JCP Shii talks on Iraqi matters in TV interview

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo said that the so-called "Coalition of the Willing," a coalition of invaders are faced with increasing contradictions.

Shii said this in an interview with Asahi Newstar, aired on March 24 via the communication satellite broadcast.

He said, "The United States launched the war of aggression against Iraq with some countries of the 'Coalition of Willing' in contempt of the United Nations."

Referring to the recent political change in Spain in which the pro-war ruling party lost as the result of a general election and the March 20 global protest on the first anniversary of the Iraq War, Shii stated that the "Coalition of the Willing" has come under stronger international criticism.

"Now that the U.S.-led war of aggression and the occupation went obviously wrong, the need now is to replace the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq with a U.N.-led framework for solving problems facing Iraq today through restoring sovereignty to the Iraqis and removing without delay the occupation forces as well as Japan's Self-Defense Forces," said Shii.

Shii said that the eradication of terrorism is the world's common concern but that the international community should clearly recognize that the U.S. "war against terrorism" inversely maintains the cycle of violence.

Shii reiterated the JCP call on the world to put an end to terrorism based on justice and international solidarity. (end)