policy speech2

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Koizumi ignored all his political responsibilities: JCP Shii

Commenting on Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro's answers to questions at the House of Representatives Plenary Session on January 24, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo said, "Despite the clear failure of his domestic and foreign policies, he has refused to take responsibility for them."

Speaking to reporters, Shii stated, "Mr. Koizumi does not understand that he is responsible for the failures. This shows how serious the stalemate of Liberal Democratic Party politics is."

"On the issue of resumed beef imports from the U.S. that included high-risk parts, I warned that there is no guarantee that the U.S. will comply with the safety standards in exporting beef. Mr. Koizumi just said, "We will have the U.S. comply with the regulations."

"The prime minister's answer is tantamount to refusing to take responsibility for the recent scandals, including the falsified quake-proof data for buildings, the Livedoor affair, and the increasing disparity in social rank in spite of the fact that it has been caused by his deregulation as panacea. Mr. Koizumi said that these issues need to be reviewed, but he continues to insist that nothing is wrong with the policies he has implemented, thus making it difficult to resolve the present problems.

"Mr. Koizumi did not explain why he pushed ahead with issuing unprecedented amounts of new national bonds while forcing the public to pay more in taxes than ever.

"When I cited criticisms of Mr. Koizumi's Yasukuni Shrine visits from U.S. President George Bush and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on International Relations Chair Henry J. Hyde, he said, 'I obtained U.S. understanding.' If he does not have an ear for U.S. criticism, the matter will be very serious.

"Concerning the U.S. military realignment issue, Mr. Koizumi evaded answering any of my questions but said that his government will consider paying the cost for relocating U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam. Such an irresponsible attitude must not be allowed.

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Soon after Shii's questions, televised live, the JCP head office received many supportive telephone calls and e-mails.

Commenting on the exchanges between Shii and Koizumi, a woman e-mailed to say, "Mr. Shii questioned what I've been thinking of. I had long thought that the JCP was too inflexible, but now I support the JCP."

An elderly woman said, "Shii's opposition to paying one trillion yen for relocating U.S. Marines to Guam was timely. I agree with Mr. Shii."

A 32-year-old man said, "The LDP must be held responsible for putting up Horie Takafumi, a suspect in the Livedoor scandal, and increasing social disparities. The reality of adverse politics is just what Shii pointed out."
-Akahata, January 25, 2006