Conservative Dietmembers calling for constitutional revision launching campaign in rivalry with Article 9 Associations

   A Dietmembers’ league calling for a new constitution, headed by former Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro, decided to launch a campaign to counter the nationwide movement in defense of the Constitution, the “Article 9 Association.”

   Nakasone met Prime Minister Abe Shinzo at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence on April 5 to brief him on the action plan that the league had adopted recently. Abe asked Nakasone for his support of his Cabinet’s policy of constitutional revision, saying, “I would like to request the league to conduct a campaign to gain public understanding.”

   The league consists of 190 incumbent and former lawmakers. In its general meeting late in March, former Prime Minister Kaifu Toshiki, former Lower House Speaker Watanuki Tamisuke (representative of the People’s New Party), and the three top officials of the Liberal Democratic Party were installed as advisors.

   The meeting adopted a course of action based on members’ opinions expressing the need to establish a strong movement that will rival the Article 9 Association and to closely cooperate with business circles.

                    - Akahata, April 6, 2007