May 3, 2011
May 3 marks the 64th anniversary of the Constitution.
Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi published the following statement commemorating Constitution Day:
This year’s Constitution Day comes amid the unprecedented disaster caused by the major earthquake and the worst nuclear power plant accident in Japan’s history. The Japanese Communist Party expresses the deepest condolences for those who became victims of the major disaster which can only be described as a national crisis. And the JCP also expresses sincere sympathy for all people who are forced to continue to endure severe living conditions at temporary shelters.
The government must concentrate all its efforts to restore the disaster victims to their normal livelihoods as early as possible and to entirely reconstruct the disaster-hit areas. In relieving the victims and reconstructing the disaster-hit areas, “human-based reconstruction” should be the major underlying principle. Now is the time to give life to the fundamental principles of the Japanese Constitution. The Constitution defines fundamental human rights as “eternal and inviolate rights (Article 11)” and “(the right to be) respected as individuals” as well as freedom to engage “the pursuit of happiness (Article 13).” It clearly specifies “the right to maintain the minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living” and that “[In] all spheres of life, the State shall use its endeavors for the promotion and extension of social welfare and security, and of public health (Article 25).” The government must fully abide by this constitutional spirit in improving the living conditions at evacuation centers, providing adequate temporary housing, and helping rebuild the houses of the victims. A system presently exists for individual compensation for victims whose houses have been totally destroyed by disaster. This system should be rapidly and drastically improved, and a system to aid the victims’ businesses using public funds should be set up.
Reconstruction of the disaster-hit areas should be based on the necessity of restoring victims’ normal living conditions. To pursue this end, it is necessary for the Constitution’s spirit of support for local self-government to be demonstrated to the fullest extent. This means that reconstruction plans should be drawn up based on the consensus of residents, that city, town and village municipalities should be mainly responsible for implementing the plans, and that the central government should provide the required funding. If residents and local municipalities can draw up reconstruction plans and work to revive the local community, it will encourage the victims to start over together. It is absolutely unacceptable for the central government to impose its own reconstruction plan in a top-down manner on them.
The JCP urges that the constitutional spirit and principles be fully utilized in aiding the victims and reconstructing the disaster-hit areas. The JCP again expresses its determination to make its utmost effort to work together to overcome this national crisis.
Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi published the following statement commemorating Constitution Day:
This year’s Constitution Day comes amid the unprecedented disaster caused by the major earthquake and the worst nuclear power plant accident in Japan’s history. The Japanese Communist Party expresses the deepest condolences for those who became victims of the major disaster which can only be described as a national crisis. And the JCP also expresses sincere sympathy for all people who are forced to continue to endure severe living conditions at temporary shelters.
The government must concentrate all its efforts to restore the disaster victims to their normal livelihoods as early as possible and to entirely reconstruct the disaster-hit areas. In relieving the victims and reconstructing the disaster-hit areas, “human-based reconstruction” should be the major underlying principle. Now is the time to give life to the fundamental principles of the Japanese Constitution. The Constitution defines fundamental human rights as “eternal and inviolate rights (Article 11)” and “(the right to be) respected as individuals” as well as freedom to engage “the pursuit of happiness (Article 13).” It clearly specifies “the right to maintain the minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living” and that “[In] all spheres of life, the State shall use its endeavors for the promotion and extension of social welfare and security, and of public health (Article 25).” The government must fully abide by this constitutional spirit in improving the living conditions at evacuation centers, providing adequate temporary housing, and helping rebuild the houses of the victims. A system presently exists for individual compensation for victims whose houses have been totally destroyed by disaster. This system should be rapidly and drastically improved, and a system to aid the victims’ businesses using public funds should be set up.
Reconstruction of the disaster-hit areas should be based on the necessity of restoring victims’ normal living conditions. To pursue this end, it is necessary for the Constitution’s spirit of support for local self-government to be demonstrated to the fullest extent. This means that reconstruction plans should be drawn up based on the consensus of residents, that city, town and village municipalities should be mainly responsible for implementing the plans, and that the central government should provide the required funding. If residents and local municipalities can draw up reconstruction plans and work to revive the local community, it will encourage the victims to start over together. It is absolutely unacceptable for the central government to impose its own reconstruction plan in a top-down manner on them.
The JCP urges that the constitutional spirit and principles be fully utilized in aiding the victims and reconstructing the disaster-hit areas. The JCP again expresses its determination to make its utmost effort to work together to overcome this national crisis.
