jcp

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

In Celebrating JCP 84th founding anniversary JCP Chair Shii emphasizes JCP's value compared to other political parties

The Japanese Communist Party on July 19 held a speech meeting in Tokyo on the occasion of its 84th founding anniversary that falls on July 15. JCP Chair Shii Kazuo gave a speech to about 2,000 people in the audience, entitled, "The JCP that takes the high-road as a political party."

At the beginning of his speech, Shii criticized North Korea for its missile launches conducted in violation of international law, and stated, "The JCP will continue to make an all-out effort in order to resolve the issue diplomatically in a calm manner based on reason."

Enumerating the deep-seated changes in the political situation across the country on which the JCP 2nd Central Committee Plenum shed light, Shii stated, "The real value of each political party is being tested under a situation in which a great political upheaval is about to take place."

In responding to the question "What is the JCP?" he talked about the JCP from the following five aspects: a party with a Program calling for fundamentally challenging Liberal Democratic Party politics; a party moving politics in collaboration with grassroots movements and opinions; a party financially relying on the people; a party with consistency in its pre-war and post-war history; and a party promoting international solidarity based on sovereign independence.

Shii pointed out that today nobody can neglect the two aberrations of the LDP politics, namely the subservience to the United States and the "capitalism without rules", which the JCP Program attempts to rectify. Not only the LDP and Komei Party but also the Democratic Party of Japan, however, cannot touch on the root-causes of the maladministration, namely the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and the economic setup centering on large corporations, being unable to provide a perspective to resolve these questions, he stressed.

In sharp contrast to these parties, he emphasized that the JCP puts forward a perspective to fundamentally remake Japan as well as an outlook for a future society beyond capitalism.

In connection with the collaboration with grass-roots movements, Shii said that 24,000 JCP branches nationwide join hands with the public in their workplaces, communities and campuses, affecting real politics. The number of JCP branches parallels the number of post offices, elementary schools or day care centers.

He said, "I am most proud of the fact that such a large-scale network tenaciously works in the interest of the public," introducing the recent achievements concerning questions such as the elimination of unpaid overtime work and the reduction in the interest rates of consumer loans.

Shii also spoke about the activities of the 3,385 JCP local assembly members to whom local residents give credit by describing them as "indispensable to local assemblies," and called for largely increasing the JCP seats in the simultaneous local elections next year.

"The five-point emphasis I mentioned is normal for a political party so long as it is responsible to the public. It is the JCP that takes the high-road as a political party by carrying out these tasks," Shii stressed.

Despite the changes in the political situation, Shii pointed out that there is no election in which the JCP can expect a favorable wind to blow that assures the JCP of its victory, and said, "We will win victories by changing situations with our own efforts."
Shii concluded his speech by saying, "The JCP will spare no effort to ensure its victories in the two major elections next year, hoisting the banner of the JCP that has been tested through its 84 years of history."

Being determined to win victories in the simultaneous local elections and the House of Councilors elections both slated for next year, five JCP candidates for House of Councilors Proportional Representation blocs, Inoue Satoshi, Kami Tomoko, Tanigawa Tomoyuki, Haruna Naoaki, and Yamashita Yoshiki as well as House of Councilors Tokyo constituency candidate Tamura Tomoko addressed the gathering.
- Akahata, July 20, 2006