JCP Chair Shii wraps up Kazakhstan visit

Japan Press Weekly

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

JCP Chair Shii wraps up Kazakhstan visit

The Japanese Communist Party delegation led by JCP Chair Shii Kazuo on September 29 returned home after attending the 5th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

On September 28, Shii visited a cemetery in Almaty City to pay tribute to Japanese soldiers who died after being taken prisoner by the former Soviet Union at the end of WWII.

After a moment of silence, Shii stated, "The story behind these soldiers who died in vain reminds me of the historic atrocities committed by Stalin as well as the damage done by nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk test site."

On September 27, Semey City invited the JCP delegation to a dinner.

Janna Jagfarkiji, a project director working with U.N. Development Program (UNDP), expressed her thanks to the Japanese government and NGOs for assistance extended to nuclear test victims.

Shii explained that the World Conference against A and H Bombs in Japan has been held every year with many international delegates attending from governments as well as NGOs.

Earlier in the day, Shii visited the Semey City office and held talks with vice mayor Musapirbekov Tursyngazy.

Asked by Tursyngazy to comment on the ICAPP General Assembly, Shii said, "The meeting concluded successfully after adopting the 'Astana Declaration' calling for a world without nuclear weapons. We want to increase cooperation between Japan and Kazakhstan."

The vice mayor responded to Shii by stating, "I agree with you. Such a tragedy must never happen again in Kazakhstan, Japan, or anywhere in the world.

- Akahata, September 30, 2009