Tokyo governor does not represent us -- Akahata 'Current' column, November 6

It comes as no surprise that Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro's statement roused the wrath of the South Korean people.

When Ishihara said that Koreans chose to be annexed to Japan, he was not only distorting history but insulted Korean people who take pride in their resistance to Japan's colonization in the prewar days.

The Korean daily, Chosun Ilbo, ran an editorial in protest, grievously posing a question: "Don't you mind our understanding Governor Ishihara's absurd statement as representing the Japanese people's will?"

Japanese news media, which have lionized Ishihara, is soft on his statements of abuse.

The Chosun Ilbo editorial went on to say: "Is it correct to say that Ishihara, on behalf of the Japanese people, expressed Japan's national desire to gloss over the history of Japanese aggression against Korea and to pave the way for more aggression?"

Ishihara is slinging mud at peace-loving Japanese people who firmly stand for the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution.

Okudaira Yasuhiro, a constitutionalist, said, "For the first time since the end of WWII, a constitutional revision is being discussed in the general election."

The Chosun Ilbo editorial seems to be posing a crucial question: What if the Japanese Communist Party, which calls on the people to defend Article 9 and let it guide the nation, does not exert its power? Peoples in Asia and the rest of the world may believe that the Japanese people want to discard the Peace Constitution.

Now is the time to tell everyone that a vote for the Liberal Democratic Party or the Democratic Party of Japan will mean endorsing the proposed adverse constitutional revision as well as a consumption tax rate increase. The . is an opposition party worthy of the name. It is also a party that never loses sight of Japan's future. (end)