JCP Kokuta criticizes DPJ for putting party interests first

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JCP Kokuta criticizes DPJ for putting party interests first

Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji on October 8 strongly criticized the Democratic Party of Japan for voting in favor of the supplementary budget bill after only three days of discussion.

Speaking at a news conference in the Diet, Kokuta said, “The DPJ puts party interests first, which is unacceptable.” He was referring to the DPJ’s approval of a Diet schedule that will expedite a vote on the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.

Explaining the JCP position that the bill to extend the Anti-terrorism Special Measures Law should be scrapped and that further discussion is unnecessary, Kokuta said, “If the ruling parties insist on discussing it, the JCP will urge the government to ensure that a thoroughgoing deliberation be held at all stages, including the plenary session, as a major national issue.”

Criticizing the DPJ for stating, “This bill isn’t a new political issue” that would need to be discussed, Kokuta said, “They ought to understand that there have been some crucial developments recently in Afghanistan that need to be discussed.”

Kokuta cited Afghan Vice President Abdul Karim Khalili’s letter that was recently sent to the Taleban leader Mullah Omar calling for negotiation on reconciliation and that the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan said that the use of military forces cannot be the way to combat terrorism.

Kokuta said, “The present circumstances clearly prove that war is ineffective for eradicating terrorism. We have to sincerely discuss what the seven years of war has actually brought about in Afghanistan.” - Akahata, October 9, 2008