JCP Chair Shii questions prime minister's policy

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JCP Chair Shii questions prime minister's policy

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo took the rostrum in the House of Representatives Plenary Session on January 30 to question Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's policy speech.

Fulfill government's responsibility for defending living conditions

"The government must conduct research into the realities of poverty and formulate a policy of solving the problem based on Article 25 of the Constitution that guarantees every citizen the right to maintain a 'wholesome and cultured living'," Shii stated.

He began his questioning by pointing out the sharp increase in the number of families that do not go for treatment at hospitals because their health insurance cards were invalidated due to non-payment of premiums that have become too high to pay.

Shii asked Abe, "Do you realize that once fallen into poverty, it is difficult for most people to get out from the misery, however hard they may make efforts to do so?"

Abe refused to conduct research into the situation of the "working poor," stating that the government can grasp the situation at a certain level by making use of existing statistics. He also justified the invalidation of national health insurance cards, stating, "The government places fair burdens on people."

Shii demanded a drastic revision of the draft FY 2007 budget in order to reduce poverty and social disparities. He criticized the draft budget as one of "imposing on the general public massive tax increases and deep cuts in social welfare services, and giving business circles and large corporations large tax cuts."

He asked, "How do you respond to the hardships of the general public due to the increase in taxes as well as national health insurance and nursing care premiums?"

Abe, however, took a defiant attitude, stating, "The idea that a lighter burden is better is too simplistic to accept."

Shii pointed out that the growth of poverty can be largely attributed to abnormally weak regulations for providing decent working conditions. He called for (i) eradicating the illegal corporate practices of unpaid overwork and disguised contract work, (ii) ending further relaxing of regulations governing working conditions by introducing a "white-collar exemption" system that will force workers to work without overtime pay with longer working hours increasing the danger of karoshi (death from overwork), and (iii) drastically increasing the minimum wage.

Showing that Japan's minimum wage remains very low compared to other OECD member countries, Shii stated that the JCP strongly supports the demand of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) that the minimum wage be raised to at least 1,000 yen an hour. Referring to the European countries' policy of raising the minimum wage to half of the average income of employees, he strongly called for drastically raising the minimum wage as well as creating a single minimum wage system to be applied throughout the country.

The prime minister promised that the government will make efforts to find a solution to the problems of unpaid overtime and disguised contract work. However, he rejected a drastic increase in the minimum wage.

Oust health, labor and welfare minister

The JCP Chair demanded that the prime minister dismiss Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yanagisawa Hakuo, who characterized women as "birth-giving machines."

Shii stressed, "What Yanagisawa said completely denies the respect and dignity of women. The Prime minister's 'severe warning' alone does not settle this issue."

While admitting that Yanagisawa's remark was inappropriate, Abe turned down Shii's demand for his dismissal.

Revision of Article 9 runs counter to world trend

In the policy speech, Abe declared that he will push through the bill to establish the procedures for revising the Constitution and to push ahead with the adverse revision of the Constitution. The Constitution has "become incapable of adapting to the great changes taking place in the 21st century," he said.

Referring to this statement, Shii asked, "Specifically which part of Article 9 do you think 'has become incapable of adapting to the great changes'?"

Evading the question, Abe showed enthusiasm for revising Article 9 by stating, "It is necessary to examine the provisions of Article 9 fully in light of Japan's security and contribution to the peace and security of the international community."

Shii pointed out that through a constitutional revision the Abe Cabinet aims at turning the Japan-U.S. military alliance into an "alliance shedding blood" by making it constitutional for Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense - that is, turning Japan into a nation to fight wars abroad with the U.S.

"Far from adapting to the changes, this policy directly runs counter to the world trend in the 21st century," stated Shii.

The U.S. war of aggression and occupation of Iraq is failing, and the situation in Iraq has deteriorated into a "civil war." In the U.S. midterm elections, the Republican Party suffered a major setback. President Bush's plan to send 20,000 more troops to Iraq is facing growing bipartisan opposition.

Shii asked Abe, "Do you still insist that it was right to support the Iraq War and that you place strong hope on the U.S. troop reinforcement? Will you still continue to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq?"

The prime minister stated, "I expect that the U.S. efforts will achieve good." He also stated that he will appropriately make the decisions regarding the dispatch of the SDF.

Shii emphasized the characteristics of the 21 century that no superpower can move the world by solely relying on military power and that diplomatic and peaceful resolutions to disputes based on the U.N. Charter have become a matter of course.

"Article 9 has heralded the 'great changes taking place in the 21 century.' What has become incapable of adapting to the great changes is Liberal Democratic Party politics."

Disclose facts about political funds scandals

Concerning the political funds scandals, Shii pointed out that some Dietmembers allegedly filed falsified reports in violation of the Political Funds Control Law. He called on those politicians allegedly involved in the scandal to disclose the facts about their "office expenses," and submit receipts and account books for verification.

Education Minister Ibuki Bunmei and Agriculture Minister Matsuoka Toshikatsu refused to voluntarily disclose the facts by stating that if uniform regulations on disclosures are made, they will comply with them.

Shii stressed that Prime Minister Abe's responsibility for appointing them as ministers is called into question.

Shii stated, "In the background of this political funds scandal is the uncontrolled increase in business circles' donations and the political corruption caused by the political parties' heavy reliance on the government subsidies."
Abe, however, defiantly said the government subsidies significantly contribute to the progress of democracy.

Emphasizing the need to ban corporate donations and to abolish the government subsidy to political parties, Shii stated, "The public is criticizing the 'ugly politics' that is a far cry from 'a beautiful country' Prime Minister Abe is proclaiming."
- Akahata, January 31, 2007