JCP Leaders call for major JCP advance

The three top Japanese Communist Party leaders, Fuwa Tetsuzo (Central Committee chair), Shii Kazuo (Executive Committee chair), and Ichida Tadayoshi (Secretariat head), made speeches or answered questions from the audience at the 38th Akahata Festival (Nov. 2-4) in Tokyo.

Shii made the main speech. Referring to the Iraqi question, he stated that the JCP does not consider the war on Iraq as inevitable. In order to avoid the war and achieve a peaceful solution to the issue, the JCP has carried out every diplomatic effort on its own initiative, he explained.

Mentioning further JCP diplomatic efforts in East Asia, Shii stated that the party is convinced that if the JCP works with the party in power, these efforts will fully contribute to establishing Japan's foreign relations based on peace and friendship.

Shii denounced the Koizumi Cabinet for undermining the public livelihood and distressing smaller businesses, and stressed the need to establish real "democracy and equality" to govern the 21st century world.

Fuwa made a lecture on November 4, titled "Again on 'scientific views' the Akahata Festival version of his seminar on Capital". Marx's Capital is effective not only in criticizing and analyzing modern capitalism, but in envisaging a future society, he said.

On November 3, Fuwa said before 8,000 participants in Tokyo that there is no alternative to a major JCP advance in the House of Representatives election and simultaneous local elections in order to help overcome the present political turmoil in Japan.

In talks with pantomime artist Matsui Asako on November 3, Ichida related that he lost four of his eight brothers and sisters during the war. It was not accidental for him to join the JCP because he saw her mother suffering from hardships after her husband's untimely death. (end)