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DPJ becomes assimilated into LDP
Akahata editorial

The Democratic Party of Japan in its annual convention on December 16 and 17 approved an action policy for FY 2006 calling for resuscitating the party and resuming its challenge to come to power. The policy platform states that the DPJ will vie for a genuine reform by making proposals and counter-proposals, and will be reborn as a fighting party that can go on the offensive.

The question is who the DPJ is going to fight?

DPJ President Maehara Seiji said that the call from Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro and the Liberal Democratic party for a coalition with the DPJ is "99.99 percent impossible." What about the remaining 0.01 percent? Maehara's remarks about the need for "constitutional revision enabling Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense" is in accord with what Koizumi advocates. The opposition DPJ now bears a growing resemblance to the ruling LDP.

DPJ proposals are within the same framework as the LDP's

Stressing the importance of making proposals and counter-proposals, Maehara in the convention said that the DPJ "will continue to make clear what policy it will adopt, and how it will deal with issues if it takes power."

Apparently he meant to demonstrate the party's capacity to govern. However, if an opposition party has parted with the cause of being an opposition party and assumes itself to be a party in power, it will have no choice but to act only within the framework of the ruling LDP in every aspect.

In fact, former DPJ leader Okada Katsuya stated that the DPJ should call itself a party preparing to become a governing party instead of an "opposition party." It was a declaration that the DPJ has ceased to be an opposition party with anti-LDP views. Contrary to its call for a "two-party" system, the DPJ is becoming part of the ruling parties.

The first proposal or counter-proposal made by the DPJ led by Maehara was a bill to reform the postal services. It is basically the same as the government bill, with only a slight difference in the speed of privatization.

Both the DPJ and the LDP are advocates of "privatization," "small government," and a "stronger Japan-U.S. military alliance." The DPJ is trying to put forward "proposals" and "alternatives" concerning technical matters without questioning fundamental policies. This approach will help accelerate "Koizumi reform" policies.

In his speech at the DPJ Convention, Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) President Takagi Tsuyoshi requested the DPJ leadership to "curb its 'alternative' campaign." Alleging that Rengo is a "supporter of the DPJ," Takagi said, "Courtesy should not be forgotten even between close friends." He was warning Maehara that if the DPJ regards labor unions as "resistant" to reform and joins in Koizumi's attack against government workers, it will go against courtesy.

Maehara is apparently reluctant to respond favorably to Takagi's call. Some delegates at the DPJ Congress criticized Maehara for the statements he made during his U.S. and China tours. However, he responded, "the whole party shall follow me as the DPJ leader."

He also stated, "China continues to strengthen and modernize its military. This is a very real concern." "We have to regard the protection of sea lanes as being of paramount importance. We depend on the United States for the defense of sea lanes beyond the 1,000 nautical mile range, but I believe that Japan should also take responsibility. To do this, however, may require changes to our Constitution and an expansion of the reach and capabilities of Japan's Self-Defense Forces" (statement made at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., on December 8, 2005).

Commenting on Maehara's statement, Koizumi stated, "The LDP is prepared to join hands with Maehara because he has long been an advocate of constitutional revision."

The two are harmonized in the attempt to destroy the pacifist principles of the Constitution, and again remake Japan into a nation depending highly on its military power. The advocated "great alliance" of both parties is a subsequent result of these arguments. The alliance will be just a copy of wartime politics under the Imperial Rule Assistance Association.

Far from public wishes

Any war-like leaders will have to destroy peace and social safety. As suggested by the false anti-earthquake design issue, once regulations on the profit-first policy of corporations are lifted, the safety of the public will be endangered. Many people are concerned about this issue, and are seeking ways to keep the peace, their living conditions and the social safety net.

The direction pursued by DPJ Maehara is completely opposite to these public wishes.
-Akahata, December 19, 2005