Unleash JCP value in extra-Diet: Shii addresses all JCP Dietmembers

Prior to the opening of the 155th extraordinary Diet session on October 18, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo addressed a JCP Dietmembers group assembly in the Diet Building, emphasizing the need to make the JCP's value visible in the extraordinary Diet session.

Shii emphasized that amid the tumultuous situation, the JCP's true value stands out over domestic and foreign policies and that the JCP will use parliamentary debates to demonstrate its ability to lead politics in the 21st century.

On the Japanese economy, Shii pointed out that the Koizumi Cabinet further exacerbates the economic recession by taking "2-ruthless measures": imposing increased burdens on the people in the midst of the economic slump, and destroying smaller businesses under the name of "swift disposal of bad loans."

Shii said that these policies have already been tested and proved to be in disarray and that the JCP from the outset has been warning that none of those policies would go well. Instead, the JCP "4-point proposal" offers a reasonable alternative. He encouraged JCP Dietmembers to boldly call for change in the economic policy.

On foreign affairs and peace, the biggest challenge is to prevent the U.S. from attacking Iraq so that the peace based on the U.N. Charter will be respected, Shii stressed.

Citing fruitful results of the diplomatic efforts the JCP delegation achieved during its tour of Middle East countries, Shii expressed his determination to press the Japanese government to oppose a U.S. strike against Iraq, refuse any related cooperation for the attack, and scrap the wartime bills in this extraordinary Diet session.

On North Korea's nuclear development program, Shii emphasized that the JCP is, of course, in opposition to the nuclear development as a party persistently calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons on a global scale.

Shii pointed out that the development of such weapons runs counter to the peace in Asia and the world, tramples on the wish of people of the A-bombed country, violates the 1994 U.S.-DPRK "Agreed Framework" and clauses of the NPT Treaty, and goes against the "Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration" which agrees to "comply with all related international agreements."

The JCP will encourage the government to demand that the North Korean government immediately stop developing nuclear weapons and accept international inspections through negotiations for normalizing relations between Japan and North Korea, Shii said. (end)