A greater JCP presence in parliament will pave the way for a Japan in which the people can live in hope

At the start of its House of Councilors election campaign on June 24, the Japanese Communist Party Central Committee issued an appeal to the voters. Following are excerpts from the appeal:

The House of Councilors election has been announced. This election is very important not only for the people's livelihoods but for Japan's future course. The JCP, standing firmly for the people-first principle, will present the voters with solutions to the burning issues in national politics and a proposal for correcting political distortions and remaking Japan.

A greater JCP presence in the parliament will ensure that we can achieve political change and that the path will be opened toward a new Japan in which the people can live in hope.

The JCP's "Remaking Japan" proposal calls for political change in politics in three aspects:

First, we will work to end the present political distortion that gives priority to supporting large corporations and the business sector and puts the task of supporting the people's livelihoods on the back-burner so as to puts greater emphasis on improving living standards and jobs.

Second, we will work to build a Japan that will contribute to peace and friendship with the rest of Asia and the world by breaking away from the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the military alliance which is the root cause of Japan's present foreign policy subservient to the United States, unparalleled in the present-day world.

Third, we will defend all provisions of the Constitution and use its ideals for peace, human rights and democracy as a basis for our "nation building" in the 21st century.

Although we are a "minority" party, we have vision concerning issues that affect people's livelihoods as well as Japan's future course. We are thus doing our utmost to defend the interests of the people.

The scheme to establish a "two party system" is now under way on the initiative of business circles. Can the people entrust their present and future to this scheme?

Take the question of the pension system, which is of keen concern to the people. The Liberal Democratic, Komei, and Democratic parties are calling for a "pension reform." However, they represent the same direction in shifting greater burdens onto the people. The only difference is that the LDP-Komei plan calls for an increase in premiums, while the DPJ proposes a consumption tax increase to support the pension funds, thus pleasing business circles because large corporations virtually need not pay the consumption tax. What will become of the people's living conditions if the two major parties vie with one another for forcing the people to pay more.

The LDP, Komei, and DPJ are also competing with one another on a constitutional revision. Their aim is to adversely revise Article 9 which provides that Japan does not maintain armed forces and will not go to war. The United States is most enthusiastic about an adverse revision of Article 9. The United States wants to transform Japan into a country that fights wars together with the United States by removing constitutional restrictions and other limitations. Article 9 is the treasure that the Japanese people cherish based on their sacrifice and remorse for Japan's war of aggression. Are we to entrust Japan's future course to these two parties which are eager to change the Constitution in submission to the United States?

The LDP and the DPJ have common ground regarding their reluctance to call for an end to politics that gives priority to the interests of business circles/major corporations and the abrogation of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty which keeps Japan's politics subservient to the U.S. The "two major parties" which are unwilling to cure these two ills of Japanese politics, the people's living conditions and Japan's peace will continue to be defenseless.

July 15 marks the 82nd founding anniversary of the Japanese Communist Party. From its inception in the pre-war days, the JCP has strenuously fought even at the cost of the lives of its members for the principles of "Opposition to the war of aggression!" and "Sovereign power for the people!"

The JCP maintains the firm principle of carrying out any political, economic, or diplomatic change based on majority opinion and by respecting people's wishes as expressed in elections. During the course of the 21st century, Japan may face various changes and developments, but under any circumstances, we must bear in mind that the people are the nation's major players.

The JCP will do its utmost together with you, to open Japan's hopeful future. Give your support to the Japanese Communist Party! (end)