JCP demands apology from Tokyo governor

The Japanese Communist Party demanded that Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro retract a slander he made on the JCP and apologize for the irresponsible remark.

JCP Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Members Group Kimura Yoji made representations to the governor's office on March 30.

In a speech on March 27 at a ceremony to open a bridge, Ishihara said, "There was one party that opposed the construction of this bridge. The JCP was that party, but it will disappear soon."

Pointing out that the JCP had never opposed the bridge construction, Kimura said, "The governor is responsible for making the false public statement about a party's position. Such a slander against a party will weaken parliamentary democracy." (end)