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

Procedural bills for adverse constitutional revision must be foiled: JCP Kasai

The House of Representatives began discussing two bills concerning the procedures for amending the Constitution at its plenary session on June 1.

It is the first time since the end of World War II that bills that have a direct bearing on the Constitution have been submitted to the Diet. The bill by the ruling parties calls for setting the procedures for a national referendum on constitutional revision and revising the Diet Law to provide for procedures for initiating constitutional amendments.

Pointing out that the two bills, one submitted by the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties and the other by the Democratic Party are aimed at discarding Article 9, Japanese Communist Party representative Kasai Akira called for the bills to be withdrawn.

Kasai criticized the LDP, Komei, and the DPJ for rushing to submit bills related to the nation's supreme law to the Diet at the final stage of its regular session in an attempt to railroad through the bills without proper discussion.

The LDP and DPJ explained that their bills are "fair and neutral" because they are not advocating rules for revising or defending the constitution.

Pointing out that these bills are directly linked to their increasing moves toward constitutional revision, Kasai said, "These bills are inseparable from ongoing efforts to draft another constitution."

Stating that the JCP, opposed to the procedural bills, Kasai criticized them for: (1) restricting the freedoms of expression and activities, (2) setting the stage for a major campaign calling for revision of the constitution, and (3) easing requirements for approving constitutional amendments from the present provision that "Amendments to this Constitution shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast thereon" to "a majority of all effective votes cast" (LDP-Komei bill) and "a majority of all votes cast" (DPJ bill).

Kasai also denounced both bills for "calling for standing councils on constitutional research to be established in both houses to discuss the issue of constitutional revision apparently with the aim of accelerating work to revise the Constitution."
- Akahata, June 2, 2006