April 18, 2011
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2011 April 13 - 19 [POLITICS]
Ichida criticizes a reconstruction tax as being levied also on disaster victims |
On the program “Hodo 2001” of Fuji TV network, Ichida pointed out that the panel is considering recommending a reconstruction tax in the form of a consumption tax and said, “Local residents in disaster-hit areas are angry about the idea that will also be levied on disaster victims.”
The government’s Reconstruction Design Council head, Iokibe Makoto (president of the National Defense Academy) is proposing that a reconstruction tax be created as a source of funds for reconstruction projects and that everyone shoulder the burden.
Ichida argued, “Reconstruction projects should take into consideration the local people’s aspirations for their communities. Without listening to them, it won’t be able to achieve meaningful recovery.”
Although some municipalities in the disaster-stricken region have already begun discussing various ways to restore their communities, the government is intending to impose its reconstruction blueprint from above, Ichida said.
In regard to Prime Minister Kan Naoto’s intention to launch a taskforce on post-disaster reconstruction involving both ruling and opposition parties, Ichida stated, “Our party will cooperate with them in disaster relief and nuclear crisis containment efforts.”
“However,” he went on to say, “we have different opinions from other parties about what reconstruction strategies should be employed, how to secure reconstruction resources, and what kind of energy policy we should explore for Japan’s future. If the government is taking advantage of the present situation to form a grouping that backs the government without showing dissent, the JCP will not involve itself in such a regime.” Ichida stated that the JCP will cooperate in some tasks but not in everything the government asks for.
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