In Okinawa, JCP and Okinawa local party put up joint candidate in Upper House election

   The Japanese Communist Party Okinawa Prefectural Committee and the Okinawa Social Mass Party on May 9 reached an agreement to put up former House of Councilor member Itokazu Keiko (Okinawa Social Mass Party Vice Chair) as an independent joint candidate for the Okinawa constituency in the House of Councilors election to be held on July 22.

   The policy agreement states Itokazu opposes constitutional revision and the Education Ministry’s textbook screening that distorts the history of the Okinawa Battle. She also calls for the immediate closure and removal of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station, reducing poverty and social gaps, promoting local industries and job creation by making use of the unique feature of Okinawa’s agriculture and tourism, and putting brakes on environmental destruction caused by the construction of military bases and unregulated development projects.

   Itokazu also signed policy agreements with the Social Democratic and Democratic parties. The Okinawa constituency election is expected to be a one-on-one fight between Itokazu and the incumbent backed by the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties.                    - Akahata, May 10, 2007