Stop wartime bills in Upper House: Shii

The House of Representatives plenary session passed the three contingency bills by a majority of the three ruling parties and the opposition Democratic and Liberal parties on May 15. The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party voted against.

These are the bills which the government parties and the DPJ agreed on with token alterations. They are now in the House of Councilors.

JCP Chair Shii Kazuo said, "The outrageous action of the ruling parties and the DPJ cannot but increase the contradictions between them and public opinion in Japan and internationally. The JCP will carry on the struggle in the Upper House to foil the bills."

About 300 workers and religious people gathered in the Diet building to stage emergency protests by the National Confederation of Trade unions (Zenroren), the National Federation of Traders and Producers Organizations (Zenshoren), and 20 organizations representing land, sea, air and port workers unions.

A representative of the All-Japan Seamen's Union said to the protesters, "Our struggle has not ended. Let's do everything we can to foil the contingency legislation."

A man, 81, from the network of Christians for peace, said, "The wartime legislation will turn Japan into a war fighting nation. Has the DPJ gone mad?" (end)