 Citizens and lawmakers call for constitutional revision process to be thwarted Determined to stop the submission of a national referendum bill that will pave the way for constitutional revision, citizens and lawmakers held a rally in the Diet on January 21, the first day of the Ordinary Session of the Diet. About 130 people took part in the rally at the call of the 2005 May 3 Rally Organizing Committee which is composed of eight organizations, including the Liaison Council of Various Circles for Prevention of Mal-Revision of the Constitution. More than 20,000 signatures in opposition to constitutional revision were submitted to the Diet. Speeches were made by lawmakers Yamaguchi Tomio (Japanese Communist Party), Fukushima Mizuho (Social Democratic Party chair), Madoka Yoriko (Democratic Party), and Itokazu Keiko (independent). (end) |