Japan Press Weekly

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2007 September 5 - 11 [JCP]

JCP establishes relations with Bolivia’s MAS

The Japanese Communist Party and the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), the Bolivian ruling party, held talks on September 5 and agreed to establish bilateral relations.

The meeting between the JCP delegation led by Vice Chair Ogata Yasuo and the MAS delegation headed by Santos Ramirez, the head of the MAS Political Commission and leader of the MAS group of Senators, took place at the MAS headquarters in La Paz.

“Please accept greetings of solidarity from President Evo Morales and the MAS,” said Ramirez at the beginning of the meeting.

Ogata stated, “We are grateful to have the opportunity to directly learn about the major political changes taking place in Bolivia.”

Ramirez explained the activities of the MAS, farmers’ struggles, and social mass movements that led to the MAS victory in the 2005 presidential election, parliamentary activities of the MAS that retains a majority in the Chamber of Deputies while being the minority ruling party in the Senate, the movement to defend the rights of indigenous people, and the ongoing discussions on socialism and its prospects.

Ogata talked about the JCP’s history, strength, and international activities.

Ramirez was accompanied by MAS Vice Chair Geraldo Garcia, International Secretary Leonida Zurita, and Senator Andrez Heredia.

The JCP delegation, which attended the national congress of Brazil’s Workers’ Party (PT) in Sao Paulo, was invited by the MAS to visit Bolivia after Brazil.