jcpchair

JCP chair urges prime minister to give up plan for 4 trillion yen extra burden

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on February 6 urged Prime Minister Jun'ichiro Koizumi to cancel the government plan to impose 4 trillion yen (33.3 billion dollars) extra burden on the people.

He was questioning the government in the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting discussing the fiscal 2003 budget starting on April 1st.

Shii gave the example of a lung disease patient who died because he could not afford to continue oxygen inhaling at home. Koizumi evaded giving a straight answer.

Shii went on to say that the increased burden on the people will cause a loss of household income 10 times more than in 1997 when 9 trillion yen (75 billion dollars) extra burden was imposed. He said that this will deal a deadly blow to the nation's economy, finances, and social services. He also called on the government to tell banks to stop their aggressive collection of loans from small- and medium-sized business borrowers.

On the Iraq question, Shii urged the prime minister to call for continued and reinforced United Nations inspections and a peaceful resolution through such inspections. To Shii's question "Which is the Japanese government's choice, a peaceful settlement through inspections or war?" the prime minister replied, "It depends on subsequent circumstances."

JCP Chair Shii stated that the prime minister's reply has virtually opted for war, and that it will tarnish history. He said that it is never too late for the Japanese government to call for a peaceful settlement in concert with a majority of international opinion. (end)