Shii talks with Seodaemun Prison Museum director

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

Shii talks with Seodaemun Prison Museum director

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on September 5 talked with Pak Kyeong Meok, director of the Seodaemun Prison Museum, after touring there.

Shii thanked Pak, and handed him copies of the JCP's organ paper "Akahata" that were published in the prewar days as historical material showing the solidarity that was built between Japanese and Korean people.

"Akahata" (using the same kanji characters but pronounced as "Sekki" at that time) issues that Shii presented were published on March 1, 1931 and March 2, 1932. They carried articles calling for solidarity with the movement for Korea's independence on the anniversary of the March 1st Movement, a movement in which huge numbers of Koreans rose up to demand independence from Japan in 1919.

Showing an Akahata article that wrote about the need for the "complete independence of nations under Japanese colonial and semi-colonial rule in Korea, Taiwan, and China," Shii said, "I would like to give these copies to you, hoping you realize that in Japan there was a force that worked in solidarity with the Korean struggle for independence."

Pak said, "The article called for the solidarity of the people in Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea in order to defeat Japanese imperialism. I will take good care of them."

Shii said, "The JCP has been unable to have exchanges with South Korea due to various reasons. But as a party with such a historical background, we would like to play a role in strengthening the friendship between our countries."

The museum director said, "The ROK also had divisions and ideological conflicts. But from now on I hope to have exchanges with the JCP."
- Akahata, September 6, 2006