JCP’s advance needed to defend Article 9

   The Liberal Democratic Party is calling for a constitutional revision to be proposed by the Diet in 2010 as the top priority item in its election platform. The LDP’s draft constitution has removed Paragraph 2 of Article 9 that declares the non-possession of war potential and the denial of the right of belligerency and that established the “self-defense forces.”

   The LDP plans to rush for constitutional revision by beginning Diet discussions aimed at drafting a constitution after the House of Councilors election, examining the draft immediately after the lifting of the three-year freeze imposed by the constitutional revision procedures law, and leading to the proposal of constitutional revision.

   Keeping in step with the LDP, the Komei Party, the LDP’s coalition partner, is considering adding paragraph 3 to Article 9 that will constitutionalize the Self-Defense Forces and their “international contributions.”

   Although Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is very specific about a timetable, he keeps his mouth shut on the purpose of constitutional revision in the election campaign.

   However, when Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo in a TV program grilled him, asking if the aim of revising the Constitution is to enable Japan to fight wars jointly with the U.S., Abe could not deny Shii’s point.

   The JCP has thoroughly revealed the pro-constitutional revision forces’ scheme to turn Japan into a war-fighting nation on a par with the U.S. The JCP has warned that the Abe-led “pro-Yasukuni” forces’ attempt to reestablish the prewar state system will isolate Japan from the rest of Asia as well as the rest of the world.

   Grassroots movements for the defense of Article 9 have rapidly increased, and more than 6,000 Article 9 associations have been founded throughout the country.

   Shinagawa Masaji, a permanent director of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), said that the calls in defense of Article 9 are increasingly being heard even within business circles. In an opinion poll conducted by Yomiuri Shimbun, a major newspaper in support of constitutional revision, the number of those who agree with revising the Constitution has decreased for three consecutive years. 56 percent of respondents in the recent poll said that they are in opposition to revision of Article 9 or do not think it is necessary.

   Having consistently called for peace for 85 years since its foundation, the JCP joins forces with grassroots movements and confronts pro-constitutional revision forces led by Prime Minister Abe. Its advance in the election will be the surest way to defend Article 9.                     - Akahata, July 20, 2007