Find out the truth of the abduction issue in order to solve the problem -- Akahata editorial, October 15One year has passed since five Japanese citizens who had been abducted by North Korea returned home.
They were brought back after the Japan-North Korea Summit meeting last September in which North Korea admitted to kidnapping them. It's very tragic that family members of these abduction victims are still left behind in North Korea. Other abductees who did not join the five are reported to be "dead" or "missing" in that country. The truth has not been revealed yet.
The need now is to resolve without delay the abduction issue, including repatriation of the family members of the five.
It's an international issue
This is an issue of North Korea's abduction of foreign citizens by force, which is in violation of Japan's national sovereignty and contrary to basic human rights and the law of humanity. Its solution is indispensable to the defense of Japan's sovereignty as well as human rights of abduction victims and their families.
Solution of the North Korean issues, including the abductions, is an essential task for peace and stability in Eastern Asia.
The Japanese Communist Party in its general election policies pays great attention to the present North Korean problems which involve the real danger of a war in East Asia, and demands that the problems be solved through peaceful diplomatic means from beginning to end to prevent war from occurring.
To this end, the JCP proposes that the international community adhere to the following three principles:
First, persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons development program and build stable diplomatic relations with all foreign governments, and to understand that this is the best way to guarantee its security.
Second, urge North Korea to settle all accounts of its lawless international acts of the past, including the abduction of Japanese nationals, the terrorist bombing in Rangoon, Burma, the shooting at a Japanese fishing boat, the explosion of a KAL airliner, and drug trafficking, and to return to the international community in the true sense of the word.
Third, all countries concerned should stay away from the vicious cycle of military responses and be determined to stop it. It is necessary that both the United States, regarding North Korea as a target of its preemptive attacks, and North Korea, repeating brinkmanship policies, firmly restrain themselves. It is also necessary for Japan and other countries to respond in ways that will restrain military confrontation between the two countries from taking place.
Resolving the abduction issue has an important bearing not only on the victims and their families but also on North Korea atoning for its past lawless international acts.
Resolving the abduction issue should be part of the task of the international community to urge North Korea to solve the problem of its lawless act, instead of limiting it to a bilateral issue between Japan and North Korea.
While severely criticizing North Korea for its lawless acts, including the abductions, the Japanese Communist Party has proposed resolving the North Korea question peacefully through negotiations.
JCP proposal for negotiated settlement
It was from this viewpoint that the JCP was the first in the Diet to have the government acknowledge the suspicion that north Korea might be responsible for the abductions. The JCP also proposed in the Diet that the government establish a channel for the two governments to negotiate.
The JCP demands that North Korea disclose all facts about the abductions, including whether the cases revealed in the Japan-North Korea summit talks were exhaustive or not, and punish those who are responsible and apologize to the victims and compensate them for the damage.
A reasonable solution of the North Korea question will open a grand perspective toward peace, prosperity and friendship in East Asia, which will also ensure peace and safety for the Japanese people. (end)