April 2, 2014
The Japanese Communist Party on April 1took to the streets at various locations across the nation together with activists of unions and citizens’ movements to protest against the Abe government’s forcible increase of the consumption tax rate to 8% from 5%.
JCP Chair Shii Kazuo gave a street speech in front of Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. Shii stressed, “The ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties and the opposition Democratic party repeatedly claim that all revenues from the increased consumption tax will be used to improve social services. However, what the government actually plans is to increase people’s burdens of social services through various measures such as cuts in pension benefits.”
The JCP chair pointed to the Abe government’s intent to use the consumption tax revenues to lower taxes on large corporations, develop large-scale public works projects, and promote a military build-up, in addition to the government intent to raise the tax rate to 10% in October 2015.
“If we just sit still, we will suffer from further pains caused by the never-ending tax increases. Let’s launch a broad-based nationwide movement to protect our livelihoods,” said Shii.
At a busy shopping district in Nagoya City, civil groups took to the streets to collect signatures in support of a petition opposing the consumption tax. An 88-year-old man who signed the petition said, “The prime minister seems to be getting carried away. A further increase to 10% is outrageous!”
In Osaka City, more than 200 union workers and consumer activists marched in demonstration through the city’s downtown area to encourage people to object to heavier tax burdens.
A 65-year-old pensioner, who took part in the action, said, “We’re facing a devastating one-two punch: pension cuts and a higher tax rate. The government should stop giving tax breaks only to large corporations.”
In Hiroshima City, holding placards reading, “No tax hike!” and “Tax large companies!”, 100 citizens paraded through the streets.
JCP Chair Shii Kazuo gave a street speech in front of Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. Shii stressed, “The ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties and the opposition Democratic party repeatedly claim that all revenues from the increased consumption tax will be used to improve social services. However, what the government actually plans is to increase people’s burdens of social services through various measures such as cuts in pension benefits.”
The JCP chair pointed to the Abe government’s intent to use the consumption tax revenues to lower taxes on large corporations, develop large-scale public works projects, and promote a military build-up, in addition to the government intent to raise the tax rate to 10% in October 2015.
“If we just sit still, we will suffer from further pains caused by the never-ending tax increases. Let’s launch a broad-based nationwide movement to protect our livelihoods,” said Shii.
At a busy shopping district in Nagoya City, civil groups took to the streets to collect signatures in support of a petition opposing the consumption tax. An 88-year-old man who signed the petition said, “The prime minister seems to be getting carried away. A further increase to 10% is outrageous!”
In Osaka City, more than 200 union workers and consumer activists marched in demonstration through the city’s downtown area to encourage people to object to heavier tax burdens.
A 65-year-old pensioner, who took part in the action, said, “We’re facing a devastating one-two punch: pension cuts and a higher tax rate. The government should stop giving tax breaks only to large corporations.”
In Hiroshima City, holding placards reading, “No tax hike!” and “Tax large companies!”, 100 citizens paraded through the streets.
