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Year of the JCP Congress: Let us step up a gear to advance strongly --Speech by JCP Chair Shii Kazuo at the 2006 New Year Assembly, January 4, 2006

Happy New Year! Greetings to those who are watching this New Year Assembly via the communication satellite broadcast throughout Japan! I want to take this opportunity to express my respect for and gratitude to your everyday support for the Japanese Communist Party.

Let us achieve a full-scale JCP advance in 2006 building on last year's struggle

The year 2006 begins with the JCP 24th Congress just a week from now. At the Congress, we will make a general analysis of the situation in Japan and the world. It will make clear how JCP activities should be developed. Speaking at the beginning of the new year, I will touch on features of the past year and what stance we should take this year.

The year 2005 was a year in which we faced up to the turbulent situation and established a foothold for an advance.

In the snap House of Representatives general election, the JCP managed to maintain its 9 previous seats with 4.92 million votes in the proportional representation constituencies. We thus put up a good fight that secured a foothold for a further advance.

Look at the JCP achievement in local elections held last year in 488 cities, towns, wards, and villages, as well as in Tokyo. Many of them were post-municipality merger elections. The average JCP share of local assembly seats increased from 6.18 percent to 7.47 percent. In 2005, the JCP had 622 candidates elected while the Liberal Democratic Party had 373, the Komei Party 472, the Democratic Party of Japan 143, the Social Democratic Party 94.

I am sure that many JCP members and supporters throughout Japan share the feeling that we are on the threshold of a further JCP advance.

Building on this achievement, we will do our best to ready ourselves for a full-scale JCP advance in 2006.

New JCP Program and policies are influencing political developments

The past year saw the new JCP Program and JCP policies influence the changing political situation. I think that this new development came to light in many fields.

The Yasukuni issue has caused a merging between JCP views and various domestic and international opinions

Let me begin with historical questions.

Last year, the 60th anniversary of the end of WW II, Japan got locked in a serious diplomatic stalemate mainly due to Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro's visits to Yasukuni Shrine.

In dealing with the state of affairs, the JCP made clear that the heart of the matter is the Yasukuni Shrine view of history and war that "Japan's war was justifiable" and proposed a solution to the problem. The JCP analysis and proposals had influence on public opinion in Japan as well as international opinions in Asia, the United States and Europe.

Let me cite two such media reports in the new year.

One is a front page article of the January 1 issue of Mainichi entitled "U.S. administration concerned about Yasukuni and calls on Japan to reconsider it. Referring to the Japan-U.S. summit and in the U.S.-China summit in November 2005, it reported that U.S. President George W. Bush expressed concern about worsening relations between Japan and China and that he urged the Japanese government to review its Asia strategy. The article also said that in the November Japan-U.S. summit, the U.S. president used the larger portion of his time to discuss issues relating to Japan-China relations. This contradicts the Foreign Ministry release that simply stated that President Bush asked Prime Minister Koizumi about his view on China.

The other is an article printed in the January issue of "Gaiko Forum," a foreign affairs magazine published in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry. It is an article entitled "Reconciliation--the task for Japan's diplomacy" by former Japanese Ambassador to the United States Kuriyama Shoichi. He states as follows: "This author disagrees with the prime minister's visits to Yasukuni Shrine because its view on history is incompatible with the government view expressed in two statements by the prime minister. If the prime minister or any other state ministers visit Yasukuni Shrine, it will very likely give the impression that the government shares with Yasukuni Shrine the same historical outlook approving the Greater East Asia War. The prime minister must stop his Yasukuni visits."

This criticism by a former government diplomat is directly to the point.

The thing is that the analysis by the JCP had repercussions in the United States and was echoed by a former Japanese ambassador to the United States, who has played an important role in Japan's diplomacy. Isn't this proof of the strength of a just and reasoned argument based on facts?

Powerful struggle for peace is developing on issues of the Constitution and "U.S. military realignment"

Another feature of last year was that grassroots public struggles to defend peace began to grow.

Concerning the issue of the Constitution, the Liberal Democratic and Democratic parties competed with each other to be the first to draft a revised constitution. The sooner the public realizes that these parties are both aimed at gutting Article 9 to turn Japan into a "war fighting nation," the stronger becomes the struggle to foil these attempts.

The Article 9 Association founded in June 2004 grew dramatically during the past year. Local Article 9 associations came into being in various locations, at places of work, on campuses, and in various communities. The number of local associations increased from about 1,000 to 4,000. Public figures have joined this movement, including those from mass media, the film industry, science, and literature, as well as living national treasures. Article 9 Associations have been established in workplaces, regardless of national trade union affiliation, whether organized or unorganized. The Japanese Communist Party promises to do its utmost as part of the Article 9 Association's movement so that it will rally the majority of the public to support its cause.

It is also significant that opposition has grown against the ongoing military integration between the U.S. and Japan and the strengthening of the functions of U.S. military bases in Japan in the name of "U.S. military transformation." It should be noted that the struggle has developed by rallying the overwhelming majority of local autonomies concerned, conservatives and progressives alike.

Since the government agreed last October with the U.S. on the plan to "realign U.S. forces in Japan," the Defense Agency director general has visited local governments to persuade them into accepting the plan. According to the Agency in the Diet, however, of the 43 municipalities and 12 prefectures that were asked to cooperate, only Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Ishihara Shintaro favorably responded to the plan.

Recent developments show that people have great enthusiasm in their quest for peace related to the issues of the Constitution and the U.S. military realignment. Conditions are ripe for the JCP to develop joint struggles with the public. With this in mind, let us make this year a year of significant development in the struggle.

Economic ills caused by failure of Koizumi's "structural reform" policy

In the economy in 2005, the Koizumi Cabinet's "neo-liberalism" swept the country in the name of 'structural reform', invoking deregulation as panacea, market forces, and the law of the jungle, through the enactment of the postal services privatization law. The failure of Koizumi's economic policy became evident.

The JCP sharply criticized the cabinet for its "structural reform" policy and made public proposals for economic reform. It's important to note that these JCP efforts have been widely accepted among the public and began influencing public opinion.

The fatal derailment in April 2005 at West Japan Railway Company West (JR West) showed that the privatization of the National Railways and the ensuing profit-first policy that neglects safety was the problem. In the issue of falsified earthquake-proof structural data, the problem was the adverse revision of the Building Standards Acts in 1998 to allow the private sector to conduct building inspections.

The JCP opposed both the National Railway's privatization and breakup in 1986 and the adverse revision in 1998 of the Building Standards Acts, maintaining that their deregulation as panacea will put human lives and safety at risk. The record shows that what the JCP in the Diet warned of at those times regarding the dangers of privatization and deregulation was accurate. A series of incidents that occurred last year demonstrate the accuracy of what the JCP had asserted.

We need to note that public criticism of privatization and deregulation is now increasing. Referring to the JR incident and the fake counter-earthquake design issue, the December 24 editorial of the daily Yomiuri Shimbun entitled "The foundation of 'secure society' collapsed in 2005," stated:

"The buzzwords today are 'small government' and 'privatization,' but, we must keep in mind that privatization helps loosen regulations and disciplines and that 'safety' and 'a sense of security' should not be neglected."

Former Transport Minister Hashimoto Ryutaro under the Nakasone Cabinet, who led the National Railways privatization, in an interview with the daily Sankei Shimbun (December 22 issue) stated:

"The privatization of the Japanese National Railways (in which he played a role) is highly commented by some, but I regret it because of the fatal derailment at JR West."

Hashimoto also said, "A long time span will be needed to ascertain whether administrative reform was a success or failure," but his expression of regret is significant.

The draft Resolution of the JCP 24th Congress sounded a warning that "structural reform" policy is increasing poverty and widening social disparities. Asahi Shimbun gave a large space on the front page of January 3 to a report about a rapid increase in the number of students who receive public assistance for attending school. It said that one in every four students in Osaka and Tokyo depends on public assistance. In the paper, a public figure commented as follows:

"Given the disparities in the educational environment of compulsory education, what will become of the next generation?"

This is another example of our warnings being echoed.

Facts show that "structural reform" brings benefits only to a handful of corporate giants and wealthy people, that the present economic policy is increasing poverty and widening the gap in society, and that people's lives and safety are at risk. It is important that the "structural reform" policy is under growing criticism.

The government is destroying people's lives and livelihoods in the name of "structural reform." The task now is to work hard to develop and unite with various popular movements while strengthening their solidarity at all levels of society in order to turn this year into a year to advance our fight against misgovernment.

Using the new JCP Program as its compass, we have presented the public with a path of democratic reform to put an end to three ills of the LDP government policies: distortion of history, subservience to the United States, and the defense of business circles' interests. The JCP is making efforts with people to achieve democratic reform. As I just said, this JCP effort is displaying its ability to make a difference. Here, with certainty, we will continue to fight with the firm conviction that our struggle is influencing the actual political situation.

JCP Program is present in the world's movement for social progress

Look at the world situation and you will find that last year the JCP Program meshed with the movement for world peace and social progress. I'd like to speak about two regions that deserve attention.

Growing calls for peace represent an "exciting change in the situation" in East Asia

Let me begin by speaking about East Asia.

The changes in this part of the world represent the various moves toward peace, in particular in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Importantly, it is spreading in areas outside of Southeast Asia, centering around the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

In addition to the ten founding members of ASEAN, ten more countries have become members of the TAC. They are China, South Korea, Japan, India, Pakistan, Russia, Mongolia, Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. With these twenty nations, the TAC covers the eastern half of the Eurasia Continent and Oceania where more than half the world population live, forming a huge sphere of peace. This movement has given rise to the plan to establish an "East Asia Community." The draft Resolution of the JCP 24th Congress states that a very "exciting change is taking place in the situation."

Notably, the moves toward peace in Asia have obliged the United States to shift from its confrontational approach. U.S. President George W. Bush in November 2005 held talks with ASEAN leaders and they published the "Joint Vision Statement on the ASEAN-U.S. Enhanced Partnership." The most important thing is that this statement articulates and acknowledges that it will "respect the spirit and principles of the TAC." Although the United States maintains its policy of unilateral hegemony, it could not overturn the emerging peaceful order in East Asia. It eventually had to confirm this trend.

Changes taking place in Latin America - 'Washington needs to change its ways'

The other region to look at is Latin America.

This includes in particular Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Movements are taking place in these countries to seek independent and democratic nation-building. A left-wing candidate's overwhelming victory in the Bolivian presidential election late last year was a striking event that can be described as a symbol of the ongoing moves toward true independence from the U.S. in opposition to "neo-liberalism".

The impact of the move has been carried in several U.S. newspaper reports. The Miami Herald published a long article on December 25, 2005, entitled "2005: U.S. slipped as China rose in Latin America," which stated as follows: "When historians in the future look back at the year 2005, they will describe it as the year in which the United States lost much of its once almighty influence in Latin America."

In the eyes of the author a major historical change took place last year in that part of the world.

A New York Times editorial dated December 24, 2005 reported the Bolivian presidential election result as "history making.".

It went on to say, "The political balance in Latin America has clearly been shifting to the left. Nearly 300 million of South America's 365 million people live under left-wing governments."

The editorial closed by stating, "Washington needs to change its ways. The friendship of neighbors is a terrible thing to lose."

In this region known as the U.S. "backyard", U.S. domination is collapsing. Since the change has been made by the will of a majority of the people as expressed in free and fair elections, it is not easy for the U.S. to meddle. Thus, the U.S. has come to the point where it should feel compelled to "change its ways" if it does not want to lose the "friendship" of Latin American countries.

World power balance has demonstrably shifted in favor of peace and social justice

Having been dragged into a quagmire in its war of aggression in Iraq, the U.S. faces growing criticism from within the U.S. as well as from abroad, but it is unable to find a way out. On January 2, the Washington Post carried an almost full-page report that the White House had given up its initial rebuilding plan in Iraq due to rising military costs. The U.S. is facing a serious abyss and cannot see its way out of Iraq.

U.S. hegemony is losing its grip in both East Asia and Latin America. In both region the U.S. is pressed to "change its ways." This is the reality of the present-day world.

I am convinced that the past year has clearly demonstrated a shift of world power balance towards peace and social justice.

In light of this, how aberrant it is for the LDP government to continue to follow the U.S., and serve as a stronghold of hegemony! Clearly its policies have no future.

At the beginning of the new year, let us grasp firmly the positive changes taking place in the world to prove the accuracy of the world view of the new JCP program that calls for international solidarity in favor of peace and social justice in a major structural change in the world.

Let us use the "rich treasure" of the JCP Program that claims international attention

Last year witnessed in many ways increasing international attention to and interest in the JCP Program.

A four-day theoretical discussion was held between a JCP delegation and a Communist Party of China delegation on December 6-9. It covered almost all aspects of the theory of scientific socialism and its world view. In the eyes of the CPC delegation, the JCP Program has answers to all questions regarding those aspects and is a theory worthy of detailed study. This shows "the vitality of the JCP Program in the present day world," as JCP Central Committee Chair Fuwa Tetsuzo, who led the JCP delegation to the theoretical discussion, said during a speech at an in-party meeting held after the bilateral discussion.

At about the same time, we were also encouraged by a European reaction to the JCP Program. An official of Germany's Left Party, which achieved a major advance in the general election last September, wrote an article titled, "Suggestions from the Far East on party program - the new program of the Japanese Communist Party," published in a German theoretical magazine. Introducing the JCP Program in detail, the article paid attention to the results of the revision of our Program, stating, "In a future discussion on the program in Germany, we must rely on the recognition made by the most successive Marxist party among developed capitalist countries. For those who continue to recognize classics of scientific socialism as their guide for the serious, not mimetic, quest for a path to socialism in highly developed capitalist countries, the richest treasure is probably the one found in the Far East located between 30 and 46 degrees north latitude. What is necessary is to look at it."

It was also impressive that the article said, "How short the Program is stands out." Not only its scientific viewpoint but also how short the Program is are paid attention to by the Left Party of Germany. I'd like to call on all JCP members to read and understand this "rich treasure."

Having firm confidence in vitality of the new program, let us confront turbulent situation

I have discussed the domestic and international situations. Looking back on the past year and toward this new year clearly shows that progress in the domestic and international situations will benefit from the vitality of the new Program and the stance of the JCP.

Of course, our struggle will have to face varied complexities and difficulties in the future. However, I believe without doubt that if the whole party confronts situations with a firm confidence in the ability of the Program to influence issues both domestically and internationally, the JCP's major advance can be achieved.

Japan is at a major historical turning point.

Let us develop our struggles to meet people's demands for peace and better living conditions and to build a strong party capable of breaking through any turbulent situation. Let us make fruitful advances this year toward local elections and the House of Councilors' election scheduled for next year.

I'd like to conclude my New Year speech by calling for initiating our activities for a successful Party Congress. Let us strive together for peace and social justice.
- Akahata, January 5, 2006