Abe's reply shows his irresponsible attitude toward history: JCP Shii

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Abe's reply shows his irresponsible attitude toward history: JCP Shii

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo at a press conference after his representative interpellation at the lower house plenary session on October 3 commented on Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's answers, saying, "Every answer was full of insincerity and was totally irresponsible."

Comparing Abe's remarks with former Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro's statement that "the Yasukuni Shrine's viewpoint is different from that of the government," Shii stated, "Prime Minister Abe failed to reject the Yasukuni Shrine view of history, showing that his stance is even worse than that of Koizumi. While he said he is 'humble', the reality is that he is simply irresponsible."

Shii criticized Abe for his stance on the 1995 Murayama statement by saying, "It is indeed grave that Prime Minister Abe declined to admit the view that Japan advanced along the road to war by 'following a mistaken national policy,' the crux of the Murayama statement."

Pointing out that Abe in his answer said that his government inherits the 1993 Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono Yohei statement on the question of "comfort women," Shii said, "Since Mr. Abe attacked the Kono statement in 1997 by saying that it had largely lost its justification, his answer to me today amounts to admitting that his position was wrong."

As regards the exercise of the right of collective self-defense, Shii in his question referred to specific statements Abe had made before his assumption of office as prime minister. Shii said, "Despite this, he only repeated the same words he used in his policy speech," and criticized him for being insincere.

Abe denied that his policy to revise the Constitution is aimed at turning Japan into a nation that fights wars abroad. Shii criticized Abe's reply by saying, "His answer lacks persuasiveness."

Concerning the question that the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education has been forcing teachers to stand up for the Hinomaru and sing Kimigayo, Shii criticized Abe for reaffirming his support for the Tokyo policy in defiance of the recent Tokyo District Court ruling that the policy is unconstitutional. Abe in his reply even showed his intention to promote such a policy nationwide. Shii said, "This must not be condoned."

Shii in his question period pointed out that excessive competition has caused the devastation of education, but Abe did not express his own view on education. Shii said, "Though Prime Minister Abe sells in his educational policy to the public, his answer has no substance at all."

Commenting on Abe's reply that deregulations in labor laws have met worker's needs, Shii said, "How empty his call for 'challenge again' is!"
- Akahata, October 4, 2006