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

'Defend peace Constitution!' - Maritime workers' unions

Japan's two major unions of maritime transport workers jointly issued an appeal on February 3, calling for increasing the efforts to defend the peace Constitution.

The appeal, issued by the All Japan Seamen's Union and the Liaison Council of Harbor Workers' Unions, is entitled, "Our workplaces at sea and harbors must be peaceful! We refuse to become victims or assailants in war. Let's block constitutional revision!"

This is the second appeal following their February 2002 appeal opposing the emergency legislation.

Both unions declared that never again will seamen go to war and that dock workers will not load or unload any war materials.

The appeal states that the present Constitution which expressly declares Japan's renunciation of war based on universal values, including the notions of fundamental human rights and public sovereignty, must not be changed but should be applied to the whole world.

Criticizing the Liberal Democratic Party's attempt to amend the Constitution and the plan to realign U.S. forces in Japan to allow Japan to take part in U.S. wars, the appeal calls for a surge of actions to foil a national referendum bill aimed at establishing the procedure of the constitutional revision.

Irrespective of national affiliation, all trade unions, specifically twenty trade unions of ground, air, sea transport and harbor workers, as well as democratic organizations will develop joint struggles in defense of the Constitution.

Fujisawa Yoji, the All Japan Seamen's Union vice chair, told reporters that as many as 60,000 Japan's seamen were killed in the Pacific War.

Watanabe Saburo, Liaison Council of Harbor Workers' Unions secretary general, said, "During the Korean War and the Vietnam War, harbor workers were forced to engage in loading/unloading war materials that were contained for many days in cargo ships.

"Now that the danger of a new war is increasing, we are resolved that we will never give assistance to war planners," Watanabe said.
-Akahata, February 4, 2006