JCP publishes its House of Councilors election manifesto

   The Japanese Communist Party has published election policies for the upcoming House of Councilors election, focusing on putting an end to the recklessness of Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s government that is destroying people’s living conditions and going against peace.

   JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi held a news conference on June 15 in the Diet to announce the 12-point JCP manifesto for the 2007 House of Councilors election entitled, “The JCP is determined to defend living conditions and peace as the ‘reliable opposition party’.”

   Pointing out that on the issues of the Constitution, “structural reform,” or deregulation, the DPJ has always been with the Liberal Democratic Party, Ichida said, “Reactionary politics of the LDP can only be thwarted when the JCP, which has been squarely confronting LDP politics, makes a major advance in the Upper House election,” Ichida stated.

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   The 12 points in the JCP manifesto for the House of Councilors election are as follows:

1. The problem of “unidentified pension records” must be completely resolved without delay using state powers.

2. End the regressive tax system that forces the general public to pay more in taxes and gives major corporations and the wealthy more tax cuts; end wasteful uses of tax revenues.

3. Change social welfare policy by ending cutbacks in expenditure on protecting lives and improving social services to defend people’s right to live and have decent living conditions.

4. Change employment policy by banning the use of “throw-away workers” and establishing rules ensuring that workers can work with dignity.

5. Oppose adverse revision of the Constitution that will allow Japan to fight wars abroad.

6. Oppose the realignment and strengthening of the functions of the Japan-U.S. military alliance and switch to an independent diplomacy free from subservience to the U.S.

7. Stop sacrificing local interests and support small- and medium-sized businesses and local economies.

8. Block the total liberalization of imports of agricultural products, and increase Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate.

9. Fulfill the agreements of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change with low-energy and low-carbon emissions.

10. End state interference in education under the revised Fundamental Law of Education and establish education that allows for the sound growth of children, and improve conditions for raising children without anxiety.

11. Stop any attempt to backpedal from the principle of equality between men and women, and establish equality between the sexes in all areas of society.

12. Investigate corrupt relations between politicians, bureaucrats and business circles, get rid of all vested interests and privileges, prohibit political fund donation by corporations or organizations, and abolish the government subsidy to political parties.                              - Akahata, June 16, 2007