Japan Press Weekly

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2021 August 4 - 10 TOP3 [JCP]

Shii on JCP 99th founding anniv. speaks on JCP’s efforts to reduce people’s hardships amid pandemic

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on August 4 delivered a commemorative speech on the 99th anniversary of the JCP’s founding on an online meeting. In the meeting, two of the 19 JCP members who won seats in the July Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election gave speeches. The meeting was live streamed on YouTube and viewed at 11,332 locations across Japan.

Shii in his speech criticized measures taken by the Abe and Suga governments in the fight against the pandemic for being full of errors with disregard for science, neglect of fulfilling accountability, and imposition of self-help. Shii pointed out that among many mistakes, the worst was the forcible opening of the Tokyo Games. He said, “The Suga government has no qualification to steer the country as evidenced in its response to the critical problem affecting people’s lives and livelihoods.”

Shii said, “In contrast, the JCP, from its scientific standpoint, actively made proposals to the government throughout crucial phases of the pandemic based on the JCP’s founding spirit to reduce people’s hardships and defend people’s safety.” He said that this was symbolized by a proposal calling for cancelling the Games in order to focus on the fight against the pandemic. He added that JCP organizations at the grass-roots level devoted themselves to providing support to people in need.

Furthermore, Shii pointed out that the JCP worked together with people’s movements and other opposition parties to change government policies for the better regarding various issues, including protecting people’s livelihoods and rights, promoting gender equality, and calling for support for students. Shii said, “Many people have become aware that ‘we can change politics if we raise our voices together’. They are the big hope for changing the course of Japan’s future.”