Opposition parties agree to jointly block government bill to revise education law

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Opposition parties agree to jointly block government bill to revise education law

Representatives of four opposition parties on November 13 agreed to jointly oppose the ruling parties' attempt to get a bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education passed after a central public hearing at a House of Representatives Special Committee meeting on November 15 and to demand a through discussion on the bill.

This agreement was reached by Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi and secretary generals of the Democratic, Social Democratic, and People's New parties.

At a press conference held after their meeting, on behalf of the four parties Democratic Party Secretary General Hatoyama Yukio stated that they agreed to jointly make an all-out effort to block the government bill to revise the education law.

Hatoyama referred to recent educational issues, including the growing number of suicides committed by bullied students, many high schools' failure to teach compulsory subjects, and "pre-scripted questions" arranged in town meetings by the government to manipulate public opinion on revising the education law. He said, "These are serious issues directly related to the bills."

Hatoyama went on to say, "The government has failed to report investigation results or make clear where the responsibility for the misconduct lies. The qualification of the bill submitter is called into question." He added that the opposition parties will raise these issues at special committee meetings as well as at the central public hearing.

He stressed that to get the bill passed right after the public hearing is out of question and that a thorough discussion is necessary.

Hatoyama also commented on a reply to the four opposition parties made under the name of Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki Yasuhisa that the government sees no need to dismiss Foreign Minister Aso Taro who has repeatedly called for discussions on Japan's possession of nuclear weapons.

Pointing out the major significance of this issue, Hatoyama said that the opposition parties do not regard the Shiozaki reply as an answer for Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who should give a response and that the opposition parties agreed to take joint measures.
- Akahata, November 14, 2006