed with nuclear weapons, Ichida stated that Ishihara should no longer be in charge of the metropolitan government. The JCP will do its utmost to expand cooperation in the effort to build a new Tokyo government, Ichida stressed at the end of his statement. (end)