Japan Press Weekly

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2012 May 16 - 22 [PEACE]

‘Article 9 Association’ spreading throughout northeastern Japan

The “Article 9 Association of municipal leaders” is spreading throughout the northeastern region of Japan, with the aim of defending the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution.

On May 19 in Fukushima City in Fukushima Prefecture, 11 present and former heads of local governments of all 6 prefectures in northeastern Japan held a meeting to exchange their opinions and ideas.

This meeting followed the first one that was held in 2010 when the “Article 9 Association of municipal leaders” was present in only 2 prefectures in the region. This time, the newly formed association of Aomori Prefecture joined the meeting. In 3 other prefectures, municipal leaders and their supporters are preparing to set up affiliated organizations in the near future.

Ohashi Yoshihiro, former mayor of Ryozen Town in Fukushima Prefecture, pointed out that the national government had promoted the construction of nuclear power plants across the country based on the “safety myth” about nuclear power generation, and both the government and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) hid vital information from the people even after the Fukushima nuclear accident. “Their behavior reminds us of the ‘Imperial Headquarters’ during the wartime. I will make every effort to protect Article 9 and Article 25, which guarantees the right to life,” he said.

Kawai Teiichi, former mayor of Shiroishi City in Miyagi Prefecture, reported that he issued a joint statement with the “Article 9 Association of farmers of agricultural cooperatives” against Japan’s entry into negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade agreement. He said, “Joining the free-trade pact will threaten the people’s right to life by sharply reducing the rate of self-sufficiency in food.”

Mori Hisakazu, former mayor of Yamamoto Town in Miyagi Prefecture, said, “I am concerned that some powerful political parties are maneuvering to revise the Constitution when we should be concentrating our energies on the reconstruction of the area stricken by the 3.11 disaster.”