Japan Press Weekly

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2008 October 15 - 21 [SDF]

Shii says JCP will fight against bill to extend Self-Defense Force deployment in the Indian Ocean

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on October 16 expressed the JCP’s determination to join forces with extra-parliamentary forces to block the enactment of the bill to extend the Anti-terrorism Special Measures Law to enable the Self-Defense Forces to continue its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.

Shii criticized the DPJ for proposing putting the bill to a vote in the House of Representatives so that the Lower House can be dissolved as early as possible for a general election. “The DPJ action is unreasonable. On the issue of the SDF deployment abroad, a grand coalition between the DPJ and the LPJ is emerging for unconstitutional purposes.”

Stating, “Further discussions on fundamental national issues are needed in the Diet,” Shii stressed the importance of measures to deal with the international financial crisis and domestic economic issues.

He made the comment at a news conference after the 2008 supplementary budget was hastily enacted after passage through the House of Councilors.

Pointing out that the DPJ had been demanding the abolition of the new health insurance system discriminating against the elderly aged 75 and over, Shii said that it is unreasonable for the Democratic Party of Japan to vote in favor of the supplementary budget that keeps the health insurance system.