May 13, 2007
The National Association for a Peaceful, Democratic and Progressive Japan (Kakushinkon) held its general meeting in Tokyo on May 12 and called for broader cooperation to stop the rampage of the Abe Cabinet, defend the Constitution, and improve living conditions.
In the 27th general meeting, 213 persons representing 4.5 million members in 47 prefectural, 595 local, 158 workplace, and six youth Kakushinkon (associations) took part and adopted the action policy calling for developing the Kakushinkon movement.
A representative from Oizumi Kakushinkon which covers an elementary school district with 5,000 residents in Yamanashi Prefecture reported that his association made short coats with slogans in defense of the war-renouncing Article 9, and that the members always wear them to draw residents’ attention to this issue.
“Let us establish as many school district Kakushinkon as possible across the nation in order to defend Article 9 and change the national policy at the grassroots level.”
A worker from Fujisawa Workshop Kakushinkon in Kanagawa Prefecture reported that it held forums aimed at establishing decent work rules.
New Japan Women’s Association Chair Takada Kimiko proposed the action plan on behalf of the national Kakushinkon, stressing the need to advance the Kakushinkon movement in order to achieve its long-term goal of establishing a Democratic Coalition Government that will allow the public to be the protagonists of national policy as well as enable the attainment of national cooperation and unity.
The annual meeting elected 23 national coordinators, including Shinagawa Masaji, lifetime vice chairperson of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai).
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In his speech made at the Kakushinkon general meeting, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo severely criticized the Abe Cabinet for pushing ahead with reactionary changes including the adverse revision of the Fundamental Law of Education and the forcible enactment of the bill to establish procedures for constitutional revision.
At the same time, Shii pointed out that the Abe Cabinet’s reckless move has been increasing its contradictions, which in turn are giving rise to popular struggles.
Shii stressed that it has become clearer than ever how dangerous it is for the Abe Cabinet, led by the pro-Yasukuni group seeking the revival of militarism and the recurrence of the prewar political system, to change the Constitution and wage wars abroad.
Pointing out that the Kakushinkon movement based on the three objectives clearly indicates the points of confrontation with the Abe Cabinet’s scheme to turn Japan into a war-waging nation, Shii said, “The Kakushinkon movement aiming at turning Japan into a country with hope for peace and social justice reveals its real value.”
The Three Common Objectives of Kakushinkon are: (1) abrogate the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and establish a non-nuclear, nonaligned, neutral and peaceful Japan; (2) shift the Japanese economy to a people-centered one and establish a Japan in which people can enjoy better living conditions; and (3) actively utilize the Constitution and establish a Japan in which freedom, human rights, and democracy flourish. - Akahata, May 13, 2007
In the 27th general meeting, 213 persons representing 4.5 million members in 47 prefectural, 595 local, 158 workplace, and six youth Kakushinkon (associations) took part and adopted the action policy calling for developing the Kakushinkon movement.
A representative from Oizumi Kakushinkon which covers an elementary school district with 5,000 residents in Yamanashi Prefecture reported that his association made short coats with slogans in defense of the war-renouncing Article 9, and that the members always wear them to draw residents’ attention to this issue.
“Let us establish as many school district Kakushinkon as possible across the nation in order to defend Article 9 and change the national policy at the grassroots level.”
A worker from Fujisawa Workshop Kakushinkon in Kanagawa Prefecture reported that it held forums aimed at establishing decent work rules.
New Japan Women’s Association Chair Takada Kimiko proposed the action plan on behalf of the national Kakushinkon, stressing the need to advance the Kakushinkon movement in order to achieve its long-term goal of establishing a Democratic Coalition Government that will allow the public to be the protagonists of national policy as well as enable the attainment of national cooperation and unity.
The annual meeting elected 23 national coordinators, including Shinagawa Masaji, lifetime vice chairperson of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai).
* * *
In his speech made at the Kakushinkon general meeting, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo severely criticized the Abe Cabinet for pushing ahead with reactionary changes including the adverse revision of the Fundamental Law of Education and the forcible enactment of the bill to establish procedures for constitutional revision.
At the same time, Shii pointed out that the Abe Cabinet’s reckless move has been increasing its contradictions, which in turn are giving rise to popular struggles.
Shii stressed that it has become clearer than ever how dangerous it is for the Abe Cabinet, led by the pro-Yasukuni group seeking the revival of militarism and the recurrence of the prewar political system, to change the Constitution and wage wars abroad.
Pointing out that the Kakushinkon movement based on the three objectives clearly indicates the points of confrontation with the Abe Cabinet’s scheme to turn Japan into a war-waging nation, Shii said, “The Kakushinkon movement aiming at turning Japan into a country with hope for peace and social justice reveals its real value.”
The Three Common Objectives of Kakushinkon are: (1) abrogate the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and establish a non-nuclear, nonaligned, neutral and peaceful Japan; (2) shift the Japanese economy to a people-centered one and establish a Japan in which people can enjoy better living conditions; and (3) actively utilize the Constitution and establish a Japan in which freedom, human rights, and democracy flourish. - Akahata, May 13, 2007
